DUSHANBE, November 20, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A roundtable entitled “Human Rights Internet-Initiatives and Online Journalism in Central Asia” will take place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on November 24.

The event is organized by the Office of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) in Kyrgyzstan in the framework of the project, Protection of Human Rights and Human Rights Education through Media in Central Asia, which is sponsored by the European Commission.

According to the IWPR Dushanbe Office, the meeting will bring together representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to discuss issues related to freedom of speech in Internet across the Central Asian region.

The meeting participants that include representatives of government bodies, journalists, MPs and representatives from public associations and international organizations active in the region will also discuss prospective directions for development of online journalism in Central Asia.

The meeting is expected to result in development of recommendations for the Central Asian government, media community and civil sector on raising effectiveness of information resources.

According to data of Internet World Stats, which is an international website that features up to date world Internet, as of August 31, 2009, the Internet penetration rated was 14.9 percent or Kazakhstan, 15.6 percent for Kyrgyzstan, 8.2 percent for Tajikistan and 1.5 percent for Turkmenistan.