Several
\nsevere offences, such as human trafficking, slavery, child pornography, proxenetism
\nwill no longer be subject to any statute of limitation in Romania. This means
\nthat no matter how much time has passed, legal proceedings can still be
\ninitiated against the perpetrators of these offenses. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The decision-making
\nChamber of Deputies in Bucharest has unanimously endorsed several amendments to
\nthe country’s Criminal Code, initiated by a group of MPs belonging to the
\nruling coalition made up of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and USR PLUS
\nalliance. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The
\nnew amendments also include severer punishment for the accomplices of this type
\nof offenders as well as for repeat offender involved in child pornography. The
\naforementioned amendments were also endorsed by the Senate in April. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
It is
\na very important law, which does not allow those who commit severe offences,
\nsuch as human trafficking, aggression against minors and other severe offences
\nto get away with their crimes thanks to the statute of limitations. This type
\nof offenders are to be held responsible for their entire life, says Ludovic
\nOrban, president of the Chamber of Deputies. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
One of
\nthe initiators of the aforementioned law, USR-PLUS senator Simona Spataru said
\nthat Romania needed such amendments because in some cases offenders got away
\nwith their crimes due to dragging investigations and statutory limitations. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Romania
\nranks first in Europe in terms of victims of human trafficking and a major
\ncause for delayed investigations is the fact that these networks of traffickers
\nare very sophisticated. We are also speaking here about the trafficking with
\nminors and unfortunately Romania is a source for this kind of trafficking as
\nwell. So, it is very important for us to intervene now says Simona Spataru. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
According
\nto experts of GRETA, a Council of Europe institution specialized in fighting
\nhuman trafficking, Romania arguably remains a country of origin for victims of human
\ntrafficking, while Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK used to be the main
\ndestination countries. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
GRETA
\nhas urged Romania to make sure it implements effective punishment in the case
\nof human traffickers and that victims benefit from compensations. In a report
\npublished on Thursday, GRETA says that Romania continues to develop its
\nlegislative framework to take action against human trafficking. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The
\ngroup hails the fact that the Justice Minister has called on the general
\nprosecutor to prioritize actions against human trafficking but notes that many
\nculprits benefitted from suspended and reduced sentences after they have
\nadmitted guilt. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
According
\nto the report, 2,613 victims of human trafficking were identified between 2016
\nand 2019 by the Romanian authorities. Three out of four were women and half of
\nthem children as sexual exploitation remains the main purpose of human
\ntrafficking. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
(bill)<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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