In the paper, EWMI’s Rule of Law experts, Vice Presidents Mark Dietrich and Nicolas Mansfield, take readers through the three primary stages of the Rule of Law journey—institution building, the search for political will, and the emergence of people-centered justice. The authors provide an overview of EWMI initiatives that brought sustainable changes and others that did not and conclude with some lessons learned and concrete recommendations for charting a way forward for the Rule of Law community.
Artopolis forum theatre performance “Prapa Ekranit” (Behind the Screen)
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Artopolis forum theatre performance “Prapa Ekranit” (Behind the Screen)
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Students watch the Artopolis forum theatre performance “Prapa Ekranit” (Behind the Screen)
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RROGRAEK staff outreach to community members
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RROGRAEK staff outreach to community members
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RROGRAEK staff outreach to community members
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RROGRAEK staff outreach to community members
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Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a major threat to the safety and wellbeing of women and girls in Kosovo. Since the fall of 2024, EWMI has been supporting coordinated action by Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), a coalition of more than 100 women’s organizations of all ethnic groups from throughout Kosovo, to strengthen mechanisms and responses to prevent GBV and provide support to survivors.
Educating and engaging women and girls, men and boys, parents and neighbours, community members and leaders about the impact of GBV and the resources available to prevent, report, and address it is crucial to generating social and cultural shifts that lead to eliminating GBV. To that end, during May – December 2025, EWMI and KWN supported community outreach campaigns using participatory approaches by four locally-led advocacy organizations. The organizations distributed multilingual information on GBV and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) through door-to-door visits, small community group discussions, and online interactions, ultimately reaching more than a quarter of a million people.
Among the project’s local partners, the Organization of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy in Kosovo (OPDMK), reached over 700 people — including direct outreach to 226 persons with disabilities — and generated 1,756 digital interactions. The Women’s Inclusion Centre (ZEC), working with the Serbian community, reached 1,549 people and recorded 760 online engagements.
The Network of Organizations of Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Women in Kosovo (RROGRAEK) reached 725 people, the majority of whom were engaged through in-person activities. Among those reached was a mother in the Ali Ibra neighborhood of Gjakova who shared her experience during the visit, explaining that fear and social prejudice had previously prevented her from seeking help: “The brochure and contact details I received gave me the courage to consider the next steps toward protecting myself and my children.”
“We felt heard and respected. Being informed about the free legal aid office helps us understand that we are not alone and that institutions exist to support us,” said a family from the village of Hereq in the municipality of Gjakova, emphasizing that severe economic conditions and unemployment had directly contributed to tensions within the household.
Another family from the Sef neighborhood expressed relief at learning for the first time about the availability of free legal aid services for survivors of domestic violence: “We have often remained silent due to fear and lack of information, but receiving the brochure and contact numbers increased our sense of safety and hope.”
A family from the Blloku i Ri neighborhood in Gjakova also responded positively to the outreach engagement, reflecting on the broader social context in Kosovo: “The general social situation often makes people feel powerless. These activities raise awareness and strengthen trust in legal support, especially in domestic violence cases.”
Complementing the direct outreach of RROGRAEK, OPDMK, and ZEC, cultural initiatives played a key role in these public education efforts. Artpolis, a nonprofit arts and human rights organization, staged the forum theatre performance “Prapa Ekranit” (Behind the Screen) in six municipalities, engaging 345 students aged 15–18 in discussions on violence against women and online abuse, while related promotional efforts reached nearly 150,000 people.
The show was well-received among both the students and school staff members who attended the performances. One of the student attendees said: “I liked how the actors expressed real-life situations through art, almost like an awareness-raising video. We also received a very important message: control and care are not the same thing because violence is not love, it is a crime.” A high school staff member concurred: “The show carries an educational message, especially for the generations who are currently our high school students. I think many of the interactive discussions with the characters provided a good example for young people on how to act, not to be controlling but to be careful and considerate of their partners.”
Complementing these direct outreach activities, EWMI partner KWN’s nine-day digital campaign on domestic and online violence reached over 595,000 online users, and more than 13,500 — primarily women aged 25–44 — engaged directly with the materials.
EWMI looks forward to continuing to support KWN and our other partners as they expand their comprehensive approach to addressing GBV across Kosovo through outreach, advocacy, and legal action in 2026.
