Advocacy

41. ROMANIA BETWEEN INADEQUATE POLICIES, MORE FAVORABLE LAWS AND CARELESSNESS

The day of October 18 represents a significant milestone in the European space, being dedicated to efforts to fight against one of the most serious phenomena affecting fundamental rights – human trafficking. This crime constitutes a direct threat to human dignity and freedom, manifesting itself as a contemporary form of slavery, in which the victims are frequently subjected to inhuman and degrading treatments, often amounting to torture. On the occasion of this day, ECLER launches the documentary Human trafficking – hidden, but in plain sight, made by journalist and producer Sorin Manu, with the financial support of the Embassy of the Netherlands.

[…]

This year, we are once again witnessing the situation in which the Romanian Parliament, with the involvement of some NGOs, adopted another bill more favorable to organized criminal groups who have committed acts of pimping with minors or through coercion. The proposed law provided, in its initial form, the repeal of the paragraphs of art. 213, without the inclusion of transitional provisions for the continuation of pimping cases involving minors or coercion, pending at the prosecutor’s office or before the courts.

40. CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS SINCE THE ADOPTION OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ON DECEMBER 10, 1948

In order to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 10, 1948), the European Center for Legal Education and Research (ECLER) – with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands, the Canadian Embassy, DIICOT, ANPDCA, CARE International, FONPC , the SERA Foundation, Active Citizens Fund Romania-EEA Grants 2014-2021, the Romanian-American University, the County Center for Resources and Educational Assistance, the County School Inspectorate, the Sibiu County Council, American Corner Sibiu, SIPRI and educational institutions, organized in December a series of events to prevent the trafficking of minors in Sibiu and Bacău counties, events that brought together over 2,000 professionals, students and parents.

39. EU DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS, 18 OCTOBER 2023 (ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN WITHIN STOP-AT PROJECT)

The EU Day against Trafficking in Human Beings was established by the European Commission in 2007 to raise awareness of this extremely serious crime and is celebrated on 18 October every year.

38. INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKING NETWORK OF SURROGACY (ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN WITHIN PROUCARE-2 PROJECT)

Following initial information received from the RoOmenia Association – Volunteers in Europe and data collected from online research, ECLER contributed, together with INTERPOL, to the dismantling of an international trafficking network of people exploited for illegal egg retrieval and as surrogate mothers.

On Tuesday, August 8 of 2023, 9 people were arrested in Crete, including a Romanian woman, and others are under international investigation on suspicion of committing at least 10 offenses: forming and joining an organized criminal group, human trafficking, mediation for illegal adoption of a minor, violations of the laws on the implementation of medically assisted reproduction, offenses against the family, deceiving patients with false medical procedures, fraud, forgery of public documents, bodily harm and violation of medication legislation.

37. PRESS RELEASE – REQUEST FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF ALL POLITICAL ACTORS AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING (ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN WITHIN STOP-AT PROJECT)

We emphasize, with full responsibility, the fact that Romania will never have the ability to change its status as country of origin of the largest number of victims of human trafficking identified in the EU if there is no real political will to improve public policies and to combat the phenomenon, especially by supporting with the human, financial, material and technological resources necessary for DIICOT and DCCO in effectively fulfilling their duties. Also, the fight against cross-border organized crime can only be successful through effective cooperation and a permanent exchange of information at the level of the actors involved in the Inter-institutional Task Force created within the National Strategy against Organized Crime 2021-2024.

The US report mentions the challenges arising as a result of the declaration as unconstitutional of the interruption of the statute of limitation period for criminal liability provided for by art. 155 of the Criminal Code. It was noted that a number of approximately 600 files could be closed. We mention that, regarding the trafficking of minors, Decision of the Constitutional Court of Romania no. 358/2022 can influence the course of a judicial procedure by 2-3 years. We believe that the biggest problem created in this matter was the promulgation by the President of Romania, on November 2, 2020, of several changes to the Criminal Code, by which the statute of limitation for criminal liability in the situation of trafficking in minors and child pornography decreased in many cases with over 10 years. Although Ro-TIP, together with other actors – 108 NGOs, requested the President of Romania not to promulgate a law amending the Criminal Code, a law which represents a more favorable law for traffickers of minors. Nevertheless, the President, at the request of other NGOs (eLiberare and the PROTECT Platform) promulgated the law by which the statute of limitation for criminal liability in cases of trafficking in minors and child pornography was greatly reduced, in some cases even by 17 years.

