The Asia Foundation

Worldwide, Gender Based Violence (GBV) is the leading cause of death of women between the ages of 19 and 44 – more than war, cancer, or car accidents. Apart from the individual suffering, it carries high a cost for society and is a major...

Worldwide, Gender Based Violence (GBV) is the leading cause of death of women between the ages of 19 and 44 – more than war, cancer, or car accidents. Apart from the individual suffering, it carries high a cost for society and is a major obstacle to development. This mapping is expected to inform the Gender Based Violence Complaints Handling and Monitoring Unit set up under the Office of the Prime Minister, government ministries, organizations working in the field of GBV, and various other stakeholders on the activities being carried out on GBV around the country and the key actors involved. Thus, this preliminary mapping is expected to set the groundwork for more extensive research to ensure that overlapping and duplication is considerably avoided and to contribute towards the designing of a holistic plan and support for effectively addressing GBV in Nepal.

Religious courts in Indonesia preside over family law cases such as inheritance, marriage, divorce, child support, and child custody. Gender bias has been a significant challenge to the principles of fairness and justice that religious courts...

Religious courts in Indonesia preside over family law cases such as inheritance, marriage, divorce, child support, and child custody. Gender bias has been a significant challenge to the principles of fairness and justice that religious courts in Indonesia are meant to uphold. In recent years, there has been
a growing movement led by religious court judges intent on improving gender equality. The Asia
Foundation is responding to this demand through partnerships with state and civil society actors to
provide religious judges with the knowledge and resources they need to ensure gender equality in
their court decisions.

Religious courts in Indonesia preside over family law cases such as inheritance, marriage, divorce, child support, and child custody. Gender bias has been a significant challenge to the principles of fairness and justice that religious courts...

Religious courts in Indonesia preside over family law cases such as inheritance, marriage, divorce, child support, and child custody. Gender bias has been a significant challenge to the principles of fairness and justice that religious courts in Indonesia are meant to uphold. In recent years, there has been
a growing movement led by religious court judges intent on improving gender equality. The Asia
Foundation is responding to this demand through partnerships with state and civil society actors to
provide religious judges with the knowledge and resources they need to ensure gender equality in
their court decisions.

The Asia Foundation collaborated with a team of Stanford graduate students to conduct a mapping study of current anti-human trafficking efforts in India. This study outlines the social and political context of human trafficking in India,...

The Asia Foundation collaborated with a team of Stanford graduate students to conduct a mapping study of current anti-human trafficking efforts in India. This study outlines the social and political context of human trafficking in India, evaluates the current NGO, donor, &  government efforts to fight trafficking, and recommends promising interventions based on current gaps and 'best practice' approaches.

The Asia Foundation collaborated with a team of Stanford graduate students to conduct a mapping study of current anti-human trafficking efforts in India. This document contains research that was conducted as background for the report,...

The Asia Foundation collaborated with a team of Stanford graduate students to conduct a mapping study of current anti-human trafficking efforts in India. This document contains research that was conducted as background for the report, including analysis of the legal framework, profiles of states included in the study, and an overview of different types of counter-trafficking interventions.

The Asia Foundation is committed to advancing women's rights and enhancing the role of women in Indonesia's democratic and economic development. Drawing on nearly 55 years of experience in Indonesia and across Asia, the Foundation partners...

The Asia Foundation is committed to advancing women's rights and enhancing the role of women in Indonesia's democratic and economic development. Drawing on nearly 55 years of experience in Indonesia and across Asia, the Foundation partners with both civil society and government to support innovative initiatives that increase women's participation in the policy-making process; increase the representation of women in legislatures; push for greater budget transparency and equitable budget allocations; raise awareness of gender issues; and secure women's rights.

The Asia Foundation is committed to advancing women's rights and enhancing the role of women in Indonesia's democratic and economic development. Drawing on nearly 55 years of experience in Indonesia and across Asia, the Foundation partners...

