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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LGBTQIA+ Matters Online Hackathon
On May 17, 2023, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Regional Office for South Asia organized an online hackathon event titled "Strengthening Dialogue and Cooperation between South Asia and the European Union on LGBTQIA+ Matters" to coincide with the International Day against Homophobia, Bi-phobia, and Trans-phobia.
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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.
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Strengthening Dialogue and Cooperation between South Asia and the European Union on LGBTQIA+ Matters
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom South Asia is organizing the hackathon “Strengthening Dialogue and Cooperation between South Asia and the European Union on LGBTQIA+ Rights” to bring together individuals both the European Union and South Asia to collaborate and develop ideas and solutions in the area of LGBTQIA+ rights and issues.
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Pakistan in der Krise
Am 9. Mai wurde der pakistanische Ex-Premier und Oppositionsführer Imran Khan in einer spektakulären Aktion von paramilitärischen Einheiten in einem Gerichtssaal festgenommen. Die darauf folgenden landesweiten Demonstrationen und Ausschreitungen sind nur der vorläufige Höhepunkt eines politischen Machtkampfes, der seit einem Jahr die politischen Institutionen in ihrer Entscheidungsfähigkeit lähmt. Die aktuellen Ereignisse sind Ausdruck einer Verschiebung des etablierten politischen Machtgefüges in Pakistan.
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Oppositionsführer und Ex-Premier Imran Khan verhaftet
Am 9. Mai hat der bereits ein Jahr andauernde Machtkampf zwischen Ex-Premierminister Imran Khan und der aktuellen Koalitionsregierung unter Premier-Minister Shabaz Sharif einen neuen und überraschenden Höhepunkt erreicht: Imran Khan wurde im Gerichtsgebäude von einem Aufgebot paramilitärischer Einheiten festgenommen und unter tumultartigen Umständen weggebracht. Innerhalb kürzester Zeit kam es landesweit in zahlreichen Städten zu gewaltsamen Ausschreitungen und Straßenblockaden seiner Anhänger.
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Nepal’s Democratic Transition: Turbulent but Promising
While the situation in Nepal appears to be chaotic at the moment, what is evident among countries globally that have gone through such transitions is that they have all faced a similar challenge. Nepal’s transition from an authoritarian regime to a multi-party democracy was merely over 30 years ago. Much like other young democracies, Nepal is still struggling to make intricate adjustments on the executive, legislative, and judicial fronts, whilst also ensuring that the problems of the previous system are addressed, and good practices retained.
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Water Diplomacy in South Asia
The policy brief draws attention to certain generic and a few specific patterns related to discourses around water diplomacy. First, an attempt has been undertaken to examine the nature of the mainstream water diplomacy discourse, which has become prominent in recent years with respect to India and her neighbours. In this regard, issues which were often marginalised in existing water diplomacy discourses have been brought to the forefront. Second, a policy framework has been propounded to reconcile these tensions by engaging with the meta and micro narratives of water diplomacy.
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For Freedom
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Born With Pride - Coffee Table Book
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) Regional Office South Asia is thrilled to present to you the latest edition of our remarkable Born with Pride series: a captivating Coffee Table Book.
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Workshop Facilitator for Mental Health
As a part of the 2023 Born with PRIDE Conference and the LGBTQIA+ Hackathon, we are organising a half-day workshop on "Mental Health" designed to train participants on various methods and strategies to promote mental health.
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Workshop Facilitator for Online Safe Space
The workshop on "Creating Safe Online Spaces" is designed to train participants on various methods and strategies to create safe and inclusive online environments for LGBTQIA+ individuals and other individuals.
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Displaced and Stateless People in South Asia
The Tibetan community is faced with a number of issues in their quest for identity and self-determination. The situation in Tibet is deteriorating more than ever in which Xi Jinping has embarked on a hardline policy of assimilation. On the other hand, the Tibetan population is drastically declining in South Asia from a peak of 150,000 due to the outbound migration to the Western countries. There is also the critical issue of succession of the 14th Dalai Lama who will turn 88 years old in 2023 coupled with a weak political leadership and fragility of the Tibetan democracy in exile; and threats to the culture, language and identity of the Tibetan people.
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Rivers As Lifeline for South Asia
On 15 March 2023, a regional conference on Rivers as Lifeline for South Asia is going to be organized at the Hotel Himalaya, Kathmandu by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kathmandu, Samriddhi Foundation and the German Nepal-Friendship Association.
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The War in Ukraine and its Impact: The Maldives Perspective
The impact of Russia's war on Ukraine is being felt acutely across several countries, particularly in the Maldives because of its strong economic ties with Russia and Ukraine, the conflict having reduced the inflow of tourists from these two nations.
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Impact of War in Ukraine: Perspective from Bhutan
The war has impacted countries around the globe and Bhutan is no exception. Bhutan’s ambassador to the UN, Ms. Dolma Tshering, speaking at the emergency meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), stated that the impact of the war could be felt by the small Himalayan nation some thousands of miles away from Ukraine (South Asian Monitor, 2022).
Social Media
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🌈✨ We are honored to introduce our esteemed jury member, Parakram Sjb Rana! 🇳🇵🎥 As a prominent digital creator from Nepal and a proud member of the queer community, Parakram brings a unique perspective and invaluable expertise to our event. Parakram's dedication to amplifying LGBTQ+ voices and using digital platforms for social change is truly inspiring. Their creativity and passion have made a significant impact in advocating for inclusivity, acceptance, and equality. RSVP here: https://fnfsouthasia.typeform.com/c/HGRgrnZK Join us in celebrating Parakram Rana as a vital member of our jury panel. We look forward to their valuable insights, support, and encouragement as they help recognize the remarkable ideas and projects developed by our talented participants. #JuryMemberSpotlight #LGBTQIAPLUSMatters #DigitalCreator #BORNWITHPRIDE
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🌈 Join us in Colombo for the LGBTQIA+ Matters Hackathon on June 6th! 🎉 We're thrilled to invite you to this exciting event where the top 3 teams will present their groundbreaking ideas on LGBTQIA+ issues. 🏳️🌈💡 But that's not all! We're also organizing two workshops that delve deeper into the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community and explore innovative solutions. 🌍✨ Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to be a part of positive change! RSVP now to secure your spot and discover more about the hackathon and workshops. 📅🔒 Let's come together, embrace diversity, and create an inclusive future for all. 🤝💜 Date: June 6th Time: 09:00 AM Location: Taj Samudra, Colombo, Sri Lanka RSVP: https://fnfsouthasia.typeform.com/to/HGRgrnZK For more information, contact us at southasia@freiheit.org. #LGBTQIAMattersHackathon #ColomboEvents #InclusivityMatters #RSVPNow #opportunity #community #diversity
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We are delighted to invite you to our upcoming webinar on "Empowering Bhutan's Civil Society: Overcoming Challenges and Finding Solutions." The aim of this webinar is to shed light on the challenges faced by Bhutan's civil society organizations (CSOs) and discuss potential solutions to empower and strengthen them. Our panel of experts will discuss the role of CSOs in Bhutan, the challenges faced by the sector, and opportunities to forge a way forward. Join us as we explore ways to empower Bhutan's CSOs and create a more vibrant and dynamic civil society. Freitag, 26.05.2023
