The conference will highlight the current state of science and research on firearm injury prevention.

Report author Paul Barrett, of NYU’s Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, speaks with Tech Policy Press’s Justin Hendrix about how the use of social media can lead to political violence and how social media companies, government, and users can reduce the likelihood that virtual speech will lead to real-world violence.

The year 2024 has been dubbed “the global election year,” with more than 60 countries going to the polls this year. Against this backdrop, a panel of scholars discuss democratic backsliding, political protest, mis- and disinformation, and increased levels of election-related violence in India, Mexico, and other parts of the world.

Séverine Autesserre, chair of political science at Barnard College, and João Honwana, former director of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs of the UN discuss the tensions between the international peacebuilding agenda set by the United Nations and local implementation realities on the ground.

In this panel discussion, three academics examine the complex relationship between conflict and climate discussing how the environment intersects with other vulnerabilities and how these factors contribute to violence often attributed to climate change.

In the third installment of HFG’s speaker series exploring Gender-based Violence, three experts discuss how sex workers make choices about their profession in conflict-affected regions and the opportunity to reduce violence against sex workers in places where their work is legalized.

With examples from El Salvador and Ethiopia, this panel examines how government and non-state actors can formulate humanitarian responses to conflict-related sexual violence. The panel discussion is the first in a three-part, HFG series examining gender-based violence.

HFG’s June 29, 2023 Knowledge Against Violence Speaker Series event, “Beyond the Crisis: Reimagining Migrant Protection,” explored migrant rights and protections from the perspective of three scholars who study the issue from Europe, Africa and North and South America.

Scholars have been puzzled by the rise in homicides since 2015. Many theories that have been put forth have merit, but most take a short-term view of why the rate of violent crime has changed in recent years. 

Urban Gang Violence is widely synonymous with criminality and deviance. However, this conversation showcased examples from Pakistan, Brazil, Ecuador and DR Congo to complicate our understanding of gangs.

This conversation drew on the work and expertise of two HFG grantees and explored the dominant narratives of violent extremism on the African continent, the role of the state, and the dichotomy between victims and perpetrators of violence in Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mozambique.

From crippled intelligence and investigative units to failing security policies, this discussion delved into what’s behind the rise in violence, what research questions can help us better understand it, and ultimately what should be done about it.

What’s behind the war in Ukraine, and what is next? Why did the Unites States remain so long in Afghanistan? What’s driving gun violence in so many US cities? Dr. Blattman will talk about how these disparate kinds of conflict have surprisingly many things in common, and will talk about what decades of social science can tell us about the answers.

Dr. Simi’s presentation examined the current U.S. socio-political landscape through a discussion of his work on white supremacist groups, the rise of far-right extremism, and the re-emergence of long standing prejudices in the U.S. and around the world.

“Intimate Partner Violence and Armed Conflict in Colombia” explores Dr. Restrepo-Ruiz’s research on the direct and indirect effects of the Colombian armed conflict with a focus on how it is associated with women’s increased risk of intimate partner violence and mental health problems. 

Exploring the ways in which former soldiers maintain and ‘reuse’ their military training for survival, in contexts of violent inner cities with high unemployment, Dr. Maringira’s talk, “Soldiers in Exile,” will offer new insights into demilitarization and the need to assist former combatants.

Beth Lew-Williams will discuss her research on anti-Chinese violence in the US West, consider the broader history of anti-Asian violence, and reflect on the implications for present-day efforts at reconciliation.

“Violence and the Law at War” examines the legality of violence and the weaponization of international law. With a focus on the U.S. and Israel and wars in Iraq and Palestine as well as the recent withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, Dr. Jones seeks to answer: “What is the relationship between violence and law?”