36. PUBLIC LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER NICOLAE CIUCĂ – CONCRETE MEASURES FOR EFFICIENCY OF THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN ROMANIA

The signatory NGOs took note, with delight and hope, of the declarations of Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă’s, by which the Government of Romania publicly assumed the strengthening of the fight against human trafficking in the context of our country’s accession to the Schengen Area.

Old political deadlocks have made the challenges that the Romanian authorities have been dealing with for decades to remain the same, on all the main levels – the lack of capacity of law enforcement authorities to combat and monitor the phenomenon, the lack of assistance and protection for victims of human trafficking, the lack of effective programs to inform and prevent this phenomenon.

Therefore, in the context of the statements mentioned above, we ask the Prime Minister of Romania to urgently implement concrete measures as listed below and explained in the Annex, until the re-discussion in the European Council of Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area:

35. SERIOUS SHORTCOMINGS IN THE MECHANISM FOR THE RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS, IN THE FORM ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT

Press release “Serious shortcomings in the Mechanism for the recognition and protection of victims of trafficking in human beings, in the form adopted by the Government” was published on 6 February 2023, in the framework of the A2 activity of the STOP-AT project by Partner 2 (G4 Media) with the support of Partner 1 (ECLER), and it shows that although the mechanism has been approved by the Romanian Government, the document is criticized by the civil society due to overlapping of competences and inconsistency of procedures for the referral of minor victims, which will make this mechanism ineffective and will not be able to ensure real recognition and protection of victims.

Activity A2 “Information and Communication” of the STOP-AT project is implemented by Partner 1 (ECLER) and Partner 2 (G4 Media) and aims, among others, to publish 10 press releases with clear and comprehensive information about the situation of trafficking in human beings in Romania.

34. RESEARCH STUDY – TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS AMONG THE UKRAINIAN REFUGEES

As part of the ProUCare project, ECLER conducted research on the risks of human trafficking among Ukrainian refugees and organized crime in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.

The research presents data from the year 2022 regarding the main risks and vulnerabilities, the response of the Romanian Government, the case of the 36,000 migrants who entered Austria with the help of criminal groups coordinated by a young Romanian, potential causes of sexual violence and human trafficking reported in Romania. The main results of the research can be accessed on the ECLER website at: https://ecler.online/proucare-research-summary

33. THE ROMANIAN SENATE MAY PUT CHILDREN IN DANGER (ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN WITHIN STOP-AT PROJECT)

B658/2022 Legislative proposal to amend and supplement Law no. 248/2005 on the regime of free movement of Romanian citizens abroad, as well as to amend article 23 of Law no. 272/2004 on the protection and promotion of children’s rights” aims at changing the legal regime of circulation abroad for minors, reducing the age from 18 to 16. This legislation was introduced in the Senate on October 24th and appears to be moving quickly through the legislative process.

We underline that Romania has the largest number of trafficked minors in Europe and that their number has increased 10 times in 2 years, according to the European Commission’s Report „Data collection on trafficking in human beings in the EU”, page 33, published in October 2020.

32. OCTOBER 18 – EU ANTI-TRAFFICKING DAY

To celebrate the EU Anti-Trafficking Day (October 18), ECLER organized several prevention events during the month of October: trainings with over 250 professionals, info sessions with over 1500 students and teachers and numerous events dedicated to the community of Ukrainians in Romania. Today, October 18, we are meeting with the community of Ukrainians in Brasov, to discuss vulnerabilities in the face of human trafficking.

31. PUBLIC LETTER OF CONCERN REGARDING THE TIP REPORT IN LIGHT OF THE HIGH VULNERABILITY OF UKRAINIANS IN ROMANIA

In the context of high vulnerability of the large number of refugees currently on the territory of Romania, as well as of the fact that both Ukraine and Romania have significant transnational criminal groups, the signatory NGOs request the State Department of the United States of America to continue monitoring the Government of Romania in order to improve the national standards for survivor assistance and combating human trafficking.

