International Peace Institute

Not to be confused with International Institute for Peace.
International Peace Institute
AbbreviationIPI
PredecessorInternational Peace Academy (IPA)
Formation1970
FounderRuth Forbes Young, Major General Indar Jit Rikhye
TypeInternational non-governmental organization
Purpose"Advancing Multilateral Solutions for a Peaceful Planet"
President and CEO
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein[1]
Chair of the Board of Directors
Jean Todt[2]
Websitehttps://www.ipinst.org/

The International Peace Institute (IPI), formerly the International Peace Academy, is an independent non-profit think tank,[3] which was founded in 1970,[4] based in New York. The institute previously had a regional office in the Middle East (Manama, Bahrain) and a regional office in Europe (Vienna, Austria).[5][6][7][8][9] The organization's former president Terje Rød-Larsen had close ties to Jeffrey Epstein, leading to his forced resignation in 2020.[10][11] IPI's board maintained that other directors were unaware of Rød-Larsen relationship with Epstein, calling it "repugnant to the institution's core values".[10] It commissioned an audit from KPMG, as well as other reviews and policy overhauls.[12]

Norwegian authorities alerted US Epstein investigators in 2019 after reports that Rød-Larsen brought in young, unqualified women from Eastern Europe on very short internships whose photos were then taken in front of the UN building and shared with Epstein, suggesting the possibility IPI was involved in human trafficking on Epstein's behalf.[13] Investigation of these reports did not result in any publicly-disclosed criminal inquiries to individuals beyond Rød-Larsen and his wife, Norwegian diplomat Mona Juul.[14] The lawyer for one woman “confirmed to the newspaper that she is one of Epstein's victims, but emphasizes that IPI is not connected to the abuse.”[15]

IPI specializes in multilateral approaches to peace and security issues, working closely with the United Nations system and its member states.[7][8] Areas of focus include peace operations; peace, climate, and sustainable development; women, peace, and security; and human rights and humanitarian affairs.[5] IPI states that it produces "evidence-based analysis and practical policy recommendations to inform debate and guide decision making on complex and emerging issues"; that it "engages policy- and decision-makers from the United Nations System, member states, regional organizations, civil society, and the private sector through candid discussion"; and that it "provides innovative and strategic advice on multilateral processes to these partners to help them develop and implement achievable and sustainable solutions."[4][16] As of May 2024, IPI has a staff of approximately 38. Since March 2021, Zeid bin Ra'ad Al Hussein has been the President and CEO of IPI.[17]

History

The International Peace Institute was created with support from UN Secretary-General U Thant in 1970,[18] originally with the purpose of studying UN peacekeeping and developing peacekeeping doctrine, with strong financial backing from Ruth Forbes Paine Young.[citation needed] Its first President was Maj. Gen. Indar Jit Rikhye, Indian commanding officer of UN peacekeeping forces and a former military advisor to the UN Secretary-General. Under his tenure, IPI initiated an innovative program aimed at training civilians and military officers together for the challenges of preventing conflict and building peace. In 1990, under Olara Otunnu, a Ugandan diplomat and politician, IPI branched out into the political dimensions of war and peace. During this time, IPI became known for its case studies of UN field operations and for its forward-looking analysis on new roles for the UN in the security sphere. Otunnu also initiated IPI's Africa Program, currently its longest-running program. David M. Malone, a Canadian scholar-diplomat, took over as President in 1998, followed by Terje Rød-Larsen, from 2005 to 2020, a Norwegian sociologist and diplomat who has served the UN as its senior envoy in the Middle East, and a principal architect of the 1990s Oslo Peace Accords.[19][20] IPI today focuses its work on multilateral cooperation, peace operations, climate change and sustainable development, women, peace, and security, human rights and humanitarian affairs.[21]

Association with Jeffrey Epstein

Jeffrey Epstein threatened shipowner Morits Skaugen to sell his apartment in this Frogner building to IPI's president Terje Rød-Larsen in 2018, suggesting one of Skaugen's relatives would otherwise be fired from the International Peace Institute and stating that "we can't continue with one of your family members working for us."[22]

Norwegian authorities alerted US Epstein investigators in 2019 after reports that IPI's president Terje Rød-Larsen brought in young, unqualified women from Eastern Europe on very short internships whose photos were then taken in front of the UN building and then shared with Jeffrey Epstein, a practice one staff member considered odd.[23] Rød-Larsen described Epstein as "my best friend" and "a thoroughly good human being."[15] Rød-Larsen, his wife Mona Juul and their children are accused of receiving personal substantial gifts from Epstein.[24][25] In his will Epstein left 10 million US dollars to Rød-Larsen's children.[26] Epstein also named Rød-Larsen the executor of his estate in a previous will.[27]

Rød-Larsen has worked to bolster contact between the MAGA movement and the European far right, despite previously having been a Labour Party politician in Norway.[28] Aftenposten described him as the central node in Epstein's network in Norway.[28] Morits Skaugen, a since-bankrupt shipowner, said he was forced to sell his large Frogner apartment for half its value to Rød-Larsen and Juul, with Epstein acting as the middle man, stating that the sale was not voluntary and that his family was threatened on Rød-Larsen's and Juul's behalf by Epstein. Epstein showed Skaugen pictures of himself with the chairman of the bank that Skaugen's company had lent money from and a detailed map of all his business connections around the world, and also threatened to fire one of Skaugen's relatives from the International Peace Institute unless Skaugen sold Rød-Larsen the apartment for half its value, stating that "we can't continue with one of your family members working for us." He describes the actions taken by IPI's president with the help of Epstein as "mafia methods".[22]

Activities

General

The IPI works in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia[29] that involves interacting with international diplomats, dignitaries and scholars (especially from the United Nations) to achieve its goals [vague]. These include direct consultation with diplomats and officials, conducting research and publishing reports, convening discussions and presentations, and encouraging and facilitating diplomatic activities of others.[5][6][7][8][9] The IPI has convened "high-level" discussion panels made up of international diplomats, dignitaries and scholars (especially from the United Nations) to discuss major issues in international affairs affecting international peace and security.[7][8][9] The organization publishes a wide range of reports relating to international diplomacy, peacekeeping and humanitarian responses to crisis.[30]

Vienna Seminar

The International Peace Institute (IPI) Vienna Seminar on Peacemaking and Peacekeeping is an annual event, held in Vienna, Austria since 1970. Over the years it has become a widely recognized forum for discussion of peace and security issues, addressed in a broad sense. It operates with additional support from the Austrian and Viennese governments, and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. The event includes presentations by major international diplomats and political officials.[31][32][33]

Funding

In 2020, Verdens Gang wrote that IPI has received 130 million Norwegian kroner "through the years" from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry.[34] The Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation donated $375,000 in 2012.[35] According to the IPI website, the organisation is funded by governments, philanthropic foundations, and individuals. Roughly 70% of annual funds are from government donors, and 22% of our funds are from philanthropic foundations. The remaining funds come from corporate sponsors, individuals, and board members.[36] In the 2020–2021 financial statements, IPI declared US$10,311,911 in assets.[37]

Leadership

Notable individuals

References

  1. ^ "Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein Archives".
  2. ^ "IPI Welcomes Jean Todt as Chair of the Board of Directors". 22 June 2023.
  3. ^ "International Peace Institute | ReliefWeb". July 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Our Mission". International Peace Institute. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  5. ^ a b c "INTERNATIONAL PEACE INSTITUTE INC - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  6. ^ a b Horowitz, Jason, "Arab Spring ruining Yemeni diplomat’s summer," June 14, 2011, The Washington Post, retrieved May 5, 2017
  7. ^ a b c d "UNDEF co-hosts International Day of Democracy event at International Peace Institute," September 24, 2013, United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), United Nations, retrieved May 5, 2017
  8. ^ a b c d e "U.N. struggles to prove its relevance". The Washington Post. 2010-09-20. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  9. ^ a b c "INTERNATIONAL PEACE INSTITUTE: 'Côte d’Ivoire, a Successful Case of Crisis Management : A Look Back at the Experience and Lessons Learned'," panel event September 24, 2013, April 11th, 2017 at One UN Plaza, Diplomat Ballroom, United Nations, retrieved May 5, 2017
  10. ^ a b "Statement by the Board of the International Peace Institute RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT TERJE RØD-LARSEN" (PDF). www.ipinst.org. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  11. ^ "Riksadvokaten varslet FBI om unge, østeuropeiske kvinner som fikk jobb i Rød-Larsens tankesmie". Aftenposten. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
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  19. ^ Oterholm, Gard; Gjerstad, Tore (2020-10-29). "Terje Rød-Larsen trekker seg som president for International Peace Institute (+)". www.dn.no. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
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  24. ^ "Millioner av dollar, Apple-klokker og luksussko. Slik hjalp Jeffrey Epstein den norske diplomatfamilien". Aftenposten. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  25. ^ "Dette vet vi om Mona Juuls kontakt med Epstein". Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  26. ^ "Jeffrey Epstein testamenterte ti millioner dollar til norske diplomatbarn". DN. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  27. ^ "Jeffrey Epstein utpekte Terje Rød-Larsen som testamentfullbyrder". DN. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
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  33. ^ Hans Winkler (DA), Terje Rød-Larsen (IPI) and Christoph Mikulaschek (IPI), editors, Favorita Papers 01/2010: "The UN Security Council and the Responsibility to Protect: Policy, Process, and Practice," 39th IPI Vienna Seminar, Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, 2010, ISBN 978-3-902021-67-0, retrieved May 5, 2017
  34. ^ "Terje Rød-Larsen innrømmer å ha lånt penger av Jeffrey Epstein". 23 October 2020.
  35. ^ "Hvorfor ga Epstein millioner til Terje Rød-Larsens organisasjon?". Steigan.no - mot Dag - A Winner is a Dreamer Who Never Gives up. 15 August 2019.
  36. ^ "How is IPI funded?". 14 July 2009.
  37. ^ "International Peace Institute inc. 2021 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" (PDF). Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  38. ^ "HE the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC, Australia's Ambassador to the United States".
  39. ^ FNs generalsekretær har trukket seg fra styret i Rød-Larsens tankesmie [The secretary-general of the United Nations has resigned from the board of the think-tank of Rød Larsen]
  40. ^ "Ban at IPI: "My Heart Will Never Leave the United Nations"". 16 December 2016.
  41. ^ "President Obama Announces Members of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board". whitehouse.gov (Press release). December 23, 2009. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017 – via National Archives.
  42. ^ Sonmez, Felicia "Members press China on Iran, currency, human rights", February 14, 2012, The Washington Post (Hauser's name & IPI title on list of signatories of a letter), retrieved May 5, 2017
  43. ^ [Terje Rød-Larsen trekker seg som president for International Peace Institute" Terje Rød-Larsen trekker seg som president for International Peace Institute"]. Retrieved 2 February 2026. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  44. ^ "Terje Rød-Larsen trekker seg som president for International Peace Institute". 30 October 2020.
  45. ^ "The World's Billionaires (2016 ranking): #688 Mortimer Zuckerman". Forbes. March 1, 2016. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
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  49. ^ Kraft, Scott "Sierra Leone beach resort is village's ticket to better life," August 25, 2009, The Los Angeles Times, retrieved May 5, 2017
  50. ^ The International Peace Institute, [1] retrieved June 26, 2019
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allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Peace_Academy