DUSHANBE, December 11, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The European Union has started funding 5 projects implemented by local and international non-governmental organizations, selected by a Call for Proposals launched in March 2009, under the "European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights", for a total amount of 855 025 Euro, according to the delegation of the European Commission to Tajikistan.

The project "Fair Parliamentary Elections – 2010" implemented by the National Association of Political Scientists of Tajikistan (NAPST), is aimed at assisting the conduct of fair elections through the activation of civil society''s role in the election process, including by training national observers, conducting voter education among youth, women and national minorities, on the election process in the Republic of Tajikistan. The project will cover all regions of the country.

The project "People''s involvement in torture prevention – 2" implemented by the NGO Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) in partnership with NGO "Youth and Civilization", will assist in supporting fair legal proceedings and to prevent torture, through the activation and strengthening the institution of the ''people''s assessors'' in Tajikistan. This is the follow-up to the earlier EU-funded project "People’s involvement in torture prevention" implemented in Sughd in 2008-2009.

The project "Sughd Youth Initiatives" implemented by the NGO "Group of Initiative Volunteers – Accent" in partnership with the Informational, Educational and Cultural Center "Furough", is directed to strengthen the role of youth in promoting democratic reforms in the Sughd region, by supporting activities aimed at the capacity-building of civil society organizations representing youth, including trainings, study tours, workshops and expertise for interested youth organizations.

The project "Enabling Civil Society to Promote the Rights of People with Disabilities" implemented by Mission East and its partners Zarshedabonu and Handicap International, intends to assist local civil society organizations to promote the human rights of one of the most vulnerable groups in Tajikistan – people with disabilities, by reducing their social exclusion and vulnerability and engaging state counterparts in constructive dialogue and action.  The project aims to train Family and Child Support Services (FCSS) staff in four jamoats of the Kulob district (Khatlon) to practice rights-based social, health and education services, to provide quality rehabilitative care and counseling (up to international standards) to children with disabilities and their families.

The project "Dialogue on the relationship between the secular state and religion" by International Alert will be implemented in Dushanbe and the regions, in particular Sughd, Khatlon and the Rasht Valley. The project aims to engage the Tajik State in dialogue with religious communities and resolve tensions between state and society on religious issues. It will contribute towards bridging societal divides and promoting tolerance and understanding of human rights and values through constructive dialogue and exchange of views between representatives of the clergy (Muslim, Christian, Jewish), believers, government representatives, civil society, women activists, intellectuals, youth and the media. Working together with the Public Committee for Development of Tajikistan and the Centre for Strategic Research under the Presidential Administration, a multi-faith/secular working group will be established to develop a concept of state-religious relations.

As stated in the EU Strategy towards Central Asia, the EU strongly believes that strengthening the commitment of Central Asian States to international law, the rule of law, human rights and democratic values, as well as to a market economy, will promote security and stability in Central Asia, thus making the countries of the region reliable partners for the EU with shared common interests and goals.