A NDI statewide poll in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), conducted in December 2021 found that a minority of respondents in Republika Srpska (RS) at 34%, support Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik’s declared intention to withdraw the RS from state institutions, with 35% favoring RS independence. Forty-eight (48)% of RS respondents are against the withdrawal of the RS from state institutions, and 45% of RS respondents are against independence. Avoiding inter-ethnic violence (72%) and focusing on the economy (69%) were seen as more pressing than promoting Serb unity (49%).
Around 70 countries in the world still criminalize same-sex relationships. In 11 of these countries, there is evidence of the death penalty occuring or being ‘allowed” for same-sex relationships. A quarter of the world’s population believes that being LGBTQI+ should be a crime.
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global crisis still sending shock waves across public health systems, governance structures and markets. In response, parliaments had to quickly adapt to the new environment by not only adjusting their procedures and operations to respond to quarantine demands, but also passing legislation to address the emergency.