Romania – Universal Periodic Review

Session reviewed: 43rd session of the Universal Periodic Review

Date reviewed: May 2, 2023

Canada welcomes the Romanian government’s adoption of the Strategy on Inclusion of Romanian Citizens Belonging to the Roma Minority, 2022 to 2027, as well as the 2021 amendment to the Romanian criminal code that removed the statute of limitations for crimes involving human trafficking, forced labour and sexual violence.  

Canada recommends that Romania:

• Increase the capacity of law enforcement agencies, with special attention to the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, to allow them to effectively and efficiently carry out their legal obligations related to combating human trafficking, and to adopt a survivor-centered approach to assistance in order to improve protection.
• Ensure that a gender-based approach is adopted when developing and implementing national strategies regarding the Roma minority.
• Provide dedicated budgets and operationalization strategies to support the National Plans in the fields of HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health, including enhanced access to prevention and increased access to Education for Health in schools.

Canada continues to be concerned that no disaggregated data is systematically collected by the public authorities, including the Courts, regarding all forms of violence covered in the Istanbul Convention.