30. RESEARCH – THE AGE OF TRAFFICKED MINORS HAS DECREASED TO AN ALARMING LEVEL WHILE THEIR NUMBER IS CONTINUOUSLY INCREASING

ECLER, within the STOP-AT project, conducted research which shows that the average age of sexually exploited children is 14 years. The EU Report (pg. 33) shows that the number of Romanian children exploited in the EU has increased 10 times in the last 2 reporting years. The data presented for the last reporting year (2020) by the Romanian Government, through the National Agency against Trafficking in Persons (ANITP), and processed by ECLER for better visibility, show the following aspects:

  • 215 minors were identified as being sexually exploited, of which 32 were boys
  • 2/3 of the total identified victims (133) are under 16 years old
  • 4 victims were abducted
  • 98 minors were recruited via the Internet (social media)

29. PRESS RELEASE – TRAINING ON LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOR REFUGEES IN ROMANIA

ECLER, with the support of RoTIP members,organizes a training program for refugees in Romania, English speakers, in order to improve their leadership and community organizing skills. The training is scheduled for July 21-22, 2022. The organizers are covering 3 nights accommodation for participants from outside of Bucharest, and the meals for the 2-day training.

28. PRESS RELEASE – TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE RUSSIAN SAVAGE INVASION OF UKRAINE

We note with disappointment that, although we are in an unprecedented humanitarian situation following russia’s savage invasion of Ukraine, Romanian-Ukrainian organized crime groups have begun to operate in the border areas.

We draw the attention of the Ukrainians on the move, the authorities and the volunteers working at the border, to this risk. Being a group of vulnerable people, mostly women and children, it is a safe target for transnational human trafficking networks. We mention that yesterday, February 26, we were informed about the existence of recruitment cases at the border of Galati county.

27. ROMANIA REGRESSES IN THE FIELD OF THE PREVENTION OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

Yesterday, October 25, 2021, a Decision was published in the Official Gazette, adopted by the Government on October 2, 2021, regarding the amendments and completion of the Government Decision no. 861/2018 for the approval of the National Strategy against trafficking in human beings for the period 2018-2022 and of the National Action Plan 2018-2020 for the implementation of the National Strategy against trafficking in human beings for the period 2018-2022.

On 26 August 2021, the Network of NGOs Against Trafficking in Human Beings (RoTIP) and its partners, asked the Romanian Government NOT to adopt the above-mentioned Governmental Decision, which had also received a negative opinion from the Economic and Social Council, as these changes lead to a major setback in the fight against human trafficking at a time when all international fora monitoring this field consider that the Romanian Government “does not meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in human beings.” Romania is the EU state that offers the larger number of victims internationally and over 50% of the victims identified at intra-community level, with a number of minors that has increased 10 times in just 2 years, according to the EU Report 2020.

26. REQUEST TO THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT regarding the procedure for adopting the Government Decision for amending and supplementing the Government Decision no. 861/2018 for the approval of the National Strategy against trafficking in human beings for the period 2018-2022 and of the National Action Plan 2018-2020 for the implementation of the National Strategy against trafficking in human beings for the period 2018-2022 (ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN WITHIN STOP-AT PROJECT)

The signatory NGOs, members of the STOP-AT project consortium, have taken note, with great disappointment, of the form of the Draft Government Decision on amending the current National Strategy against Trafficking in Human Beings for 2018-2022 (SNITP)[RO], which is in the process of being adopted.

At the same time, we recognize the importance of the negative opinion of the Economic and Social Council, elaborated, at the request of the signatories, on August 24 a.c.

We draw attention to the fact that these changes lead to a major setback in the fight against trafficking in human beings at a time when all international fora monitoring this area consider that the Romanian Government „does not fully meet minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in human beings”, uur country being, at the same time, the EU state that offers the most victims internationally, with a number of minors that has increased 10 times in just 2 years, according to the EU Report from 2020.

In this context, Romania risks an international demotion in TIER 3, together with states that do not have the capacity to fight against human trafficking, such as the following:

Tier 3 - Romania

25. REQUEST TO THE ESC regarding the procedure for adopting the Government Decision for amending and supplementing the Government Decision no. 861/2018 for the approval of the National Strategy against trafficking in human beings for the period 2018-2022 and of the National Action Plan 2018-2020 for the implementation of the National Strategy against trafficking in human beings for the period 2018-2022 (ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN WITHIN STOP-AT PROJECT)

The signatory NGOs, members of the STOP-AT project consortium, have taken note, with great disappointment, of the form of the Draft Government Decision on amending the current National Strategy against Trafficking in Human Beings for 2018-2022 (SNITP)[RO], which is in the process of being adopted.

We draw attention to the fact that these changes lead to a major setback in the fight against trafficking in human beings at a time when all international fora monitoring this area consider that the Romanian Government „does not fully meet minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in human beings”, our country being, at the same time, the EU state that offers the most victims internationally, with a number of minors that has increased 10 times in just 2 years, according to the EU Report from 2020.

24. MEMORIUM – AMICUS CURIAE FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF ROMANIA

The Network of NGOs against Trafficking in Human Beings (RoTIP) hereby requests the approval of the submission of the following arguments, presented in the memorandum below, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OBJECTION OF UNCONSTITUTIONALITY of the provisions of the Law amending and supplementing Law no. 303/2004 regarding the status of judges and prosecutors and for the amendment of Law no. 304/2004 regarding the judicial organization – PLx 125/2021; Law no. 196/2021, formulated by the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

23. POINT OF VIEW ON THE NATIONAL STRATEGY ON THE RECOVERY OF THE CLAIMS DERIVED FROM CRIMES FOR THE PERIOD 2021-2025

64 NGOs members of the Network of NGOs against Trafficking in Human Beings (RoITP) and the Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations for Social Services – FONSS, pursuant to art. 7 of Law no. 52/2003 regarding the decisional transparency in the public administration, sent to ANABI a set of opinions with value of recommendation, regarding the proposal regarding the National Strategy regarding the Recovery of the Claims Derived from Crimes for the Period 2021-2025.
The signatory NGOs appreciate the quality of the public policy proposal and express their support for the envisaged measures and the proposed solutions, especially regarding the establishment and functioning of the National Crime Prevention Fund.

22. PUBLIC INFORMATION

On March 16, 2021, Silvia Tăbușcă joined the team of the Minister of Justice, Stelian Ion, without becoming a member of a political party and maintaining her quality as a technocrat.

In this context, the Network of NGOs Against Trafficking in Human Beings (RoTIP) is represented by Cerasela Bănică (CADO) – [email protected], and the attributions at the level of the European Center for Education and Legal Research were delegated, contact person being Alexandra Stroică – [email protected].

21. ECLER and RoTIP disassociate from UNCAGED (The United States of America) and WORLD TEACH ROMANIA

On the 11th of February 2021, the ECLER and RoTIP publicly disassociated from the UNCAGED and WORLD TEACH ROMANIA entities, informing the management of UNCAGED about this situation and its reasoning. Neither ECLER, nor RoTIP has ever received any funds from UNCAGED or WORLD TEACH ROMANIA, even if the fundraising made by UNCAGED in US was in the name of these 2 entities. UNCAGED used ECLER’s name to collect funds in US and abroad without any permission to do so.

20.  INDEPENDENT MONITORING REPORT ON ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS MEASURES (NOVEMBER 2019 – NOVEMBER 2020)

One year after the request sent to the Government by a group of 63 NGOs requesting the implementation of urgent anti-trafficking measures, the Independent Monitoring Report was published, which shows the total lack of interest of the Government for reforms. in this domain.

19.  LETTER OF CONCERN REGARDING THE ENACTMENT OF THE LAW 217/29.10.2020

We note with deep disappointment that one week after the publication of the European Commission’s Human Trafficking Report in which Romania is presented as the state with the highest number of victims in Europe (pg. 26) and with a number of children  trafficked in 2017-2018 ten times higher than in the previous reporting period (2015-2016 pg.34), the President of Romania enacted a more favorable law for defendants in crimes of child trafficking and child pornography.

Although a number of 108 NGOs drew the attention of the President of Romania on the issue of the respective law and requested its resubmission to the Parliament to complete art.154 paragraph(4) in order to return it to the form provided by the Criminal Code at that time, the President preferred to enact the law in question and to send to NGOs a simple unmotivated information that the law had already been enacted.

18.  REQUEST FOR NON-PASSING OF THE BILL PL-X 101 / 09.03.2020

108 NGOs ask the President of Romania NOT to promulgate the law in the form initially approved by the Romanian Parliament because it would become a more favorable law for defendants in many cases of child trafficking and child pornography, and to send the Bill to the Parliament to review amendments to art. 154 para.(4) Penal Code.

17.  MINISTER OF JUSTICE: “ORGANIZED GROUPS PROTECT THEMSELVES… WE ARE DEALING WITH A PHENOMENON THAT IS STRUCTURED, ORGANIZED, PERPETUATED AND CONNECTED”

The recordings come from Radio România Iași journalist, Mihaela Munteanu, and reveal the magnitude of the phenomenon, but also the difficulties faced by bona fide investigators. In fact, the Minister of Justice tells how he found out at a DIICOT event about the increasingly sophisticated practices of human trafficking networks in Romania..

