A/HRC/23/52 Compulsory Labour, 1930 (No. 29), the Abolition of Forced Labour, 1957 (No. 105) and Employment Policy, 1964 (No. 122). It also contradicts article 8.3 (a) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 41 (4) of the Constitution, both of which prohibit forced labour other than for punishment decided by a court or in a state of emergency. N. Elections 108. Parliamentary elections were held on 23 September 2012. Most international observers regarded the polling as inconsistent with basic standards for competitive, free and fair elections. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights stated that Belarus had not respected its “OSCE commitments, including citizens‟ rights to associate, to stand as candidates and to express themselves freely”.72 The CIS election observation mission, however, deemed the elections “to be in compliance with universally accepted democratic norms and national legislation”. 73 109. Two political parties boycotted the elections, while two others withdrew their candidates, citing the continued imprisonment of individuals on political grounds, the limited role of parliament and the low level of confidence in the electoral process. A total of 293 candidates contested 110 seats. Sixteen were elected unopposed. None of the elected candidates represented the opposition. The new House of Representatives, just like the previous one, comprised representatives of the three parties supporting the President. 110. In a welcome improvement over the parliamentary elections held in 2008, the number of party political candidates and civil election commission members increased significantly. For the first time, political parties were able to nominate candidates in all constituencies. At the counting of votes, however, representatives of opposition political parties accounted for less than 1 per cent of the electoral commissions, the selection of which remained the prerogative of the local executive branch. 74 111. The amendments made in 2011 to the laws on political parties, mass events and the Criminal Code restricted public calls to conduct meetings, rallies and demonstrations during the electoral campaign. Some prominent political figures that may have played a role in the contest were not eligible to register owing either to the fact that they were currently imprisoned or had been so in the past. The field of contestants was further restricted by arbitrary administrative actions. The central election commission disqualified candidates on the basis of minor inaccuracies. In total, one in four nominees was not registered. 112. An honest count, in compliance with the requirements described in paragraph 7.4 of the OSCE Copenhagen Document, could not be guaranteed, either because observers were not given a meaningful opportunity to observe the count or because of the lack of properly delineated counting procedures. Transparency of the results was denied by the fact that the 72 73 74 OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Election Observation Mission final report, 14 December 2012, available from www.osce.org/odihr/elections/98146. “CIS observers: Parliamentary elections in Belarus held according to democratic norms”, KyivPost (Kyiv), 1 October 2012. Available from www.kyivpost.com/content/russia-and-former-sovietunion/cis-observers-parliamentary-elections-in-belarus-held-according-to-democratic-norms313745.html. Viasna, Election to the Chamber of Represenatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the Fifth Convocation,-Final Report, 24 September 2012, available from http://elections2012.spring96.org/en/news/57895. 21