Europe and Eurasia

HUMAN RIGHTS NGO RESOURCE CENTERS IN UZBEKISTAN

In Uzbekistan, Freedom House opened the first human rights non-governmental organization (NGO) resource center in Tashkent in October 2002. The center experiences a high volume of human rights defenders using the resources available at the center including computers and Internet access, and local human rights defenders use the center to hold regular meetings and press conferences. Freedom House has received numerous requests to open other resource centers in other parts of the country. Freedom House has begun hosting round table discussions on specific human rights topics, including torture, the death penalty, and the International Helsinki Federation Charter. The U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan has requested that USAID begin a similar program in Kazakhstan.

ALBANIA

The human rights situation in Albania continues to improve, but remains poor in many areas. These problems stem primarily from political instability, a weak judiciary and widespread corruption. To address Albania's human rights and democracy weaknesses, the 2002-2003 U.S. human rights and democracy strategy for Albania stresses the promotion of democracy and civil society, combating corruption, developing a free and responsible press, providing assistance on police reform, encouraging freedom of religion and assisting victims of human trafficking.

The Embassy organized International Visitors Programs for Government officials involved in the fight against organized crime and corruption.

ARMENIA

Armenia’s human rights record is poor. To pursue its 2002-2003 human rights and democracy strategy for Armenia, U.S. officials work with international and domestic human rights groups, as well as with Armenian government agencies, to encourage the Government to guarantee democratic electoral processes, freedom of the media, assembly, and religion, more respect for the rights of prisoners, women, children and persons with disabilities and to reform the judicial process and increase government transparency at all levels. U.S. assistance to support this strategy in Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 totaled approximately $12 million.

Recent elections have not met OSCE standards. Since 2002-03 are election years in Armenia (local in October 2002, presidential in February and March 2003, and legislative in May 2003), the U.S. human rights strategy has focused heavily on the need for fair, open, and transparent elections. USAID has worked with the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to train election observers and proxies, establishing Voter List Advisory Committees (VLACs) to correct and update voter lists, and publish 10,000 copies of the electoral code for use by local election officials, media, and NGOs. The American Bar Association’s Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI) has trained judges on election adjudication. In addition, USAID donated workstations and other office equipment to Territorial Election Commissions (TECs).

In the first round of the presidential elections (February 19) and the second round (March 5), more than 20 Embassy officers and family members worked as part of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) monitoring effort, visiting precincts across the country and following the vote count. An even larger number of Embassy staff assisted the OSCE/ODIHR effort as translators and drivers. A similar effort is planned for the legislative elections May 25. For months before and during the presidential campaign, the Ambassador and Embassy officials used press conferences, media interviews, and meetings with presidential candidates (including the President), politicians, and the head of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to press the need for fair, honest, and transparent voting procedures and vote counting and for timely dissemination of results. This effort won considerable favorable publicity in the Armenian media. The Secretary of State sent a letter to President Kocharian on the need for the presidential election to meet OSCE standards and made the same point to the Armenian Foreign Minister. Following both election rounds, the Department of State issued press statements; the final statement concluded that “Armenia’s leadership missed an important opportunity to advance democratization by holding a credible election.”

Linked to the human rights focus on elections is an emphasis on professionalism, openness, and equal access in the media, sometimes a significant problem area in Armenia, especially during the pre-election period in 2003. USAID worked with the International Research and Exchanges (IREX) Board/ProMedia to publish election information supplements for insert in newspapers and to conduct training classes on election coverage. A USAID grantee, Internews, organized a seminar for local journalists on election reporting and journalistic ethics, and another grantee helped organize candidate debates. Internews generally assists media outlets to become politically independent, increases citizens' access to unbiased information, and advances a fair legal environment for media. After the independent television station “A-One Plus” lost its frequency, the Embassy demarched the Government on restrictions of press freedom and the Ambassador stressed to Armenian officials the necessity for the opposition to be guaranteed equal access to air time. USAID supported the Eurasia Foundation in financing a private printing press for newspapers as an alternative to the state-operated facility, and worked with Junior Achievement of Armenia to continue a civic education program in secondary schools. The Embassy continues its effort to establish "Internet classrooms" in Armenian secondary schools to give children access to a broad range of opinions and ideas; by the end of 2002 the program included 120 schools and will be expanded in 2003.

In the area of religious rights, only the Armenian Apostolic Church has the right to proselytize since Armenian law imposes a number of restrictions on all other religious groups. However, both the Government and minority religious groups say that these restrictions are not enforced. The only religious group with restrictions currently being tried in the Armenian courts is the Jehovah's Witnesses (JW). The Embassy has worked closely with local and international JW officials to raise their concerns with the Government about registration problems and prisoners convicted of conscientious objection. The Embassy observes JW trials for proselytizing. According to JW, as of April 28^th, there were 20 prisoners being held for conscientious objections in Armenia. Several had their sentences lengthened upon appeal, and higher courts upheld those sentences. This harsh treatment continues despite Armenia’s membership in the Council of Europe (COE), and obligations to which it agreed upon acceding to the COE.

