The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum organizes district and national-level events to raise awareness of fisherfolk issues.

Asia

See the 2010 Grantee Spotlight on the Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation.

Asia faced a range of challenges in 2010, a year marked by a rapidly deteriorating economic, political and security environment in Pakistan and heightened military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Although the rest of the region — with the noticeable exception of Thailand — remained relatively stable, these tensions threatened to ignite regional conflict. But India and Indonesia, the world’s first and third most populous democracies, further solidified their roles as important regional and global players — demonstrating the compatibility of democracy and development — and challenged the “Asian values” arguments most often articulated by the region’s authoritarian rulers.

In South Asia, the Endowment expanded its programs in Pakistan, which continues to grapple with a daunting list of challenges, including lawlessness, terrorism, corruption, a deteriorating security environment in neighboring Afghanistan, a weak and embattled government, and natural disasters. NED responded to these myriad challenges by increasing support for projects bolstering citizen-led efforts to increase understanding of democratic values, strengthen democratic institutions and processes, and increase civic participation, especially among women, urban youth and minorities. In addition, the Endowment increased support for projects in rural areas where the majority of the population lives. With Endowment funding, the Hyderabad-based Center for Peace and Civil Society worked to promote democratic values through advocacy, training and education while the Karachibased SHERI – Citizens for a Better Environment worked to improve the capacity of police to respond to human rights violations and improve their accountability to the public.

Sri Lanka and Nepal, each of which faced serious and protracted insurgencies until recently, round out the Endowment’s priorities in the Subcontinent. In Nepal, NED supported projects to increase the participation of women and youth in political processes; bolster civic-oriented journalism; and promote human rights, particularly the rights of the dalits. In Sri Lanka, where the government continued to pursue policies that endanger the country’s fragile peace and undermine its democratic credentials, NED concentrated its funding on efforts to strengthen civil society, including labor unions and human rights networks; promote the role of the private sector in policy formulation; engage women in the political process; and expand civil society activity in the war-affected North and East. NED grantee Viluthu raised awareness of social, economic, and cultural rights and encouraged indi­viduals to participate in the civic life of their communities.

NED funding in Bangladesh remained modest, with a core focus on women. CIPE worked to address im­pediments to women’s participation in business and NDI worked to enhance women’s political participation. Optimistic predictions of increased democratic development in mainland Southeast Asia failed to materialize.

Burma held elections for the first time in 20 years, but the elections were a sham and, despite the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, there has been little expansion of political space in Burma. The Endowment continued to prioritize efforts to establish independent centers of political activity inside Burma, including in the ethnic states, and to develop a vibrant and professional independent media. Endowment support enhanced the ability of diverse sectors of society — including monks, students and political activists — to travel, communicate and organize.  :: MORE