Overview and Key Human Rights Issues
Romania’s human rights situation showed no significant changes in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of State’s annual report. The most significant human rights issues included credible reports of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment by government officials and serious government corruption (Page 1). While the government took steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses, enforcement remained insufficient in some cases, with impunity being a persistent problem (Page 1).
Respect for Individual Integrity
Police Violence and Arbitrary Killings
Several concerning incidents of police misconduct occurred throughout 2023. In July, authorities opened an investigation against two police officers in Arad after a man died in police custody, with photographs showing the victim had multiple wounds indicating he had been beaten (Pages 1-2). Additionally, two officers were indicted in September for their alleged involvement in the 2021 involuntary manslaughter of a man during an evacuation, with surveillance footage showing officers pushing the victim to the ground and compressing his cervical area (Page 2).
The year also saw mixed outcomes in historical cases. While the High Court issued a final ruling acquitting former communist-era Securitate officials accused of beating anti-Communist dissident Gheorghe Ursu to death in 1985 (Page 2), legal proceedings continued against former President Ion Iliescu and former Vice Prime Minister Gelu Voican Voiculescu for alleged crimes against humanity during the 1989 Romanian Revolution (Page 2).
Prison Conditions and Treatment of Detainees
Prison conditions remained harsh and overcrowded, with abuse by both authorities and other prisoners being common (Page 4). Specific problems included gross overcrowding, poor food quality, very limited access to hot water, inadequate sanitary facilities, and insufficient medical care (Pages 4-5). Independent observers noted that cells were often dilapidated and lacked basic equipment, with mattresses and bedding frequently infested with bed bugs and cockroaches (Page 4).
Vulnerable populations faced particular challenges in prison settings. LGBTQI+ persons, individuals with mental health issues, and persons with HIV or AIDS experienced disproportionate abuse by fellow inmates (Page 5). Prison authorities sometimes kept prisoners confined to their cells for extended periods without opportunities for movement or exercise (Page 5).
Civil Liberties and Political Rights
Freedom of Expression and Media
While the constitution provided for freedom of expression, the government only partially respected this right (Page 12). Independent media organizations reported excessive politicization, corrupt financing mechanisms, and editorial policies subordinated to political parties and owners’ interests. Reporters and civil society representatives complained that their freedom was limited by restricted or paid access to public information (Page 12).
Several high-profile cases of journalist harassment occurred in 2022. British freelance investigative journalist Crina Boros claimed that Ministry of Environment staff subjected her to two hours of aggressive interrogation in May while she was investigating allegations of illegal logging and habitat destruction (Page 13). The case of investigative journalist Emilia Sercan continued to draw attention, as she received multiple threats and blackmail attempts after publishing allegations of plagiarism against then-Prime Minister Ciuca in 2022 (Pages 13-14).
Judicial Independence Concerns
The judiciary faced significant challenges that undermined its independence and effectiveness. Civil society and government watchdogs alleged that disciplinary actions were being used against judges and prosecutors as political retaliation for their decisions (Page 7). The European Commission’s Rule of Law Report noted that disciplinary sanctions continued to raise concerns, with only 51 percent of the general population perceiving the independence of courts and judges as “fairly or very good” (Pages 7-8).
Discrimination and Societal Issues
Treatment of Roma Population
Anti-Roma (‘Roma’ refers to an ethnic minority group also historically known as Romani people) sentiment remained a serious societal problem, with the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee finding that authorities did not adequately investigate police violence against Roma (Page 30). Roma faced persistent segregation in education and housing, inadequate access to healthcare, clean water, and sanitation. Many Roma were excluded from basic services due to lack of identity documents, preventing them from participating in elections, receiving social benefits, or accessing health insurance (Page 30).
A particularly egregious incident occurred in July when a public hospital in Urziceni allegedly refused emergency medical care to a deaf and nonverbal pregnant Romani woman, reportedly due to anti-Roma prejudice. As a result, the woman gave birth outside the hospital on the pavement (Pages 30-31).
Women’s Rights and Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence, including domestic violence, remained a serious problem (Page 26). Human rights activists reported that some police officers tried to dissuade survivors from pressing charges and, in some cases, refused to register criminal complaints. Police sometimes delayed action against sexual abusers or attempted to mediate between survivors and perpetrators rather than enforcing the law (Page 25).
Child marriage persisted in some marginalized communities, particularly among Roma, with NGOs reporting cases of girls and boys as young as 11 being sold into marriage by their families. Child protection authorities and police did not always intervene in such cases (Pages 32-33).
LGBTQI+ Rights
While the law prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, societal discrimination remained common but underreported (Page 37). During the July 2023 Bucharest Pride events, several cases of violence occurred, including unknown persons infiltrating the Pride march and throwing tear gas at participants (Page 36). Access to adequate psychological and health services was limited due to discrimination by some healthcare providers (Page 38).
In May 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the government had infringed upon the rights of 21 same-sex couples by not offering legal recognition and protection to same-sex unions (Page 38).
Government Corruption and Institutional Challenges
Corruption remained widespread throughout government institutions, with Transparency International noting high levels of corruption in customs and police units (Pages 21-22). Bribery was widely perceived as common in the public sector, especially in healthcare. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate prosecuted more than 50 corruption cases in the healthcare system during 2023 (Page 22).
Several high-profile corruption cases demonstrated the scope of the problem. In March, former Neamt County Council President Ionel Arsene was sentenced to over six years in prison for influence peddling and accepting bribes, though he fled to Italy before the ruling was issued (Page 22). An August explosion at an unlicensed gas station that killed six people was later revealed to involve corruption and political patronage, with the station operating despite irregularities due to its connection to a local mayor’s family (Page 22).
Worker Rights and Labor Conditions
While Romanian law provided for workers’ rights to form unions and engage in collective bargaining, enforcement was often inadequate (Page 44). The informal economy (economic activities that operate outside official government regulation, taxation, and statistical recording systems) was estimated to represent 29 percent of GDP in 2022, with workers in this sector not covered by wage, hour, and occupational safety laws (Page 51). Child labor remained a problem, particularly in Romani communities, with children engaged in begging, selling trinkets, and washing windshields in urban areas (Page 49).
Occupational safety standards were appropriate for most major, main industries, but compliance and enforcements were weak. The construction, agriculture, and small manufacturing sectors were particularly problematic for both labor underreporting and neglecting health and safety standards (Page 50).
Conclusion
The 2023 human rights situation in Romania presented a mixed picture of progress and persistent challenges. While the government demonstrated some commitment to addressing human rights violations through investigations and prosecutions, significant gaps remained in enforcement and accountability. Systemic issues including corruption, discrimination against minorities (particularly, the Roma or Romani groups), inadequate protection of vulnerable populations, and limitations on media freedom continued to undermine full respect for human rights. The country’s path forward requires increased efforts, at all state levels to strengthen institutional accountability, combat discrimination, and ensure equal protection under the law for all residents.
Reference
https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/528267_ROMANIA-2023-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf