South Asia
The Foundation was established in Germany in 1958. It aims to promote the goal of making the principle of freedom valid for the dignity of all people and in all areas of society, both in Germany and abroad. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom works in over 65 countries worldwide. In South Asia we have offices in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Additionally we work with partners in Nepal. We promote civic education, trainings and the exchange of ideas in the region in four focal areas. These are economic freedom, human rights, urban governance and digital transformation. In addition to the country projects, the Foundation supports regional programs.
News
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Decriminalization of Same-Sex Activity in South Asia
Decriminalizing same-sex activity has been a long-standing battle in many countries worldwide. South Asia is no exception, and several countries in the region have made significant strides in advancing the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.
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Connecting the dots
‘Connecting the dots’ is a podcast series by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, as a part of it’s global theme ‘Reshaping Europe’. Over the last year, Europe has found itself in a precarious position with the largest territorial annexation since world war 2, this has in many ways challenged the European Way of Life, presenting a larger question of ‘what next’.
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European Supply Chain Regulations and Countries in South Asia
The paper starts by briefly describing the main global supply chains or global value chains (GVCs) that connect South Asia with the EU and the main human rights violations observed in them. To set the tone for the discussions, it is important to define different wage types, such as living wages, minimum wages and actual wages. This is the prelude to the economics of human rights violations in GVCs. It shows that human rights violations have economic effects on labour, the communities and other users of environmental services, the environment itself, and overall economies of the global South. The paper further analyzes the existing and proposed human rights due diligence in the EU, with the meaning of transformative change.
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Human Rights Situation Under Taliban Regime
The resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the subsequent dissolution of the pre-existing republic on August 15, 2021, has resulted in a pronounced rollback in the progress made toward protecting human rights and free society values. This shift has severely impacted the communal and individual liberties of women and other at-risk groups, triggering grave apprehensions regarding the current human rights situation in the nation.
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Celebrating Equality
In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of Nepal issued an interim order on June 28, 2023, instructing the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) and other relevant ministries to establish a transitional mechanism that ensures the registration of marriages for non-heterosexual couples.
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Hackathon on Strengthening Dialogue and Cooperation between South Asia and the European Union on LGBTQIA+ Rights
Given the pressing need for openness and dialogue on gender-related issues, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) found Colombo a fitting location for its Hackathon on "Strengthening Dialogue and Cooperation between South Asia and the European Union on LGBTQIA+ Rights," held on 6 June 2023.
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Seeking Marriage Equality
What is currently taking place at the Supreme Court of India is nothing short of a historical moment. After the Supreme Court decriminalized Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and held that same-sex conduct between two consenting adults would not be a criminal offence, it is now hearing 19 petitions which have been filed seeking marriage equality and legal recognition of marriage between two persons, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity.