RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Romania seen by the US Department of State

Corruption, part of the media subordinated to political interests, violence against women are some of the issues highlighted in the US Department of State report on human rights in Romania

Romania seen by the US Department of State
Romania seen by the US Department of State

, 01.04.2021, 01:50

The US Department of State has released its annual report on the human rights situation in the world. The chapter dedicated to Romania in 2020 identifies issues related to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, widespread corruption, poor investigation of violence against women and violence against people with disabilities or members of ethnic minorities. According to the report, the judiciary has made efforts to officially prosecute and convict those who have committed abuses, but the authorities do not have effective mechanisms in place. Some of those who have committed human rights abuses continue to go unpunished.

Last year, the document also notes, numerous cases of corruption by authorities were reported. Bribery continues to be a common phenomenon in the public sector, especially in the health-care sector. The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) further investigated politicians and government officials. One of the cases mentioned in the report is the bribery case opened against the former Minister of Health and hospital manager Sorina Pintea, who, in February 2020, was caught red-handed by DNA prosecutors, after taking bribe for an alleged contract for the construction of some hospital wards.

According to the State Department Report, several police officers and gendarmes have been acquitted of charges of beating and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and Romanian citizens generally disrespect the police because they perceive them as corrupt and inefficient.The report also draws attention to the fact that, after the 2018 anti-corruption rallies in Bucharest, although some 770 complaints of excessive use of force against peaceful protesters were filed, so far, the culprits have not been punished. Violence against women and inconsistency of court decisions are also noted.

There are reports of non-governmental organizations showing numerous cases of police officers trying to discourage rape victims from filing a complaint, and sometimes even refusing to file such complaints. Another issue mentioned is that of anti-Semitism, as such behaviors were reported in Romania in 2020. The State Department document mentions the Elie Wiesel Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania, according to which there were cases of naming streets, organizations, schools or libraries after people convicted of war crimes or crimes against humanity. Also according to the findings of the Elie Wiesel Institute, materials were promoted on the Internet to promote anti-Semitic ideas and glorify the Legion, the far right in the interwar period.

Regarding the press, the US Department of State notes that the opinions presented are varied, but a number of media outlets are owned or indirectly controlled by people with political ties. Frequently, the news or editorial policies of these media outlets reflect the views of the owner and target political opponents or other media channels. (MI)

Foto: presidency.ro
Today in the News Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Reactions to the resignation of President Klaus Iohannis

The political class in Bucharest reacted to the first resignation in the history of Romanian presidents.     Klaus Iohannis announced his...

Reactions to the resignation of President Klaus Iohannis
Photo: Septimiu Balica / pixabay.com
Today in the News Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Budget for 2025, promulgated

  The outgoing president Klaus Iohannis signed the decrees promulgating the 2025 state budget and social security budget laws. The two bills had...

Budget for 2025, promulgated
(Photo: Facebook / Tánczos Barna)
Today in the News Monday, 10 February 2025

The Conclusions of the IMF and World Bank missions

The delegations of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have concluded their talks in Bucharest with the representatives of the main...

The Conclusions of the IMF and World Bank missions
Afiş expo Dacia-Olanda-coif
Today in the News Monday, 10 February 2025

Irregularities regarding the exhibition in Assen

The Dutch police are trying to track down the Romanian treasury artifacts stolen on January 25 from the Drents Museum in Assen. The three suspects...

Irregularities regarding the exhibition in Assen
Today in the News Friday, 07 February 2025

Significant GDP growth in Romania

Romania surpassed Poland in terms of GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity, according to data presented by Ionuţ Dumitru, professor at...

Significant GDP growth in Romania
Today in the News Friday, 07 February 2025

Outpatient centres for respiratory infections

  Romania has declared a state of epidemiological alert due to the large number of respiratory infections. In recent weeks, cases of flu, viral...

Outpatient centres for respiratory infections
Today in the News Thursday, 06 February 2025

The Romanian Parliament adopted the 2025 budget

At the end of marathon debates, which lasted more than eight hours, the plenum of Romania’s Parliament adopted, on Wednesday evening, the state...

The Romanian Parliament adopted the 2025 budget
Today in the News Thursday, 06 February 2025

French Report on Digital Interference

The political crisis in Bucharest, never seen before in the 35 years of post-communist democracy, has become a case study for foreign experts. The...

French Report on Digital Interference

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company