Turkmenistan

In FY 2005, the Endowment made four grants for democracy-building programs in Turkmenistan totaling $137,030 These grants covered the following fields of activity:

A) Protecting Human Rights and Providing Legal Assistance

$79,084
To monitor the observance of human rights and promote the principle of the rule of law by providing free legal assistance to the most vulnerable segments of the population, such as refugees, stateless persons, and those persecuted by the regime. In addition to providing legal counsel through legal clinics in Ashgabad and four provincial cities, the programs will conduct seminars for NGO staff, monitor human rights abuses and violations of due process, and provide office support for local NGOs. The publications include a database of Turkmen and international legislation as well as bulletins based on the results of the monitoring activities.

B) Civic Education and NGO Development

$57,946
To expose youth and NGO activists to democratic ideas by conducting programs aimed at improving the system of secondary education. This includes training teachers in interactive methods of instruction and how to incorporate the methods into the curriculum, and making manuals, guides, and samples available for teacher use. NGO development programs will provide evening seminars and individual consultations for staff of newly formed NGOs, and provide office support resources and legal consultations to strengthen the NGOs against government repression.