The Asia Foundation is committed to advancing women's rights and enhancing the role of women in Indonesia's democratic and economic development. Drawing on nearly 55 years of experience in Indonesia and across Asia, the Foundation partners with both civil society and government to support innovative initiatives that increase women's participation in the policy-making process; increase the representation of women in legislatures; push for greater budget transparency and equitable budget allocations; raise awareness of gender issues; and secure women's rights.

In Mongolia, trafficking in persons for commercial and sexual exploitation is on the rise, though relatively few cases have been tried, and fewer perpetrators convicted. Law enforcement and judicial officials face daunting challenges in...

In Mongolia, trafficking in persons for commercial and sexual exploitation is on the rise, though relatively few cases have been tried, and fewer perpetrators convicted. Law enforcement and judicial officials face daunting challenges in their efforts to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate human trafficking cases. Though Mongolian anti-trafficking statutes were significantly strengthened in early 2008, weaknesses remain in the interpretation and implementation of the legal code.

Vietnamese version of press release announcing a new grant of $500,000 from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for a two-year project to strengthen the Government of Vietnam's ongoing anti-trafficking efforts in the...

Vietnamese version of press release announcing a new grant of $500,000 from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for a two-year project to strengthen the Government of Vietnam's ongoing anti-trafficking efforts in the Mekong Delta. The new project will reach 40,000 students through education and training.

For more than 20 years, The Asia Foundation has worked to empower Nepali women. Nepal is one of the least-developed countries in the world and experiences high rates of poverty, exacerbating the cultural disadvantages faced by Nepali...

For more than 20 years, The Asia Foundation has worked to empower Nepali women. Nepal is one of the least-developed countries in the world and experiences high rates of poverty, exacerbating the cultural disadvantages faced by Nepali women. To increase women’s opportunities and improve their status, the Foundation has protected women’s legal rights and reformed discriminatory laws and policies; provided educational scholarships to disadvantaged girls; supported vocational training and job placement for young women at-risk of trafficking and trafficking survivors; and trained women to run for elected office to ensure their needs are reflected in public decisionmaking.

Violence against women is one of the most prevalent and destructive problems women face worldwide, often resulting in debilitating physical and psychological trauma. This serious problem is deeply-rooted in women's low status within...

Violence against women is one of the most prevalent and destructive problems women face worldwide, often resulting in debilitating physical and psychological trauma. This serious problem is deeply-rooted in women's low status within society—a problem The Asia Foundation works to address on many fronts. Our programs work with entire communities to change negative attitudes and social customs that condone violence against women. We also work to prevent violence and address the immediate needs of victims by supporting shelters and providing counselling, legal aid, and vocational skills to help women rebuild their lives.

For over 50 years, The Asia Foundation has been cooperating with Indonesian organizations to expand women’s rights and opportunities, and enable them to participate and be effective leaders in the political and economic life of their...

For over 50 years, The Asia Foundation has been cooperating with Indonesian organizations to expand women’s rights and opportunities, and enable them to participate and be effective leaders in the political and economic life of their society.

Human trafficking is one of the most serious human rights challenges confronting the world today. The Asia Foundation's presence across the Asia-Pacific region for more than 50 years, and its network of over 60 local counter-trafficking...

Human trafficking is one of the most serious human rights challenges confronting the world today. The Asia Foundation's presence across the Asia-Pacific region for more than 50 years, and its network of over 60 local counter-trafficking partners, gives us the unique ability to work both nationally and across borders to combat this egregious human rights violation.

The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Program is committed to improving the lives and livelihood of women throughout Pakistan. With over 54 years of experience on-the-ground in Pakistan, our programs include initiatives to...

The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Program is committed to improving the lives and livelihood of women throughout Pakistan. With over 54 years of experience on-the-ground in Pakistan, our programs include initiatives to encourage women to vote, raise women’s awareness of their rights, and give women the skills to earn an income. The Asia Foundation has just completed a very successful 18-month long program to empower impoverished women in eight provinces in Pakistan. The goal of the project was to train women to use new technologies and understand markets so that they could become successful as entrepreneurs.

Since 1999, The Asia Foundation has implemented groundbreaking programs that help protect working women in China from exploitation and provide them with opportunities to improve their lives. Our programs provide direct services for migrant...

