Bulgaria: Opinion on the Draft Act on the Registration of Foreign Agents
The main purpose of this Opinion is to analyze the Draft Act on the Registration of
Foreign Agents (Draft Act) in Bulgaria, which although rejected by the Parliament on 5
February 2025, may be reintroduced in its existing or similar form. The present analysis
aims to provide an overview of the key human rights concerns stemming from this draft
legislation from the perspective of international human rights standards and OSCE
human dimension commitments, primarily the rights to freedom of association and
freedom of expression, but also other rights, including the right to respect for private
life, the right to participate in public affairs, and the right to non-discrimination.
Bulgaria: Opinion on the Act Amending and Supplementing the Preschool and School Education Act
The Opinion concludes that the new provisions unduly impact the exercise of several fundamental rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and access to information, to education, and to equality and non-discrimination. The bans introduced by the Act fail to meet the three-part test under international human rights law – legality, legitimacy, and necessity in a democratic society – and are inherently discriminatory.
Moldova: Preliminary Opinion on the Draft Code on the Organization and Functioning of the Parliament (Regarding the Legislative Procedure, Chapter III)
Throughout 2024, representatives of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Head of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Appointments and Immunities of the Parliament of Moldova have been discussing ways to support parliamentary reform, more enhanced democratic governance and inclusive political participation in the Republic of Moldova. During a country visit of ODIHR representatives to Moldova in September 2024, the Head of the above-mentioned Committee reiterated interest in requesting ODIHR to review the Draft Code on the Organization and Functioning of the Parliament of Moldova (hereinafter “the Draft Code”).
Moldova: Opinion on the Provisions of the Draft Code on the Organization and Functioning of the Parliament of Moldova Related to the Constitutional Revision Procedure (Chapter IV)
In this document, ODIHR makes the following recommendations to improve the Draft Code in line with international standards and OSCE commitments:
Mongolia: Final Opinion on the Law on Political Parties
In this document, ODIHR makes the following recommendations to further strengthen the provisions of the Law in accordance with international standards and good practices:
Moldova: Urgent Opinion on the Draft Law No. 381 of 17 December 2024 “On Amendments to Certain Normative Acts on the Effective Combat Against the Phenomenon of Electoral Corruption and Related Aspects”
In this document, ODIHR makes the following recommendations to enhance the provisions of the Draft Law in accordance with international standards and good practices:
Montenegro: Opinion on the Law on Political Parties
In this document, ODIHR makes the following recommendations to further strengthen the Law in accordance with international standards, OSCE commitments and good practices: