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, and Sri Lanka. Additionally, we work with partners in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. We promote civic education, training, and the exchange of ideas in the region, focusing on four areas: economic freedom, human rights, urban governance, and digital transformation. In addition to country-specific projects, the Foundation supports regional programs.
News
-
China Navigates a New Afghanistan with the Taliban as its Rulers
Chinese diplomats visiting Kabul, view the American withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover as the beginning of a “new era” of independent development and a transition from “chaos to order.”
-
Democracy in Focus: A Snapshot in South Asia & Europe
The 2025 calendar project, titled "Democracy in Focus: A Snapshot in South Asia & Europe," aims to capture the essence and diversity of democratic practices in South Asia and Europe. Through this initiative, we seek to explore and celebrate how democracy is viewed and experienced differently across cultures, emphasizing its universal importance and the unique expressions it takes around the world.
-
Protecting the Rights of LGBTQIA+ Persons in South Asia through the International Human Rights Framework
The paper should focus on leveraging recent legal advancements and addressing persistent challenges while implementing the international human rights framework in the context of South Asia.
-
Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland: Why a high-level South Asian presence is important
“Peace for Ukraine” is the deepest yearning of citizens, diplomats, foreigners, active defenders and leaders facing the onslaught of the largest country in continental Europe. Even in the face of daily missile and drone strikes, they seek peace on their terms. Bilateral or multilateral talks focused on stopping the war against Ukraine have done little to resolve the crisis over the past two years.
-
Improving India–Europe Defence Cooperation: A New Arms Deal?
-
POWER BALANCE SOUTH ASIA
-
South Asian Perspectives on European Parliament (EP) Election 2024
Exploring South Asian perspectives on the 2024 European Parliament elections, as they navigate potential shifts in aid, trade, migration, and geopolitics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Dark abyss which swallowed my dreams
After two decades, the Taliban returned to Afghanistan in August 2021. From the moment they seized power in Afghanistan, they have been imposing various gender norms and excluding women from education, work, entertainment, and other social, political, and economic activities, and all the while women have been facing severe violence and discrimination.
-
Bhutan’s National Council Election 2023: A setback for women
At the recent National Council (NC) election held on 20th April in Bhutan, only one woman was elected to the 25-member Chamber of Parliament. The result was particularly surprising because women voters outnumbered men in the election.
-
Upcoming presidential election and political situation in the Maldives
The presidential election in the Maldives is fast approaching after a relatively stable government compared to previous governments. The current President Ibrahim Mohamed Salih came to power with the support of some key coalition partners, namely, Jumhooree Party (JP), Adalat Party (AP) and Maumoon Reform Movement (MRM). As many political appointees of the coalition partners are still in office, the coalition is technically intact contrary to the previous full-term governments of President Mohamed Nasheed and President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
-
Navigating China's Economic and Military Rise
The Regional Office of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) is creating eight policy papers, each focusing on a specific South Asian country. We are looking for authors to write these policy papers.
-
For Freedom
-
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.
