Why South Asia Matters

About the Author: Jeremy Beer serves as the Senior Economic Officer in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

In the Asia-Pacific, economics – alongside more traditional forms of national power – are increasingly shaping the strategic landscape. As countries in the region use the growing size of their economies to project global power, the United States needs to ensure that its policies remain focused on an Asia-Pacific defined by economic openness, democratic governance, and political freedom. Because an Asia-Pacific rooted in peaceful and predictable patterns of behavior will ultimately bolster our own growth and security.

This was the central theme in testimony delivered by South and Central Asian Affairs Assistant Secretary Robert O. Blake, Jr. last week before a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee. During his testimony, Blake outlined why South Asia is such a critical component of U.S.… more »

(Source: blogs.state.gov)

HIV Prevention in Bangladesh

About the Authors: Monjur Ahmed serves as Project Management Assistant for Communication in USAID/Bangladesh’s Office of Population, Health, Nutrition and Education, and Linda Quamar serves as Development Outreach and Communication Assistant in the USAID/Bangladesh Program Office.

Kajol, like many other young women from rural Bangladesh, came to Dhaka in search of employment. With the false promise of employment, she was abducted and forced into the sex trade. Later, Kajol came across one of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) HIV Prevention peer educators and was encouraged to leave her profession to pursue “a different life which would offer her acceptance and respect in the society.” Presently, Kajol works as a trainer for commercial sex workers (CSW) in USAID's… more »

(Source: blogs.state.gov)