Freedom of the press is an integral element of democracy. The media plays an important role in informing citizens about current political events, including legislative actions. Lawmakers, in turn, use the media to inform and engage with their constituents. Many citizens rely upon  media outlets to inform their political decisions. During elections, the media are among the primary sources of information for voters on candidates and their platforms, voter registration procedures, and critical information on election day.

Nearly two years after the defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), communities are working to rebuild, and local governments are challenged to respond to citizens’ needs in order to win their trust. Yet, decision-makers often overlook the perspectives of Iraqi women, who have disproportionately suffered from conflict and who, as caretakers in their households, have a deep understanding of their families’ and communities’ needs.

Although official statistics on emigration do not exist, anecdotal evidence suggests that Bosnia-Herzegovina’s (BiH) population of roughly four million is plummeting, as thousands of citizens head elsewhere, with 64 percent citing the economy as the primary driver and 61 percent of people under 30 indicating that they have personally considered leaving BiH for better opportunities.