Project “Make transparency not war – responding to the weaponisation of transparency legislation against civic society”
The “Make transparency not war – responding to the weaponisation of transparency legislation against civic society” project, led by the Bulgarian Centre for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL), focuses on combating the misuse of transparency legislation to target civil society organizations (CSOs) and democratic freedoms. This initiative builds on efforts to address the threat posed by weaponized transparency laws like the proposed Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in Bulgaria. By fostering coalition-building among CSOs, developing hope-based narratives, and enhancing communication and advocacy capacities, the project aims to strengthen Bulgaria’s civic sector and ensure its resilience against restrictive legislation.
Key Activities
- Hosting a conference on human rights-compliant lobbying regulation.
- Supporting the work of a communications working group to craft counter-narratives.
- Training CSO representatives in public speaking for advocacy and media engagement.
- Organizing an awareness rising event for journalists on detecting and analyzing weaponized transparency legislation.
- Developing a sustainable coalition of CSOs to counteract restrictive transparency laws.
Expected Outcomes
The project aims to enhance CSO resilience, improve public and political awareness of lobbying regulations, and create actionable strategies to counteract smear campaigns and legislation that undermine civil society.
Project Duration
January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025.
Contact Details
Coordinator: Zahari Iankov, Legal Expert
Email: zahari@bcnl.org
This project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC). Neither The European Union nor the NHC can be held responsible for them.