16.  REQUEST FOR A LAW ON MISSING PERSONS

150 NGOs request the Parliamentary Commission of inquiry into the situation of missing children to urgently launch a dialogue with the Romanian Government in order to complete the process of drafting the law on the search for missing persons. We mention that in 2019 approximately 4,000 cases of missing children were registered, of which 10% have not yet been identified. The unjustified delay in adopting a normative act, requested by the citizens of Romania after the “Caracal experiment”, directly affects the victims of the disappearances and their families.

15.  PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE DRAFT REGULATORY ACT REGARDING THE SEARCH OF MISSING PERSONS, SUBJECTED TO PUBLIC DEBATE BY THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

RoTIP appreciates the activity of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to initiate, in urgent procedure, a draft normative act aimed at the topic of searching for missing persons and, at the same time, to emphasize ”the need to establish quickly the measures to allow, as soon as possible and in terms of efficiency, of some strategic decisions at the level of the Romanian Police regarding the establishment of adequate mechanisms for managing the phenomenon of missing persons.”

We draw attention to the fact that many articles in this draft normative act restrict constitutional freedoms, and the elimination or modification of these articles would make the procedures for searching for a missing person completely ineffective. We agree with the position of APADOR-CH which mentions that, in accordance with art. 115(6) of the Romanian Constitution, the Government may issue emergency ordinances that, among other things, do NOT affect constitutional freedoms. As the present normative act, in order to be effective, must interfere in certain conditions with fundamental rights, its adoption can be made only by a normative act of “law” type, adopted in the emergency procedure in the Parliament.

Therefore, we request the Ministry of Internal Affairs to return to the initial form of this normative act, that of “law”, and to start as soon as possible the procedure for its adoption. Any continuation of the delay in the procedure of adopting this normative act directly affects the possibility of rapid identification of persons who disappear daily. 

14.  THE NETWORK OF NGOs AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (RoTIP) – OPEN LETTER “WHO TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE SECRECY OF CRIMINAL FILES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKERS?”

The signatory organizations ask the Minister of Justice and the Superior Council of Magistracy to explain why all cases of trafficking in minors and trafficking in human beings have been deleted from the court portal, who made this decision and to publish all documents substantiating and endorsing this decision. Please publicly explain why this decision was taken without any prior public consultation in which to discuss alternative solutions.

13.  THE NETWORK OF NGOs FIGHTING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (RoTIP) HAS STOPPED THE PROPOSED M.I.A. ORDER!

The network of NGOs fighting trafficking in persons in Romania (RoTIP) has managed to stop the adoption of the MIA order that would have enabled ANITP to evaluate the activities of the civil society in the field of fighting trafficking in persons.

The MIA has contacted the representatives of RoTIP about the withdrawal from the approval procedure of the projected MIA order to modify and complete the Regulations on Organizing and Functioning of the ANITP, through which it would have been given to ANITP the power of monitoring and evaluating NGO activities.

The decision of the MIA has come as a consequence of the public debate regarding the proposed order, which tool place online on August 11, 2020. During the debate representatives of RoTIP have asked for the elimination of paragraphs related to the monitoring and evaluation of NGO activities by ANITP, aspect that violates the democratic principles, being in contradiction with the provisions of the Romanian Constitution regarding the freedom of association of non-governmental organizations and with the European anti-trafficking legislation.

12.  ESTABLISHING A NETWORK OF NGOs FIGHTING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

To mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, 15 NGOs working in the field of combating trafficking in human beings and protecting victims have set up an informal network, since 30 July 2020. Although Romania is the European country with the highest number of exploited victims, so far there has been no network of NGOs working in the field.

11.  THE GOVERNMENT OF A ROMANIA IN FULL PANDEMIC WANTS TO CONTROL NGOs ACTIVE  IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS!

We consider that the wish of ANITP to monitor and evaluate the activity carried out in the field of the fight against trafficking in human beings by non-governmental organizations represents a serious violation of the freedom of action and expression of civil society and at the same time a restriction of democratic values.

10. NATIONAL PETITION – TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE HUMAN SECURITY AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Taking into account the obligations of the institutions of the Romanian State to protect its citizens against serious violations of dignity and fundamental rights and to reduce the phenomena that directly affect national security, we – a group of 63 NGOs – appeal to the above-mentioned actors for a better and more efficient action against human trafficking networks and to protect Romanian citizens, especially minors.

Public petition: NATIONAL PETITION – TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE HUMAN SECURITY AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Answers of the Romanian state authorities:

9. ȚĂNDĂREI CASE

As members of the civil society, ECLER has coagulated an initial group of 25 Romanian and international NGOs that fight against corruption and organised crime, to bring into the international community’s attention the Țandarei case on trafficking in minors.

