Six new members of the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace were sworn in by former Associate Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on September 20, including Kathleen Martinez, appointed in recognition of her expertise in working with disability groups in post-conflict countries such as Ethiopia, South Africa, Namibia, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. In addition WID is working in the Caucasus to demonstrate how disability can be an often overlooked bridge to conflict resolution. Martinez is the first disability rights expert to be appointed to this board.

USIP played a critical role in facilitating the Iraq Study Group, providing expertise and analysis to the bipartisan committee co-chaired by  James A. Baker, III and Lee H. Hamilton. Justice O'Connor was a member of the  Iraq Study Group, which was responsible for the report issued last December. The quarterly Board of Directors meeting held on September 20 in Washington, D.C. considered a range of topics, including Institute activities in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan including future educational and training activities. Board members also received an update about the new USIP headquarters project at the northwest corner of the National Mall. Groundbreaking may take place by the end of the year.

For more information about the United States Institute of Peace, visit: www.usip.org/.