In the area of worker rights, such as collective bargaining and the ratification of ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor, U.S. officials continue to press the Government directly and through international institutions to remedy deficiencies in the enforcement of these rights.

Trafficking in persons has become a growing area for our human rights efforts. With State Department funding, the Embassy is working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and domestic NGOs to establish public awareness programs and to break down prejudice towards victims of trafficking among law enforcement officials and the population in general. The Embassy works with ABA/CEELI to assist the Government to write fair and comprehensive laws covering trafficking in persons. Two International Visitors programs have been reserved to send Government officials and NGO members to the U.S. for training on American anti-trafficking programs and legal structure.

Finally, any account of American aid must mention the efforts of the Peace Corps Volunteers, who have been working in Armenia since 1994. Their efforts on the local scene in the fields of education, awareness of legal rights, and other areas have been enormous, have had a significant local impact, and have won immense and justified gratitude from the Armenian people.

AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan’s human rights record remains poor. The 2002-2003 U.S. human rights and democracy strategy for Azerbaijan addresses a wide range of critical issues, including respect for human rights and the rule of law, support for democratic processes, civil society, media and religious freedom, and anti-trafficking efforts. U.S. assistance in support of this strategy totaled approximately $8 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2002.

A strong civil society is integral to democracy. The U.S. therefore continues to support the development of civil society in Azerbaijan. For example, in 2002 the U.S. launched a two-year program designed to strengthen the ability of 36 NGOs to effectively represent the interests of a well-defined constituency. Democracy Commission grants have supported a variety of projects ranging from resource centers for NGO development to support for the publication of NGO newsletters. Embassy officers have traveled throughout Azerbaijan to support NGO activities. The Embassy also works closely with the Government to help improve cooperation between the Government and NGOs. In 2002 the Embassy gave the new Ombudsman's office a grant to help her improve the Government's role in resolving complaints about human rights violations.

Another focus of U.S. efforts was the development of a free and responsible media. U.S. funding through the NGO Internews supported the professional development of journalists and advocacy for media rights. U.S funding enabled Internews to produce three weekly television programs, and to provide extensive ongoing technical and programming support to several independent television stations. Democracy Commission grants have supported newspaper production and trained journalists in how to avoid and defend themselves against libel charges. The Ambassador, other Embassy officials, and visiting U.S. officials also repeatedly urged the Government of Azerbaijan to respect media freedom.

The U.S. has worked actively to encourage respect for religious freedom. The Embassy and officials in Washington maintained close connections with the local religious community and met frequently with government officials to stress the importance of respecting religious freedom. Intervention by the Ambassador helped a local religious bookstore obtain permission to import religious books, including Bibles. Embassy and Department officials met with Azerbaijani officials and participated in an OSCE conference on religious freedom that was held in Baku.

The U.S. also has used programs to encourage greater religious tolerance and respect for religious freedom. In spring 2002 the Embassy organized a very successful visit by Imam Hendi of Georgetown University to Azerbaijan, where he spoke about Islam in America. The State Department hosted an International Visitors Program for the chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations. The Embassy actively spread the message about religious tolerance and Islam in America throughout the year, including at an Iftar dinner hosted by the Ambassador in November. In the fall, embassy officers visited numerous Azerbaijani universities to talk about religious tolerance and U.S.-Azerbaijani relations, and to distribute literature on the subject.

Trafficking in persons is a problem. The U.S. therefore promoted anti-trafficking measures and effective preventive mechanisms in meetings with Government officials, and through programs that included an anti-trafficking awareness campaign conducted by NGOs. The U.S. partially funded a trafficking research study by the International Organization for Migration. U.S. officials visited the region to discuss the issue, and Azerbaijani officials were invited on international visitors programs on trafficking, and to the Department’s anti-trafficking conference in Washington.

The Lukashenko regime’s human rights record remains very poor. The 2002-2003 U.S. human rights and democracy strategy for Belarus addresses a wide range of critical issues, including respect for human rights, accountability for the disappearance of well-known opposition political figures and a journalist, the rule of law, the development of a democratic political and electoral process, support for civil society, media and religious freedom, worker rights, and anti-trafficking efforts. U.S. assistance in support of this strategy totaled approximately $7.5 million in Fiscal Year 2002.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Members of the security forces continue to commit serious human rights abuses, including torture or beatings to extract confessions or money. The U.S. is attempting to address this problem through a five-year plan to develop and equip an independent forensic laboratory and train its management and staff as part of an effort to increase the overall effectiveness of law enforcement agencies and decrease the tendency of these agencies to rely on forced confessions. To address pervasive corruption in law enforcement agencies, the U.S. works in conjunction with the European Union to aid Georgian officials in reforming the “power ministries”, which include the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of State Security and the Procuracy.

