Thought Leadership in Action
Sometimes peacebuilding is a star-studded process. This week, USIP welcomed the Dalai Lama, and, by extension, his celebrity followers. 
The Dalai Lama spoke with USIP staff about our duty to bring peace to the world. "Conflict does not come from God or Buddha or whoever you think is up there," he told us. "Conflict comes from people, and that is why it is our responsibility to fix it."
You can read more about the Dalai Lama's presntations about youth and countering violence here.
I was also fortunate enough to attend a workshop on conflict-related sexual violence with young scholars and policy makers. The meeting gave the scholars a chance to present their research into this important topic and analyze how to effectively implement aid. Consider the wealth of diverse perspectives in the room, the conversation was lively and informative.