Since 1999, The Asia Foundation has implemented groundbreaking programs that help protect working women in China from exploitation and provide them with opportunities to improve their lives. Our programs provide direct services for migrant women, including HIV/AIDS education, and legal aid; strengthen enforcement of labor laws to increase protections of workers; facilitate integration into their new communities; and give women the opportunity to enhance their skills and continue their education to give them more and better options.

Educate a girl, and her life is changed forever. With an education, she will have better economic opportunities, have healthier and fewer children, and be more likely to send her children to school. Sadly, however, in many developing countries...

Educate a girl, and her life is changed forever. With an education, she will have better economic opportunities, have healthier and fewer children, and be more likely to send her children to school. Sadly, however, in many developing countries in Asia girls are still often kept out of school and many women are unable to read and write. Women who lack education and skills are often trapped in a menacing cycle of illiteracy, poverty, and abuse. Our programs create new opportunities for women and girls to escape from this trap.

The Asia Foundation and its Asian partners help women develop the skills they need to run effective political campaigns and build broad-based public support. Our programs encourage women to engage in political and decisionmaking processes...

The Asia Foundation and its Asian partners help women develop the skills they need to run effective political campaigns and build broad-based public support. Our programs encourage women to engage in political and decisionmaking processes and contribute to increased government accountability to all citizens.

The Asia Foundation has worked with Asian governments and local partner organizations for over 50 years to support and strengthen legal systems so they can more effectively protect women's rights. Together with our local partners, we...

The Asia Foundation has worked with Asian governments and local partner organizations for over 50 years to support and strengthen legal systems so they can more effectively protect women's rights. Together with our local partners, we provide communities with information on their rights under national law and provide women with free legal aid to empower them with the knowledge, courage, and support to claim their rights and take control of their lives.

The women of Afghanistan face a number of daunting social and humanitarian challenges. Two of the most pressing are the inability to participate fully in all aspects of Afghan society and the lack of access to education. The Asia...

The women of Afghanistan face a number of daunting social and humanitarian challenges. Two of the most pressing are the inability to participate fully in all aspects of Afghan society and the lack of access to education. The Asia Foundation supports the Ministry of Women’s Affairs Initiative to Support Policy and Advocacy (MISPA). MISPA is committed to strengthening the Ministry’s skills in leadership, communication, outreach, and networking among staff at the national level as well at the provincial level through the 34 local offices.

This report examines the incidence of prostitution and human trafficking at mine sites across Mongolia. It includes surveys with 300 community members at eight sites, both soum and bagh centers and mine sites, as well as surveys of 16 sex...

This report examines the incidence of prostitution and human trafficking at mine sites across Mongolia. It includes surveys with 300 community members at eight sites, both soum and bagh centers and mine sites, as well as surveys of 16 sex workers at six mine sites. Interviews were conducted from July 20 to July 30, 2008 by teams organized by the Population Teaching and Research Center (PTRC) under the direction of Dr. Enkhtsetseg Byambaa with funding from The Asia Foundation.

Mongolian Version: his report examines the incidence of prostitution and human trafficking at mine sites across Mongolia. It includes surveys with 300 community members at eight sites, both soum and bagh centers and mine sites, as well as...

Mongolian Version: his report examines the incidence of prostitution and human trafficking at mine sites across Mongolia. It includes surveys with 300 community members at eight sites, both soum and bagh centers and mine sites, as well as surveys of 16 sex workers at six mine sites.
Interviews were conducted from July 20 to July 30, 2008 by teams organized by the Population Teaching and Research Center (PTRC) under the direction of Dr. Enkhtsetseg Byambaa with funding from The Asia Foundation.

Lessons learned and practical experiences for future program design and implementation. 2002-2008. The report features an overview culled from The Foundation's experience in implementing program interventions in collaboration with an expanding...

Lessons learned and practical experiences for future program design and implementation. 2002-2008. The report features an overview culled from The Foundation's experience in implementing program interventions in collaboration with an expanding network of local and international partners that share our commitment to bettering the lives of trafficking victims and protecting those at-risk of being trafficked.