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.

English

Bulgaria: Opinion on the Draft Act on the Registration of Foreign Agents

Publishing date: 30 May 2025

Collections: Legal Opinions and Comments

Content type: Report

Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

What we do: Good governance, Rule of law

Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

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.

English

Poland, Presidential Election, Second Round, 1 June 2025: Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions

Publishing date: 30 May 2025

Content type: Report

Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

What we do: Elections

Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Hate Monitor Report, April 2025

Publishing date: 30 May 2025

Content type: Report

Where we are: OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

What we do: Human rights, Rule of law, Tolerance and non-discrimination

Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

It is important to know what is a hate crime. When a hate crime is committed, one or more perpetrators target the victim, which can be one or more people or property, because of a protected aspect of the victim's identity, such as religion or ethnicity, race, sexual orientation or disability. Similarly, a hate incident is an act of hostility motivated by prejudice or bias that does not necessarily reach the threshold of a criminal offence, or the criminal nature of which is yet to be determined. A hate crime is any crime where the perpetrator is driven by prejudice or bias. Criminal offence + bias motive = hate crime.

Journal of the 1522nd Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council

Publishing date: 29 May 2025

Collections: 1522nd Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council

Content type: Conference / meeting document

Where we are: Permanent Council

What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution

Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Russian Federation (Annex). The Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. Report by the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Gerard McGurk. Increasing military involvement of certain NATO and EU member States in yet more confrontation in and around Ukraine. Outcomes of the first European Union-United Kingdom summit, held in London on 19 May 2025.