A coalition of partners from EWMI’s Promoting Freedom of Expression in Malaysia (ProFoEm) and Securing a Safe and Open Information Ecosystem in Malaysia projects are serving as co-conveners, for the 2025 Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC25). aking place from August 26-27 in Kuala Lumpur, the third edition of DRAPAC will bring together over 500 activists, policymakers, technologists, human rights defenders, researchers, funders, and members of allied movements. The goal of the assembly is to create a space where advocates and movements can gain the tools and connections needed to make lasting change, strengthen movements, and explore new frontiers in the digital rights landscape.
Shaping power, driving change: This track will focus on engaging governments, businesses, regional institutions, and global communities to influence policies, norms, and standards and advance strategies for accountability, access, and justice.
Strengthening movements, securing our future: This track is centered on the sustainability of the digital rights and accountability movement by exploring the tools, strategies, and support systems needed to enhance organizational security, capacity, and infrastructure while fostering solidarity and wellbeing.
Beyond boundaries, beyond limits: This track will focus on ways to expand the “frontier of digital rights” through new alliances, approaches, and unconventional strategies to drive systemic change. Sessions in this track are designed to “challenge assumptions, connect unexpected movements, and explore speculative ideas that push digital rights beyond traditional advocacy” to unlock new prospects for impact and innovation.
Throughout the event, a Human Rights Tech Fair will showcase privacy-respecting, secure, and open technologies addressing challenges faced by human rights defenders in the region, while pre- and post-event activities led by other human rights groups and civil society organizations will supplement and enhance the experience of DRAPAC25 attendees.
Drawing on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the report highlights state-level nonprofit employment and wages between 2017-2022. It examines how the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted nonprofit employment in the states and territories, how state-level nonprofit employment had recovered as of 2022, and how nonprofit employment and wages compared to their counterparts in the for-profit sector during this crucial period.
The supplementary data dashboard drills into these data to provide additional information on the number of nonprofit establishments operating in each state, the fields in which they are active, and how these patterns shifted during and in the years immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic. This report follows up on the December 2024 Nonprofit Employment Report which provided an overview of national-level data on nonprofit employment and wage trends between 2017 and 2022.
The report is structured around five key findings:
Nonprofit wages rose faster than for-profit wages in the majority of states during the recovery period;
Nonprofits are a major employer in virtually every state and territory in the U.S.;
Nonprofit wages are a crucial component of state economies;
Nonprofits in most states retained more of their workforce than their for-profit counterparts in 2020 during the onset of the COVID pandemic;
However, nonprofits in most states struggled to keep up with for-profits during the first two years of recovery from the pandemic in 2021 and 2022; and
Nonprofit wages rose faster than for-profit wages in the majority of states during the recovery period.
From organizing eco-camps in small towns to publishing investigative stories about marginalized communities, youth-led initiatives supported through the Youth Empowerment Support (YES) Project created meaningful change across Serbia, addressing local issues through creativity, activism, and collaboration.
Following the YES Grant Boot Camp, funded youth initiatives organized workshops and forums on civic engagement, media literacy, and environmental awareness. They mobilized youth volunteers, and established partnerships with municipalities, schools, and civil society organizations, proving that youth-led action can strengthen local communities and create real impact. Despite different themes — ranging from environmental activism and cultural revival to media literacy and civic participation — all projects shared a commitment to youth engagement and creating meaningful change.
One example was the Green Path initiative in Babušnica, where young scouts aged 15-20 organized eco-camps, educational workshops, and environmental clean-up activities, helping raise awareness about pollution and sustainability among local youth.
In Bečej, the project “Participate and Change” illustrated how young people can meaningfully participate in local decision-making. This initiative established youth boards and trained 50 young peer educators to propose budget priorities—an unprecedented step in civic inclusion in local governance.
Other initiatives addressed infrastructure and policy gaps around urgent local issues. In Požega, the “Safety in Motion” project focused on traffic safety and cycling infrastructure, while the youth group Selo na tri klika from Despotovac, Petrovac na Mlavi, and Žagubica addressed environmental protection and rural development issues. These groups formed working groups and prepared concrete proposals for local institutions.
