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At the outset, the OSCE/ODIHR notes that the Law generally complies with international anti-corruption standards, as well as with relevant OSCE commitments. Some improvements may be considered, in particular: • no outside body or actor should control or influence the Bureau; • limiting the appointment of the Head of Bureau to a single term; • creation of one or more advisory committees; • mechanisms of the Bureau should be strengthened in the course of its investigations.

This Opinion analyzes the provisions of the draft Law against the background of its compatibility with relevant international human rights standards and OSCE commitments.

The Opinion raises key issues and provides indications of areas of concern. In the interest of conciseness, the Opinion focuses more on areas that require amendments or improvements rather than on the positive aspects of the Draft Law. The ensuing recommendations are based on international standards related to the prevention of and protection from domestic violence, and prosecution of perpetrators, as well as on relevant OSCE commitments. The Opinion will also seek to highlight, as appropriate, good practices from other OSCE participating States in this field.

The scope of this Joint Opinion covers only the draft amendments, submitted for review, and the law that they are amending. Thus limited, the Joint Opinion does not constitute a full and comprehensive review of the entire legal and institutional framework governing the financing of political parties and election campaigns in Serbia.

The Joint opinion raises key issues and provides indications of areas of concern. The ensuing recommendations are based on relevant international human rights and rule of law standards and OSCE commitments, Council of Europe standards, as well as good practices from other OSCE participating States and Council of Europe member states. Where appropriate, they also refer to the relevant recommendations made in previous ODIHR and Venice Commission opinions and reports

This Opinion analyzes the provisions of the draft Amendments against the background of their compatibility with relevant international standards and OSCE commitments.

This Opinion on the impact of the ratification of the Istanbul Convention for Montenegro was prepared in response to the above request. The OSCE/ODIHR conducted this assessment within its mandate as established by the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, which states that “[t]he ODIHR, in co-operation with other international organizations and relevant national bodies and institutions, will assist OSCE participating States in complying with international instruments for the promotion of gender equality and women’s rights, and in reviewing legislation to ensure appropriate legal guarantees for the promotion of gender equality in accordance with OSCE and other commitments”.