South and Central Asia Programs
DRL supports over 25 democracy, human rights, and labor programs in South and Central Asia (SCA). Current funding for DRL programs in SCA exceeds $12 million. Program topics include local governance, mobilization of women voters, access to information, the rule of law, political party development and independent media.
One Central Asia regional program implementer partners with AKIpress, an independent Kyrgyz news service, in the production of daily, informative and objective news which covers all countries in the region. The Central Asia News Service seeks to publish 100 articles per day and uses correspondents in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The News Service will set up a website to publish correspondents' reports and through the aid of an Internet consultant, will conduct online marketing. The News Service will also encourage online-reader feedback from around the world by allowing for reader commentary and discussion following news items. Through the project's regional approach, it will provide information and empower participants in the Central Asia region. Journalists will be trained directly and via the Internet, increasing standards of journalism and building capacity in the Central Asia region. This program is currently in the implementing stage.
Another DRL program implementer contributes to the promotion of a free and fair press in the Central Asia region. Through formal trainings and a news-reporting network, the program offers a web-based news agency. Journalists and trainees from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan provide daily news bulletins posted and distributed electronically to important media, business and government agencies in the region and the world. The program offers the first regional news syndication agency in the region.
Select a country to read about specific programs:
The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.