Youth also demonstrated the power of media and creative arts as tools for activism. In Niš, the project “Stories Beyond the Margins” empowered young journalists to report on issues affecting marginalized communities. Their articles and digital content reached thousands online and encouraged discussions about social inclusion. Stories included:
Meanwhile, cultural initiatives such as the “Feelgood Fest” in Sombor brought together young artists and alternative bands, engaging hundreds of visitors and giving youth a platform for creative expression. Inclusion and intercultural dialogue were also central. The arts were also a means to encourage social inclusion. “All Together – Youth Singing Loud” in Belgrade, Smederevo, and Niš used music workshops and concerts to connect Roma and non-Roma youth, engaging over 600 audience members and fostering cooperation with prominent artists like Konstrakta and Pretty Loud.
In just one year, the YES Project youth-led initiatives directly engaged more than 1,500 young people across Serbia, empowering them to take active roles in shaping their communities. Importantly, many informal groups also evolved into structured networks with broader outreach — one grantee in Novi Sad began the process of registering as a formal CSO, while another expanded from 11 to 43 active members working across Eastern Serbia on youth entrepreneurship and local democracy in rural areas, and more than 30 partnerships formed between CSOs, municipalities, schools, and informal groups.
By building youth leadership pipelines, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and amplifying youth voices in policymaking, the YES Project catalyzed a sustainable civic ecosystem driven by young people committed to shaping a more democratic, inclusive Serbia. One of the strongest shared outcomes was the redefinition of youth as agents of local change.
These initiatives demonstrated the power of youth leadership: when young people are given trust, support, and resources, they become drivers of positive change.
SUARAM’s Meeting with Commissioners, Secretary, and Officers from the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
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(From left) Barbara Bernath (Former Secretary-General of Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT)) with Sevan Doraisamy (Executive Director of SUARAM) and regional partners - Pornpen Khongkachonkiet (Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF)) and Emmanuel C. Amistad (Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP))
EWMI Promoting Freedom of Expression in Malaysia (ProFoEm) partner, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) — the preeminent human rights organization in Malaysia — released the 2024 Malaysia Human Rights Report on April 10, 2025. The report provides a broad assessment of the country’s human rights environment, highlighting persistent challenges in freedom of expression, assembly, and accountability within law enforcement. It notes that restrictive legislation — particularly the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act — continues to be used against journalists, activists, and individuals who express dissenting views online. According to the report, 2024 saw a five-year high in Sedition Act charges, alongside broader efforts to regulate online speech and media content through legal reforms and regulatory mechanisms.
Beyond legal restrictions on speech, the report situates freedom of expression within a wider landscape of civil liberties concerns. Authorities continued to investigate or intervene in public demonstrations with arrests rising significantly in 2024 compared with previous years. The report also highlights the growing use of security laws such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA), alongside broader concerns about police conduct, custodial deaths, and limited transparency in accountability mechanisms. While some institutional reforms have been discussed, the authors conclude that meaningful progress will require stronger safeguards for civil liberties, clearer legal protections for activists and journalists, and more transparent oversight of law enforcement institutions.
With the launch of the new GMU-Nonprofit Works Data Explorer, users can search and download the latest available data on U.S. nonprofit employment, establishments, and weekly and annual average wages on the national, state, county, and city levels by field for over thirty years—from 1990 through 2022—and compare nonprofits to for-profits and government over the full period.
Why Nonprofit Works?
The nonprofit sector is a vital part of the employment landscape of the U.S., employing the third largest workforce and generating the third largest payroll of any of the 18 industries into which statistical authorities divide the American economy — larger than all branches of manufacturing combined, and behind only retail trade and accommodation and food services. Nonprofits employ nearly 89% of all workers providing community, food, housing, and emergency relief services, more than 66% of all workers in hospitals, and 35% of all social services workers in the country. These organizations are essential threads in the country’s social safety net, without which more people would slip through and more communities would struggle.
Without ready access to hard data, however, nonprofit leaders and advocates often find themselves at a disadvantage in countering gross misperceptions about the considerable scale and economic contribution of these organizations or in alerting sector leaders to important sector trends, such as staffing and funding shortfalls.
Nonprofit Works makes it easy to access, download, and use the best available data on the nonprofit sector’s vital role as employers, wage payers, and service providers in communities of all sizes across the U.S. at a critical time for the sector, as it faces unprecedented challenges to its funding—including threats to government grants and payments and declining individual giving. It is our hope that GMU-Nonprofit Works will fill a gap in the tools available to nonprofit leaders, advocates, and researchers.
One program, the YES LEAD Academy brought together a new generation of young leaders from across the country for an intensive leadership development program focused on personal growth, civic engagement, and community impact.