Judicial independence does not yet exist. In order to strengthen the rule of law in Georgia, the U.S. continued to provide assistance in 2002. This supported judicial reform, ethics training for judges, and administration of judicial qualification exams through Department of Justice and USAID programs. The U.S. supported implementation of the Law on the Bar through the development of a new national bar association, including bar examinations, and assistance in drafting a Code of Ethics for advocates. With U.S. funding, the American Bar Association provided training to judges and the criminal prosecution and defense bar on the provisions and application of a projected new Code of Criminal Procedure. U.S. activities in support of the implementation of a variety of laws including the Law on Freedom of Speech increased civic awareness of legal rights. U.S. programs also enhanced Georgian citizens' knowledge of their rights as well as their access to legal counsel by supporting legal clinics and legal service centers across Georgia.

Georgia’s elections have been criticized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other observers. U.S. assistance therefore continued to support the development of a democratic electoral process in Georgia. Such assistance supported efforts to increase voter education and participation by young voters, and assistance to the election administration. The U.S. also supports political party development and candidate training. The Ambassador has been an active participant in the Ambassadorial Working Group on Elections, which has repeatedly encouraged the highest levels of the Government to ensure elections that meet OSCE standards. The Ambassador and his staff also regularly meet with party leaders and non-governmental organization (NGO) observers.

A strong civil society is integral to democracy. The U.S. therefore continued to provide support to Georgia’s civil society. For example, the “Citizens Advocate!” program strengthened local NGO and community organizational skills, with an emphasis on expanding the constituency base and developing sustainable financial support. With U.S. assistance, local organizations raised public awareness of governmental and societal roots of corruption and encouraged wider understanding and proper application of the Administrative Code to curtail abuse by government officials.

The U.S. continued to support development of independent media. The U.S. brought four professional media trainers to Georgia for 2-6 weeks each in the areas of radio network management, professional press spokespersons and television newsroom management. The U.S. brought a Georgian state television crew and print journalist to the U.S. to enhance reporting on freedom of religion, human rights and the global war on terrorism. The U.S. supported a program to improve media professionalism and financial viability. The program supported training for print and broadcast media, including basic business management skills. It also supported improvements in Georgia’s regulatory and legal framework to allow independent media to operate with fewer impediments.

The U.S. Government advocated throughout the year for improvements in the country’s judicial systems, including prison conditions and the right to a fair public trial. On prison reform, the Embassy conducted one exchange program with prison officials and non-governmental organization (NGO) activists, encouraged government-led human rights training seminars for prison officials, and included this key area in direct small grant support, through two grants to support supplementary educational campaigns among prison guards on the rights of prisoners (over $18,000). By promoting alternatives to confinement such as parole and community service through these programs and public statements, the U.S. played a large role in the passage in December of legislation further humanizing the criminal justice system.

The U.S. Embassy was the only foreign mission to send observers to every day of three politically motivated trials during the year. In conjunction with repeated demarches, the Ambassador raised all three cases at the highest levels of government. The Embassy publicly criticized the process in each case and continued forceful advocacy on behalf of the three convicted individuals, including repeated requests to the Government to monitor the conditions of their confinement.

U.S. officials worked throughout the year to encourage the Government to increase political freedom, which suffered a setback with the passage of restrictive political party legislation. U.S.-funded assistance programs made possible multi-party training workshops for several political parties that focused on organizational, strategic, and message development. This helped each party to produce a multi-year organizational development plan, and also helped educate them on multi-party democracy. This assistance helped counteract the restrictive political party legislation and resulted in many more parties competing for re-registration than had been expected at the time of the law's passage. In December 2002, the Embassy's Democracy Commission was able to award quickly two grants to NGOs conducting election monitoring and exit polling in parliamentary by-elections that had been called shortly before and took place at the end of that month. These NGOs documented widespread instances of fraud and other voting irregularities, and publicized their findings throughout the country, holding the Central Election Commission accountable for following the law and its own rules.

The long-term goals of the U.S. assistance strategy --building civil society and educating the next generation -- continued through the turbulent year and into 2003. A small public affairs grant went to "Dauir" Publishing House to publish 6,675 copies of a civics textbook "Introduction to Civic Education," in both the Russian and Kazakh languages. This project built on USAID programs aimed at students and teachers of civics courses at secondary schools throughout Kazakhstan. These efforts (textbooks, democracy summer camps, debate clubs and student local government days) enabled more than 30,000 young people to learn civic responsibility, tolerance, and respect for human rights.

To promote freedom of speech and show strong support for the activities of independent media in Kazakhstan, the Embassy's Democracy Commission awarded a grant to the media monitoring NGO Adil Soz, to participate in a government-sponsored working group on proposed new media legislation in Astana. Through this approach the Embassy was able to forestall the likelihood that more restrictions to freedom of speech would quickly be enacted. Several exchange programs and USG funding for two media assistance programs enabled journalists to increase their professionalism and media outlets to develop sustainable strategies for financial independence. These approaches, reinforced by messages to the Government by the Ambassador and other senior USG officials, all helped send the message to the Government that a vital independent media must exist.

