OSCE/ODIHR Opinion on the Draft Law Amending and Supplementing the Ombudsman Act of Bulgaria TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 3 II. SCOPE OF REVIEW ................................................................................... 3 III. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................... 4 IV. ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................... 5 1. International Standards on National Human Rights Institutions .............................. 5 2. Mandate ........................................................................................................................... 7 2.1. Promotion of Human Rights ................................................................................................ 7 2.2 Extension of the Mandate to Acts and Omissions of the Private Sector .............................. 7 2.3 Protection of Citizens and Other Natural Persons .............................................................. 8 3. The Power to Encourage the Ratification of International Instruments ................... 9 4. Selection and Appointment ............................................................................................ 9 4.1 Selection and Appointment of the Ombudsman and the Deputy Ombudsman .................... 9 4.2 Selection of Staff ................................................................................................................ 12 5. Pluralism in Decision-Making Processes .................................................................... 12 6. Adequate Funding of the Institution ........................................................................... 13 6.1. General Remarks ............................................................................................................... 13 6.2. Specific Budget for the Ombudsman as a National Preventive Mechanism ..................... 14 7. Specific Provisions pertaining to NPM ....................................................................... 15 8. Other Comments ........................................................................................................... 15 Annex: Draft Law Amending and Supplementing the Ombudsman Act 2

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