The seven-day academy, held in Niš in July 2024, gathered 17 selected participants aged 18–30 who took part in interactive workshops, discussions, and leadership training designed to strengthen their skills and confidence.
The program focused on key concepts, including storytelling and advocacy, project development, public speaking, trust-building, and youth leadership. After completing the Academy, participants continued their leadership journey through a three-month internship program in civil society organizations across Serbia, gaining practical experience in fields such as human rights, environmental advocacy, media, and youth work.
The program produced strong results, as several interns became leaders in their home organizations, many participants secured employment, and all remained actively engaged in their communities.
The impact — both personal and professional — of participation in the LEAD Academy was emphasized by numerous participants, one of whom shared: “I believe the LEAD Serbia Program will have a significant impact on both my personal and professional development. Personally, it will enhance my leadership skills, boost my confidence, and help me connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a difference. Professionally, I expect the program to equip me with practical tools and knowledge that will enable me to contribute more effectively to environmental policy and sustainability efforts in Serbia. Overall, it will be a transformative experience that will shape my future endeavors.”
Another participant highlighted how the LEAD Academy approach led them to new personal insights into and how those insights had informed their professional approach: “On a personal level, I learned some new things about myself and became more motivated for what I do and what I fight for. I additionally dealt with my values, fears, insecurities, things that move me so that I better understand where I am in life and what I want to do next. On a professional level, I gained an idea of how I work best in a team, i.e. what kind of role I want to have, and I improved my speaking skills.”
When asked how they would apply what they learned in the LEAD Academy to demonstrate active leadership going forward, one participant shared: “Following the LEAD training, I plan to demonstrate active leadership in my community by advocating for gender equality and the rights of young people. I will initiate and lead projects that promote better education and create an inclusive society where everyone’s voice is heard. My focus will be on empowering others to act, fostering a community where young people feel encouraged and supported to pursue positive change. By leading with empathy, consistency, and a genuine commitment to making a difference, I aim to inspire others to actively contribute to our collective growth and well-being.”
Another participant shared that the experience and lessons from the LEAD Academy would inform their approach to their life and role in society every day: “Now I am always looking for an opportunity to help others, to engage, to listen to their problems and struggles, to show empathy and to make a plan of action for going forward in the future so their lives can be better.”
As participants return to their communities equipped with new skills, confidence, and networks, they are already turning ideas into action and inspiring others to get involved. The Academy proved that investing in young people’s leadership skills can create long-term impact—not only for participants but also for the communities they serve.
Through programs like the YES LEAD Academy, the YES Project builds a growing network of youth leaders committed to strengthening civic participation and democratic values across Serbia.
A new report from EWMI’s Promoting Freedom of Expression in Malaysia (ProFoEm) partner, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) highlights growing pressures on journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens expressing critical views in Malaysia. Released on December 14, 2024, the 2024 Freedom of Expression Report examines the state of free speech and civic space in Malaysia. The report finds growing pressures on journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens who express critical views. The report finds that restrictive laws—particularly the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998—continue to be widely used to investigate or prosecute speech. In 2024 alone, authorities invoked such laws 187 times in cases affecting expression, assembly, and public discourse. These legal tools, often framed as protecting public order or harmony, have increasingly been applied to political commentary, online speech, and sensitive topics involving race, religion, and governance.
While the Malaysian government has pledged reforms to strengthen democratic freedoms, the report concludes that meaningful legal change has yet to materialize. Instead, enforcement practices and legislative amendments have continued to expand state powers over digital communication and public speech. The authors argue that protecting freedom of expression will require clearer legal safeguards, transparent policymaking, and reforms that align Malaysia’s laws with international human rights standards—ensuring that both offline and online spaces remain open for debate, criticism, and civic participation.
The “Extractives for Community Development” project, implemented by MIRAC with funding from EWMI’s USAID-funded Civil Society Strengthening Activity (CSSA), has had a transformative impact on local businesses in Uganda’s oil-rich Albertine region. Through the story of Bijampora Business Venture Limited, the video below showcases how local businesses are benefiting from training on business registration, local content laws, and securing contracts in the oil and gas sector. The documentary also features insights from MIRAC’s Executive Director on efforts to empower communities, enhance transparency, and resolve land compensation issues, ensuring that local citizens actively participate and benefit from extractive industry developments.
