In May 2003, the Romanian government adopted a new law on domestic violence. The law, the first of its kind in Romania, defines domestic violence as a deliberate physical or verbal act by one family member against another family member, which results in physical, mental or sexual suffering, or material loss (Article 2(1)). Article 2(2) also states that encroaching on women's fundamental rights and freedoms constitutes domestic violence. The law also provides for the creation of a government institution to draft and implement national domestic violence prevention plans, the National Agency for Family Protection (Article 9(1)). Additionally, in 2005, Romania adopted a new National Strategy to prevent domestic violence.
For Commentary by The Advocates for Human Rights on the domestic violence law, click here.
In 2001, the Romanian government adopted a law (the Law on the Prevention and Combat of Trafficking) aimed at preventing and combating human trafficking. The law defines trafficking as the use of coercion to recruit, transport, harbor, or receive humans for exploitation. In addition to prosecuting trafficking offenders under this new law, the Romanian government has focused resources on antitrafficking and investigative measures through the creation of an antitrafficking unit within the police force, as well as expanded support for localized antitrafficking efforts. The Law on the Prevention and Combat of Trafficking also provides for improved cooperation between the police and NGOs.
In 2002, as a part of the E.U. integration process, Romania adopted a law, entitled Equal Opportunities and Treatment for Women and Men. The law establishes the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, forbids direct and indirect gender discrimination, establishes a process for resolving discrimination complaints, and makes sexual harassment a punishable offense in the Criminal Code. Amendments to the law were made in 2004 and 2005, in attempts to more fully comply with the E.U. Directives provisions and Romania's commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). One of the 2005 amendments created a National Agency for Equal Opportunities for Men and Women (ANES), which impacts Romania's labor and social policies.
Romania also deals with discimination in the workplace in its Constitution, its Labor Code, and certain other ordinances, laws and decisions. For more information, please see the article below, written and provided by Adela Dinu.
Compiled from: Domestic Violence in Romania: the Law, the Court System, American Bar Association and Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative, 30 April 2007; Shadow Report, ERRC and Romani CRISS, U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women the 35th Session, 15 May to 2 June 2006; Shadow Report/Alternative Report to the Romanian Government Report, Women's Association of Romania, U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women the 35th Session, May 2006; Legislation in the Member States of the Council of Europe in the Field of Violence Against Women, prepared in part by Jill Radford, United Kingdom, for the Council of Europe's Steering Committee for Equality Between Men and Women, March 2004; Integration of the Human Rights of Women and the Gender Perspective - Violence Against Women, Addendum 1, Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, 27 Feb. 2003.