This year

Challenges to peace come in many forms. While armed conflicts are rare between the countries of the Americas, ongoing internal conflicts continuously challenge security and peace in the region.

A silent yet critically important threat to the region’s stability is the 200 million people living in poverty, the 52 million suffering from malnourishment, the 100 million without access to adequate sewage disposal, and the 50 million without access to potable water — all of whom have become even more vulnerable as a result of the global financial crisis. These populations, which struggle to fulfill their basic needs, represent just a fraction of the millions more who live in fear of organized crime, terrorism, gangs and human trafficking. This scenario takes a toll on the physical and emotional well-being of the community, while seriously undermining development in the region.

This year’s Americas Project will focus on peace and stability in the Americas by examining some of these ongoing menaces to hemispheric security that continually threaten peaceful coexistence among and within countries of this region. The discussion will help assess past and current policies adopted by national governments and international organizations, as well as help identify actions that civil society, national governments and international organizations can take to overcome the region's multidimensional security challenges.