On religious freedom, the Embassy repeatedly demarched senior government officials on restrictive religious legislation, resulting in the defeat of the bill in the Constitutional Council. The Embassy also supported religious tolerance with appearances and speeches by the Ambassador at events of religious minorities and exchange programs to foster understanding in the Muslim community.

There was also intensive U.S. engagement on the issue of refugee rights. Through repeated demarches by the Ambassador, close coordination with Washington, and cooperation with international organizations, the Government was successfully persuaded to take the unprecedented step of not deporting a prominent dissident back to another country in the former Soviet Union. The U.S. has maintained the pressure to pass implementing legislation, as required by its accession to 1951 Refugee Convention, in order to formalize the Government's international obligation to those fearing persecution.

The U.S. Government was highly engaged on rule of law issues, such as arbitrary arrest and excessive use of force. The Embassy raised with the Government objections to the politically motivated nature of the January 5, 2002, arrest of opposition parliamentarian Azimbek Beknazarov. Embassy officials also met with Beknazarov supporters who launched a hunger strike in Bishkek.

Following the shooting deaths of five protesters by security forces on March 17, 2002, in Aksy district, the Ambassador pressed Government officials to ensure that the perpetrators of the shootings be brought to justice and to address causes of civil discontent. Following police harassment and detention of protesters in Bishkek in mid-November, the Embassy released a public statement expressing support for Kyrgyz citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of expression. The Ambassador met with the Bishkek mayor to urge respect for citizens’ right to hold public meetings.

Through participation in the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, Kyrgyz military officers were provided with training that reinforced military reform initiatives aimed at creating a more professional and democratic force.

The Ambassador on several occasions delivered demarches to the previous VMRO-DPMNE-led Government of Macedonia condemning police killings. During VMRO-DPMNE’s tenure in the governing coalition (until September 2002), both police and the Public Prosecutor continued to inappropriately detain and/or arrest ex-combatants of the 2001 conflict in violation of the amnesty agreement that helped end the conflict and a subsequent amnesty law passed in 2001. On several occasions before the new Government was elected, the Ambassador demarched the Public Prosecutor, who was replaced after elections, and secured the release of persons arrested in violation of the amnesty law. The Government that took power after the September 2002 elections has cooperated more with the international community regarding human rights policy.

The U.S. Government engaged in direct human rights advocacy. In August, the Ambassador led a successful international effort to free five ethnic Macedonians who had been kidnapped by ethnic Albanian radicals. In July, Embassy officials successfully defused an armed standoff near the town of Zelino that threatened to rekindle hostilities. The U.S. also provided $120,000 to the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) to establish a presence in the country and to begin working on the issue of missing persons resulting from the armed conflict of 2001.

The Embassy worked with the Government of Macedonia, with American non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and contractors, and with local civil society groups to ensure that the constitutional changes mandated by the FWA passed Parliament and that relevant laws on a variety of human rights issues were subsequently drafted and passed. Among the laws affected by the FWA were several pertaining to decentralization of powers, which put more rights in the hands of citizens. USAID contractors provided expert advice to Macedonia's association of mayors, helping them to lobby for their rights to the central Government drafters of these new laws. Expert advisors funded by USAID worked via the American Bar Association’s Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative with government drafters to improve the quality of the Ombudsman law -- one of the laws affected by the FWA -- and ensure that it met international standards. They also advised courts on ways to modernize their activities and laws. USAID provided the Court Modernization Project, which was implemented by Development Alternatives, Inc, with $1.65 million.

U.S. funds supported the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which in September oversaw parliamentary elections that were deemed "free and fair" and were widely considered the best that Macedonia has experienced in its ten-year history as an independent country. The Embassy fielded 40 teams to monitor the elections. USAID funded 12 local NGOs to conduct non-partisan voter education and voter motivation activities. The U.S. gave $635,000 to the International Republican Institute (IRI), which worked with a local NGO to conduct the country's first legitimate exit poll, and gave $860,000 to the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which developed an electoral code of conduct and obtained signatures and a commitment to comply from all political parties. Another USAID-funded local NGO conducted a parallel vote count and election monitoring to boost public confidence in the election outcome. Finally, the U.S. Government provided $800,000 to the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) for an election reform project and $2.5 million to Democratic Alternatives, Inc., for a local government reform project.

A national census, called for in the FWA, was carried out in November. Through USAID, the U.S. Bureau of the Census offered expert assistance to Macedonia's State Statistical Office that helped ensure the most professional and fair census in the state's history. The census enumeration, which met international standards, was accepted by all significant local groups. An accurate census will ensure more democratic elections and less voter fraud.

The U.S. worked to support comprehensive and systematic training to improve the journalistic skills of local media, including efforts to enhance diversity and minority reporting and hiring. Via the International Research Exchanges (IREX) Board, the U.S. Government provided $1 million for a Professional Media Program and $250,000 for children's educational, multi-ethnic television programming. On a parallel track, Embassy officials regularly distributed information on human rights to key contacts in the media, NGOs, think tanks, and other local groups.