Further details here: http://www.ecler.org/en/advocacy-tandarei-case-romania-justice-fails/

8. ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

As early as 2014, ECLER members have campaigned with national authorities, the European Commission and the diplomatic structures in Romania for coherent regulation of transplantation and organ procurement.

Further details here: http://www.ecler.org/en/advocacy-organ-transplants/

7. LEGAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS

ECLER is a member of the National Movement for the Promotion of Legal Education in Schools, initiated by the Ministry of Justice, the Superior Council of Magistracy and the Ministry of Education, at the request of several NGOs in Romania.

6. SUPPORT FOR A REPRESENTATIVE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE SUPERIOR COUNCIL OF MAGISTRACY

ECLER – along with APADOR-CH, Funky Citizens, Independent Journalism Center – IJC Expert Forum (EFOR) FDSC Center for Innovation, Public Assistance Centre for NGOs – CENTRAS, Ask Participation Group Standalone for Participatory Democracy – GADP ActiveWatch, Romanian Center for European Policies (CRPE), Pro-Democracy Association, Centre for Advanced Research in Management and Applied Ethics, Maliția Spirituală, Center for Media, APDD – Agenda 21, Code4Romania, Human Catalyst, Greenpeace Romania – supports the candidacy of Codru Vrabie for the Romanian Superior Council of Magistracy as a representative of civil society.

Further details here: http://www.apador.org/blog/apador-ch-il-propune-pe-codru-vrabie-ca-membru-al-csm-din-partea-societatii-civile/ [RO]

5. OPEN LETTER – RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN TURKEY

ECLER, along with other 17 NGOs calls on the Romanian representatives to act in accordance with the values that underlie the transatlantic community, of which Romania is part, and take a stand against the alarming developments from these days in Turkey, to take necessary steps, which are within the democratic mandate that they have from the Romanian people, to reaffirm the need for respect, in these difficult days, the human rights, judicial independence, and the rule of law in Turkey.

Further details here: http://www.petitieonline.com/scrisoare_deschisa_pentru_respectarea_drepturilor_omului_in_turci [RO]

4. OPEN LETTER – THE COUNCIL OF MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

ECLER, along with other 12 NGOs, criticized impediments encountered by former president of CMICDPD, and asked the Senate and the Government to intervene to implement expeditiously the law, to stop crimes from orphanages and ensure for people with disabilities in Romania a dignified treatment, according to the values assumed by Romania on the protection of fundamental human rights.

3. INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE – NATIONAL COALITION FOR INTEGRATION OF REFUGEES

ECLER, along with other 22 NGOs, calls on Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș, to release the activity of the Interministerial Committee – National Coalition for Integration of Refugees, to communicate the name of the person responsible for coordinating this Committee and the composition of the Technical Secretariat.

2. PLACEMENT AND RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

ECLER has launched and coordinates the Working Group for amending the Law 151/2000 on the protection of Romanian citizens working abroad. This bill is outweighed by the social realities of Romania and must be amended according to actual needs.

Following the meeting of 31 March 2016, the Working Group concluded:

  1. to amend, urgently, the national legislation on protection of Romanian citizens working abroad in accordance with the international standards established by the International Labour Organization, particularly the Convention no. 181, Article 7, by eliminating any fees or costs charged directly or indirectly for the recruitment of job seekers;
  2. accreditation, on a national level, of recruitment agencies that place job seekers to work abroad and a more detailed legislation of their rights and obligations;
  3. to create a database of Romanians who left the country to work abroad and for it to be accessible to all actors that could contribute to a better protection of Romanians beyond the national borders (Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice etc.);
  4. to create national programs to inform Romanians that are interested in a job abroad about their rights and challenges they could face, as well as about the institutions, agencies and NGOs, which they could contact when their rights are violated;
  5. to encourage victims of human trafficking for labor exploitation, at repatriation, to address the competent authorities to sanction such practices and the creation of tailored services for such victims, which currently do not exist in Romania.

1. JUDICIAL POLICE SUBORDINATED ONLY TO THE DIOCT PROSECUTOR

Since 2012, ECLER members have advocated beside the national authorities, the European Commission, and diplomatic structures in Romania to be created a specialized office for the judicial police in DIOCT, following the model from DNA.

This measure is being implemented in accordance with amendments made by the Emergency Ordinance 6/2016 on measures to enforce the mandates of technical supervision in criminal proceedings.