OSCE/ODIHR Opinion on the Draft Law Amending and Supplementing the Ombudsman Act of Bulgaria 13. The importance that the United Nations ascribe to NHRIs in the promotion and protection of human rights is documented by various resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council. 9 Additionally, the United Nations Development Programme (hereinafter “UNDP”) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (hereinafter “OCHCR”) have published a Toolkit for Collaboration with National Human Rights Institutions. The toolkit explains the various models of NHRIs and provides guidance on how to support NHRIs in the different phases of their existence, from their establishment to supporting their development into more mature NHRIs and re-accreditation efforts.10 14. At the Council of Europe (hereinafter “CoE”) level, Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1615 (2003) sets out characteristics which are essential for any Ombudsman institution to operate effectively. 11 The European Commission for Democracy through Law (hereinafter “Venice Commission”) also published a Compilation of Venice Commission Opinions concerning the Ombudsman Institution.12 15. OSCE participating States, in the Copenhagen Document of 1990, have committed to facilitating “the establishment and strengthening of independent national institutions in the area of human rights and the rule of law”.13 Other OSCE commitments have further emphasized the important role that NHRIs play in the protection and promotion of human rights, in particular, the Bucharest Plan of Action for Combatting Terrorism, which tasks the OSCE/ODIHR with continuing and increasing “efforts to promote and assist in building democratic institutions at the request of States, inter alia by helping to strengthen […] ombudsman institutions”. 14 OSCE commitments also encourage the establishment of NHRIs, such as Ombudsman institutions, to address discrimination against Roma and Sinti 15 and women 16 and to generally combat intolerance and 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 See e.g., UN General Assembly, Resolution no. 70/163 on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, A/RES/70/163, adopted on 17 December 2015, available at http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/163; Resolutions nos. 63/169 and 65/207 on the Role of the Ombudsman, Mediator and Other National Human Rights Institutions in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, A/RES/63/169 and A/RES/65/207, adopted on 18 December 2008 and on 21 December 2010 respectively; Resolutions nos. 63/172 and 64/161 on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, A/RES/63/172 and A/RES/64/161, adopted on 18 December 2008 and 18 December 2009 respectively; and Resolution no. 48/134 on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, A/RES/48/134, adopted on 4 March 1994 – all available at http://www.un.org/en/sections/documents/general-assembly-resolutions/index.html. See also the Resolution no. 27/18 on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights of the UN human Rights Council, A/HRC/RES/27/18, adopted on 7 October 2014, available at http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/27/L.25. UNDP-OHCHR Toolkit, op. cit. footnote 4, page 241. Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Recommendation 1615 (2003) on the Institution of Ombudsman, 8 September 2003, available at http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTMLEN.asp?fileid=17133&lang=en; other CoE recommendations of relevance are CoE Committee of Minister, Recommendation Rec(97)14E on the Establishment of Independent National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 30 September 1997, available at https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=589191; PACE, Recommendation 1959 (2013) on the Strengthening the Institution of Ombudsman in Europe, adopted on 4 October 2013, available at http://www.assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/X2H-Xref-ViewPDF.asp?FileID=20232&lang=en. Available at http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-PI(2016)001-e. See OSCE Copenhagen Document (1990), par 27, available at http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/14304?download=true. See Bucharest Plan of Action for Combating Terrorism (2001), Annex to OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on Combating Terrorism, MC(9).DEC/1, 4 December 2001, par 10, available at http://www.osce.org/atu/42524. See Annex to OSCE Ministerial Council Decision No. 3/03: Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area, 1 and 2 December 20013, par 22, available at http://www.osce.org/odihr/17554. See OSCE Ministerial Council Decision No. 14/04 “2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality”, 7 December 2004, par 42, available at http://www.osce.org/mc/23295. 6