Through interactions with local representatives and officials and funding, U.S. officials worked toward improving protection and awareness of human rights in the country. The U.S. Government gave grants for the establishment of a Human Rights Center in Bender, located in the separatist Transnistria region where the human rights situation is worse and the non-governmental organization (NGO) sector weaker than in the rest of Moldova, and to the League for the Defense of Human Rights Center for human rights training, roundtables, seminars, a bulletin, and legal counseling. It also supported Amnesty International Moldova for seminars to raise students' awareness of human rights and promote their participation in public life.

The U.S. Government continues to encourage elections that meet OSCE standards, both diplomatically and programmatically. In order to promote transparency and electoral fairness, the Embassy awarded a Democracy Fund grant to organize training seminars for 70 independent observers to monitor the election for governor of the autonomous Gagauz region in October. The Embassy awarded a discretionary grant to an NGO to organize a conference on “The Electoral Process and Civic Participation,” which dealt with issues related to the May 2003 local elections and funded another NGO with a Democracy Fund grant to conduct get-out-the-vote activities and poll worker training. Embassy personnel also observed the local election in Gagauzia in October 2002 and will participate in the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission in May 2003.

To foster human rights and democracy, the U.S. Government supported efforts to build democratic institutions and accountability in the country. For example, USAID's local government reform program supported transparency and accountability, as well as capacity building, in local government. Public hearings and outreach were integral parts of local strategic planning.

The U.S. Government continued to monitor religious freedom and to report on the recent proposed draft Law on Religion.

Trafficking in persons (TIP) has been a very serious problem in Moldova. This problem has begun to receive greater attention from the Moldovan government. The U.S. has given considerable attention to this problem and obligated $263,922 in FY 2002 to work with Moldovan authorities and NGOs to rehabilitate trafficking victims and prevent trafficking. The Ambassador initiated an ongoing series of coordination meetings between donor countries and intergovernmental organizations, to guarantee that international efforts are effective and non-duplicative. The U.S. Government funded a rehabilitation shelter and other programs for repatriated trafficking victims that provided medical tests and treatment, psychological support, lodging, meals, and parental education and job training. Through a grant to the Center for the Prevention of Trafficking in Women, the Embassy funded an anti-trafficking informational campaign, a hotline for legal and psychological assistance, along with seminars for social workers, prosecutors, police officers, border guards, and customs officials. The Center opened a branch office in Ungheni in July 2002. USAID also completed an anti-trafficking assessment, which led to the design of a new program to prevent trafficking, drawing on the experience of existing job creation programs. To assist women vulnerable to trafficking, the U.S. Government also funded a program to provide women's empowerment courses, crisis hotline assistance, support and training for female entrepreneurs, and job skills training and support.

Promote awareness of and respect for human rights, religious freedom and tolerance in Russia through public and quiet diplomacy as well as direct and indirect support for non-governmental organizations (NGOs); encourage development of a fair and impartial judicial and criminal justice system and fair and professional law enforcement bodies through criminal justice reform, professional training and exchanges; protect citizen's rights by encouraging implementation of the new Code of Criminal Procedure; develop human rights educational programs for the judiciary, military and law enforcement; promote anti-trafficking measures;

Promote an open, transparent, and representative democratic political system in Russia through diplomatic and programmatic support for the formation and development of democratic attitudes, processes and institutions, including parties, citizens' organizations, and governmental institutions; and

Promote the development and functioning of a vibrant civil society, including an independent and diverse press and electronic media, widespread access to the Internet, independent citizens' groups, and labor unions.

U.S. assistance in support of this strategy totaled approximately $40 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2002.

The conflict in Chechnya remains the gravest human rights issue for Russia. The Ambassador and other senior U.S. officials regularly express concern and continue their dialogue with Russian political and military leaders and Russian and American NGOs, on the conduct of the Russian military in Chechnya. In this connection, U.S. officials have stressed that human rights violations committed by Russian forces in Chechnya need to be curtailed and abusers held accountable, and that the broader conflict in Chechnya cannot be resolved militarily and instead requires a political solution. For example, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky raised Chechnya human rights concerns with Deputy Foreign Minister Fedotov, and the Ambassador and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for European Affairs raised concerns with Presidential aide Yastrzhembskiy this year. To convey our continuing concern, the U.S. voted for the EU resolution on Chechnya at the 2003 U.N. Commission on Human Rights. The U.S. pressed the Russians, who did not agree, to extend the mandate of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Chechnya -- including its human rights monitoring function –- at the end of 2002. The U.S., in calling for an end to terrorist acts and violence against civilians, has called on the Chechen leadership to repudiate terrorism in word and deed and to cut all ties to Chechen and international terrorists.

The U.S. has supported human rights through a variety of technical assistance projects. For example, in FYs 2002 and 2003, the U.S. supported efforts by Russian human rights activists to build demand for respect for human rights. The project is funding the collection of data on Russian citizens’ attitudes towards democratic practices, a variety of human rights, and various aspects of the war in Chechnya. The project is also funding the training of human rights activists in the use of data and other social marketing techniques in order to mount public awareness campaigns in the regions on human rights. U.S. FY 2003 programs support an increase in the role and capacity of regional NGOs and human rights ombudsmen and commissions.

