News

The Afghan government must make urgent reforms to protect civilians from harm caused by its own security forces, according to a report released by the Center for Civilians in Conflict, formerly known as CIVIC. The report, Caring for Their Own: A Stronger Afghan Response to Civilian Harm, found that the Afghan government is ill-equipped to conduct thorough investigations of civilian casualties, and has often failed to award condolence payments to the families of victims.

The Arab Human Rights Fund was recognized as the regional foundation of the year at the Middle East Philanthropy Awards on December 9, 2012. Launched this year by Campden Wealth and the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, the awards highlight the cultural and social philanthropic efforts of individuals, organizations, and initiatives in the Arab region of the Middle East.

Rockefeller Brothers Fund grantee Crisis Action, Inc. is one of seven winners of the Skoll Foundation's 2013 Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship, which was announced on December 20, 2012. Chosen from hundreds of applicants, Crisis Action is being recognized for its far-reaching impact on peace and human security practices across continents.

While international sanctions against Iran have slowed the expansion of its nuclear program, they also have complicated geopolitical relations for the United States. The Iran Project, a Rockefeller Brothers Fund grantee, offers more analysis of the benefits and consequences of imposing sanctions against the country in the second of its series of reports on relations with Iran.

Issues around natural resources in Afghanistan are a major driver of conflict in the country, according to a new study published by Afghanistan Watch, an RBF grantee. The report details situations involving land, water, mining, and timber. According to the report author, Renard Sexton, the natural resources sector has been overlooked as a driver of conflict, and policymakers should focus on allocating the division of these resources to help stabilize Afghanistan.

While U.S. military action would damage Iran's major nuclear facilities and weaken its military capabilities, consequences include direct and indirect retaliation against the United States and Israel, which would potentially lead to all-out regional war, according to an assessment by The Iran Project.

The world has been making progress in recognizing the importance of gender issues in conflict areas, but not enough has been done on the ground, according to the Peace and Security Funders Group's new report, Philanthropic Investments in the Emerging Field of Women, Peace and Security. The report examines the significance of empowering and protecting women in conflict areas and the urgency to fund these efforts.

The OneVoice Movement, a project of RBF grantee the PeaceWorks Network Foundation, organized a flash mob in Jerusalem's Zion Square in January. The purpose of the flash mob, where participants simultaneously froze in place for five minutes, was to bring attention to the need to move forward on negotiations for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

RBF grantees the Center for Investigative Reporting, Inc. and Crisis Action, Inc. are among 15 recipients of this year's MacArthur Awards for Creative and Effective Institutions. Both organizations were recognized for demonstrating outstanding innovation and efficacy, with great potential to continue effecting change in the future.

The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University has published a report about the intersection of media and policy in the Muslim world. The report is the product of a retreat held at The Pocantico Center in October 2011, which brought together 22 policymakers, ambassadors, journalists, and media development experts from the Middle East, Pakistan, Indonesia, the United States, and Europe.