The Global Network Initiative (GNI) is thrilled to announce that European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL), Muhammad Muzahidul Islam, and the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) have joined GNI as members.
The ECNL is a non-governmental organisation based in the Hague, Netherlands working on empowering civil society through creating enabling legal and policy frameworks.
“ECNL is thrilled to join the GNI and continue working with partners around the world to strengthen civic freedoms in the digital sphere. We welcome the GNI’s commitment to a rights-based approach built on inclusion, transparency, and accountability and are excited to join a global community of civil society organizations,” said ECNL’s Marlena Wisniak. “We look forward to working together to protect and promote digital rights and civic space, centering the needs of at-risk and marginalized groups.”
“As Europe continues to expand its approach to tech regulation, ECNL’s credibility, global perspective, and subject-matter expertise on issues at the intersection of civic space, democracy, and technology is ever more vital,” said Executive Director Jason Pielemeier. “We are incredibly excited to welcome them into GNI and deepen our collaboration with them on advocacy in Europe and around the world.”
Muhammad Muzahidul Islam, a human rights lawyer and activist and an independent researcher, has joined GNI’s academic constituency. 
“As a multi stakeholder platform the GNI has been playing important roles to protect and promote freedom of expression and privacy rights in the ICT sector. I am aware of the mandate of GNI and, therefore, excited to join GNI to explore the opportunity of collaboration upholding the human rights online,” said Muzahidul Islam.
“We look forward to working with M.M. Islam, whose perspective will help us better understand and engage on digital rights issues in South Asia and beyond,” said Jason Pielemeier, GNI’s Executive Director.
We are also pleased to welcome the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) to the civil society constituency. The Pakistan-based DRF aims to strengthen protections for human rights defenders (HRDs), with a focus on women’s rights, in digital spaces through policy advocacy & digital security awareness-raising.
“Having worked on issues of platform and tech accountability for several years, we are thrilled to become a GNI member as it will not only help us strengthening our work around big tech from a human rights-centric approach, we hope to bring perspectives centering gender, intersectionality and inclusiveness, which are at the core of our work and mission. As voices from South Asia are under-represented in these spaces, we hope to ensure that the perspectives of the marginalized communities we work with are not only seen and but also heard. Lastly, through this membership, we look forward to forging meaningful alliances and collaborations with a variety of stakeholders across the globe,” said Nighat Dad, DRF’s Executive Director.
“I have long been a fan of DRF and am thrilled to have them join GNI,” remarked GNI Executive Director Jason Pielemeier. “At a time when digital rights are increasingly under pressure in Pakistan and beyond, we look forward to incorporating DRF’s perspective and expertise into GNI and supporting and amplifying their work.”