The U.S. provided expert advice to legislators, prosecutors, judicial and law enforcement officials to facilitate the development and functioning of a modern, independent judiciary and a fair, impartial criminal justice system and provided training and exchange opportunities in FY 2002. The Embassy continues to monitor and assist in the implementation of the new Criminal Procedure Code. The 2001 Criminal Procedure Code is turning the rights promised in Russia’s constitution into practical law, with arrest and detention authority transferred from prosecutor to courts on July 1, 2002, and the defense placed on equal footing with the state. Phased implementation of the new Code was supported by U.S.-funded expert advice and logistical assistance, and training for judges, prosecutors, attorneys, law enforcement officials, legislators, and the remaining 80 regions preparing for jury trials.

Through participation in International Military Education and Training (IMET), Russian military and law enforcement personnel were provided with training to observe the rights of citizens by adhering to the new Code of Criminal Procedure and in human rights awareness. The Russian Leadership/Open World Program expands ties in part between the Russian judiciary, procuracy and defense bar and their U.S. counterparts.

The U.S. Government advocated throughout the year for improvements in the country's law enforcement and judicial systems, including prisons. Embassy officials increased engagement with the Interior and Justice Ministries and distributed materials on international human rights norms. The Embassy launched several bilateral assistance programs in the areas of nonproliferation, military-to-military assistance, and law enforcement. At year's end, U.S. officials secured Government approval of a Letter of Agreement on International Law Enforcement and Narcotics Control assistance, which included binding provisions regarding accountability for gross violators of human rights and was signed in January 2003.

U.S. officials worked throughout the year to encourage the Government to increase political freedom. Following U.S. engagement, the Ministry of Justice registered a new opposition party at year's end, the first since 1999. Embassy representatives met regularly with the leadership of all political parties to urge them to participate fully in the political process while embracing democratic ideals, and sent monitors to observe several parliamentary by-elections during the year. In December, Parliament held its first-ever public hearing on a bill, following advocacy and liaison work by the U.S.-funded Dushanbe office of the American Bar Association’s Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI). The International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), whose Tajikistan operations are also U.S.-funded, carried out training sessions for political parties and televised debates as well as a national conference in October on international electoral standards that included participants from the parliamentary leadership, the President's office, the Central Election Commission, and political parties. The U.S. Government urged the President to be more proactive in fostering public awareness and more responsive to citizens' requests and problems, such as through the visits of four mayors and deputy mayors to the U.S. as part of an International Visitors Program on local public administration.

In December 2002 President Rahmonov visited the U.S. and signed a joint statement with President Bush committing to cooperation on economic and political reform in Tajikistan, with the aim of more fully integrating it into the global economy and raising the standard of living and respect for human rights. During this visit Secretary Powell pressed President Rahmonov for further economic and political reforms.

The U.S. supported a wide range of initiatives to encourage the development of civil society. U.S. officials encouraged the simplification of the registration process for NGOs, and the Ministry of Justice announced several measures in this vein. In June 2002, the Government worked with Counterpart International's USAID-funded Civil Society Support Initiative to organize a conference recognizing the efforts of NGOs in Tajikistan. The Embassy-administered Democracy Commission Small Grants Program supported a number of NGO projects aimed at fostering dialogue among different segments of society and improving women's status in society, among other goals. U.S. funding supported the opening of an ABA/CEELI office in the northern city of Khojand to provide legal support services.

U.S. officials, including the Ambassador and a visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, urged the Government to increase media freedom through reform of the national media law and licensing of independent media outlets. They urged the Government to reverse an earlier decision to deny a license to Dushanbe's first independent radio station, which subsequently was licensed along with two other independent stations. The U.S. provided material assistance to the first station for a generator to combat electrical shortages common in Tajikistan. Other media projects supported through Democracy Commission Small Grants include the foundation of an independent newspaper and the purchase of computer equipment for a journalists' Internet access center. The Embassy also sent a total of nine journalists to the U.S. on International Visitors Programs. The U.S. Government funded the Tajikistan operations of the Internews Network, which provided technical and professional training to independent journalists as well as legal support.

The U.S. Government worked throughout the year to encourage religious tolerance and freedom, including regular consultations with the head of the State Committee on Religious Affairs (SCRA). Embassy officials urged the Government to complete its investigation into the murder of two Dushanbe Baha'is in 2001 and another Baha'i in 1999; the Government filed charges in these cases in November. The Embassy worked with Baha'i representatives in Northern Tajikistan and the SCRA to resolve the Baha'i community's local registration problems, after which the SCRA intervened to secure the registration. The U.S. Government also supported religious tolerance through an International Visitors Program that sent six prominent representatives from different faiths to the U.S., where among other places they met with officials from the State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom.

