Romania is a Member State of the Council of Europe (COE) and of the United Nations (UN), and has human rights obligations at the regional and universal levels.
Regional: European System
As a Member of the COE, Romania has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights and is subject to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. Romania has ratified the Revised European Social Charter, but has not authorized the European Committee of Social Rights to decide collective complaints against it. Its human rights policies and practices are also monitored by the COE Commissioner for Human Rights, who identifies gaps in human rights protection, conducts country visits, engages in dialogue with States, and prepares thematic reports and advice.
Individuals and groups have submitted complaints of human rights violations committed by Romania to the European Court of Human Rights. For example, the Court found Romania violated the rights to life and to an effective remedy in the case of the death of an intellectually disabled and HIV-positive individual who did not receive proper health treatment under the State’s care. See ECtHR, Centre for Legal Resources on behalf of Valentin Câmpeanu v. Romania, no. 47848/08, ECHR 2014, Judgment of 17 July 2014. Additionally, the Court may grant interim measures to protect people in urgent situations of risk in Romania.
As a State party to the Revised European Social Charter, Romania must submit yearly reports to the European Committee of Social Rights on its implementation of the Charter’s provisions.
Romania is a party to the following regional human rights treaties:
- European Convention on Human Rights and several of its protocols
- Revised European Social Charter
- COE Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence
- COE Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
- European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
- Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
United Nations System
As a UN Member State, Romania is subject to the oversight of various UN human rights bodies, including the Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review and thematic special procedures. As a party to specific universal human rights treaties, Romania’s policies and practices are monitored by UN treaty bodies. It has accepted the complaints procedure of three treaty bodies.
Romania has ratified the following UN human rights treaties:
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
Romania has submitted a reservation, declaration or understanding that modifies its obligations under the following treaties: ICCPR and ICESCR.
Romania has also ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR aimed at abolishing the death penalty, and optional protocols to the CRC addressing children in armed conflict and the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography. Romania has a duty to submit State reports to the UN treaty body associated with each UN human rights treaty Romania has ratified. These reports must be submitted on a periodic basis and describe the steps taken to implement the treaty provisions.
Romania has also ratified optional protocols and made appropriate declarations allowing individuals to submit complaints against the State alleging violations of the ICCPR, CEDAW, and CERD. Additionally, certain UN treaties contain inquiry procedures, which allow the UN treaty body to consider allegations of grave or systematic human rights violations. Romania has accepted the inquiry procedures of the CAT and CEDAW.
In March 2001, Romania extended a standing invitation to UN special procedures, which means that any such mandate holders are welcome to conduct visits in Romania. For example, the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography went on a mission to Romania in September 2004 and published a visit report in January 2005.
For more information on Romania’s engagement with UN human rights bodies, visit http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/ENACARegion/Pages/ROIndex.aspx.
Last updated: February 2020