Following the country's designation as having a significant problem with regard to trafficking in persons (TIP), the U.S. Government worked with Tajik officials and international organizations to develop a plan of action to address the problem, which contributed to the country's ratification during the year of the UN Convention on Transnational and Organized Crime (Palermo Convention) and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and to the creation of an interagency commission and an expert working group on anti-TIP efforts and legislation. After consultations with the Ambassador, the President raised the TIP issue at several all-Government meetings, designating it a high-priority issue. Following these steps, international organizations and international and domestic NGOs working on the issue noted an increased level of cooperation in this area, including the first TIP-related prosecutions and convictions in the country.

The Embassy played a critical human rights outreach role during the particularly difficult period of November-December 2002. Embassy officers maintained contact with families of those implicated in the November attack, who were themselves targets of harassment by the Government, and maintained a detailed record of violations committed by government authorities. The Ambassador and other Embassy officers regularly raised concerns about abuses committed by government authorities, including frequent and forceful interventions with President Niyazov and the Foreign Minister. The Embassy also worked closely with other missions and the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on these issues. The Ambassador worked closely with the UN leadership, OSCE Chairman-in-Office and other senior officials to craft a unified message on human rights. She has used media such as Radio Liberty to underscore U.S. support for democratic norms. Active U.S. intervention helped win the release of a civil society activist in April. U.S. leadership on human rights issues led to passage of an unprecedented resolution criticizing Turkmenistan at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights.

The Ambassador has met with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout the country and hosted NGOs and civil society activists in December at the Embassy Residence in honor of International Human Rights Day. Despite a March 2002 commitment from President Niyazov to work with the U.S. Government on the registration and unhindered operation of NGOs, the Government failed to follow through on this priority U.S. goal. Moreover, on the eve of a USAID-supported conference in November 2002 on NGO registration, the Government rescinded permission to hold the event at a local hotel. The conference was instead held at the Embassy and was well attended. USAID has a robust civil society development program focusing on grassroots community development and community advocacy. The Embassy awarded 16 small grants totaling $100,000 in 2002, the third year of its Democracy Funds program. Projects supported by the Democracy Commission focused on civic education, Internet access and free flow of information, community self-help, women's and human rights issues. Civil Society Support Centers have been opened in three of the country's five administrative regions to provide community-based resources. Training programs are implemented in the centers to build management capacity and strengthen understanding of the NGO sector's importance. NGOs that advocate and support human rights causes are supported by the initiative. In an effort to prevent conflict and extremism, the Community Action Investment Program (CAIP) was started in the Lebap region. Communities are brought together to define common priorities in a participatory, democratic style; the program provides partial funding for small community-based projects that emerge from this process.

Working with young lawyers and law students is an important aspect of promoting basic rights in Turkmenistan. Under the auspices of the American Bar Association's Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI), a public legal resource center was opened at Turkmenistan State University in 2002 to provide basic legal resource materials for the general public. A legal clinic will be added in the near future, giving students practical experience and providing needed legal services for Turkmen otherwise unable to afford and/or access them. A successful street law initiative was also inaugurated under CEELI auspices in 2002. In November 2002, 20 law students and 10 high school teachers were trained as street law instructors. Law students and secondary school teachers received training on how to educate high school students about their legal rights to help ensure that those rights are respected.

In the interest of fostering independent media, journalists from Turkmenistan participate in a U.S.-sponsored regional program to train journalists to report on human rights and assist them in disseminating their reporting. The Ambassador held a media roundtable to mark International Press Freedom Day. Access to information sources and the Internet is extremely limited in Turkmenistan. Three Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) sites in the cities of Ashgabat and Dashoguz provide training and free Internet access for all exchange program alumni. IATP sites represent a critical link to the outside world, offering vital access to nonofficial sources of information. In 2002 IATP celebrated the official opening of its second Public Access Center at the National Library in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, which recently registered its 900th registered user. IATP opened a new Public Access Center in Dashoguz later in 2002, in partnership with the British Embassy and the Dashoguz Youth Organization. The center has registered over 100 users since opening.

The U.S. has also sought to broaden avenues of information dissemination, and exchanges and visitor programs remain one of the most effective vehicles to promote human rights and democracy. In 2002 approximately 140 participants traveled to the U.S. on a broad range of academic and exchange programs. In 2002, 17 of 30 International Visitor Program (IVP) participants went to the U.S. on civil society or democracy-related programs; in 2003, plans call for 24 of 30 IVP participants to visit the United States through such programs. The Embassy will also inaugurate a scholarship program for Turkmen to attend the American University in Kyrgyzstan. In addition, the Embassy in partnership with the American Council for Collaboration in Education and Language Study (ACCELS) adopted a plan in 2002 to establish American Corners in three cities in Turkmenistan. The Dashoguz American Corner opened in November 2002, prompting a 37% increase in the number of people applying for the FLEX secondary school exchange program. TEA alumni have held five methodology training seminars at the center for regional teachers, more than 150 prospective students have received information about studying in the U.S., and the Center has been designated an Educational Advising Center.

USAID provided assistance to promote judicial reform, resulting in the passage of the Law on the Judiciary in February 2002. The law paved the way for the restructuring of the court system. A USAID grant provided legal aid and advocacy to citizens and funded a case flow management system in two local courts and one oblast court to address the backlog of cases.

U.S. officials raise the importance of human rights in conversations with Ukrainian officials at all levels. This includes the importance of holding elections that meet standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). High-level U.S. Government officials and public figures traveled to Ukraine last year to stress the importance of democratic parliamentary elections, freedom of speech and association, and civil society.

The U.S. and the Government of Uzbekistan on March 12, 2002, signed the Declaration of Strategic Partnership, which formalized the close strategic relationship between the U.S. and Uzbekistan that developed following the events of September 11, 2001. As a part of the Declaration, the Government of Uzbekistan explicitly committed itself to institutional political reform, including the observance of human rights and the promotion of political pluralism.

The deepening of U.S.-Uzbek strategic cooperation also brought with it a broadening of relations. The Ambassador and visiting senior U.S. Government officials met, at various times throughout the year, with leading officials from the Uzbek agencies charged with law enforcement issues, including the Ministries of Interior and Justice, Office of the Prosecutor General, and the National Security Service. Human rights and political reform were almost always on the agenda.

In addition, numerous U.S. Senators and Representatives visited during the year. Most met with President Karimov and high-level Uzbek officials. All Congressional delegations raised human rights and political reform, and several delegations met with local human rights activists. The Secretaries of Defense and Treasury and numerous other high-ranking executive branch officials visited. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Lorne Craner visited three times during the year. Many officials, including Secretary of State Powell and President Bush, met in Washington with Uzbek officials and raised these issues. President Bush personally raised his concerns with President Karimov, as did Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Beth Jones.

This intensive and constructive U.S. engagement has been successful in working with the Government of Uzbekistan to bring about positive changes in the human rights situation. U.S. efforts were critical in obtaining the invitation of for the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture, the registration of two human rights groups, and this year’s amnesty of political prisoners.

In terms of the problem of widespread torture and human rights abuses by law enforcement personnel, the U.S. provided numerous courses to Uzbek police and security services designed to improve the Government’s investigation and prosecution practices, thus lessening its reliance on such dubious forms of evidence as coerced confessions. Additionally, U.S. officials worked actively with the relevant Uzbek executive agencies, judicial authorities and NGOs on judicial reform. These efforts have been designed to create and implement legislation resulting in increased judicial independence and greater respect for human rights norms.

Also in 2002, the U.S. provided $500,000 to the American Bar Association’s Central European and Eurasian Legal Initiative (ABA/CEELI) to create a human rights clinical program at Tashkent State Law Institute. The program formally opened in November 2002 and began training law students in the fundamentals of international human rights law and relevant Uzbek law. These students also operate a Human Rights Legal Aid Clinic that began providing free consultations in February.

As part of its efforts to promote democracy and political reform, the Embassy frequently met with both religious and secular opposition figures. The U.S. funded a proposal for $300,000 by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) to conduct a program working with opposition groups and civil society groups in order to increase political participation and political pluralism in Uzbekistan. The U.S. also awarded $300,000 to the International Republican Institute (IRI) to carry out complementary political reform work.

In order to strengthen the capacity of human rights groups, the U.S. awarded Freedom House $1.095 million to open offices in Uzbekistan. Freedom House trains human rights defenders and offers resources and a secure meeting place. As a result, the local human rights community has become increasingly effective at coordinating their trial monitoring and other human rights activities. Embassy officials participate in Freedom House’s biweekly meetings with local human rights activists. Begun in late 2002, these meetings attract from 15 to 30 participants and provide a highly effective way for embassy officers to hear from representatives of Uzbekistan’s increasingly active human rights community. The meetings draw in activists with whom the embassy previously had little contact, as well as those with whom they have had long and close relations.

The U.S. has addressed issues of religious freedom and intolerance by engaging with high-level Uzbek officials and by initiating a number of programs. Embassy Tashkent and officials from Washington have raised on numerous occasions the harassment of minority religions, such as Jehovah's Witnesses and evangelical churches, as well as the imprisonment and torture of numerous Muslims who have been unfairly accused of extremism. In order to foster greater religious tolerance, the U.S. sponsored a delegation of imams on a religion in America program and is using $2.3 million in supplemental money to fund a university partnership program in religious studies and an exchange program for community leaders to promote interfaith dialogue.

In order to promote women’s rights, the U.S. funded a Women’s Integrated Legal Literacy Project implemented by Winrock International. Designed to increase public awareness of women’s legal rights under both Uzbek and international law, Winrock worked with NGOs and individuals in all regions of Uzbekistan. The program resulted in enhanced NGO advocacy skills and facilitated cooperation between NGOs and local authorities. As of September 30, 2002, 16,805 women and 1,785 men had participated in the program’s training sessions.