Romania has made progress in combating violence against women, but the protection offered to victims remains insufficient in practice. Women seeking shelter may be asked for difficult-to-obtain documents in an emergency situation, specialized services do not cover the entire country, and domestic violence is not systematically taken into account when courts decide who the children stay with.
These are some of the conclusions of a GREVIO report on Romania. GREVIO is the independent group of experts monitoring the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, the treaty on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
### Acte cerute femeilor care au nevoie de adăpost
Experts welcome the expansion of the shelter network. The report shows that there is a network of 42 shelters for victims of domestic violence. However, access to them may depend on presenting an identity document, a statement, and documents proving the violence. In these conditions, social workers cited in the report say that women cannot be admitted directly to shelters before a social and medical evaluation.
GREVIO points out that precisely at a time marked by fear and urgency, these documents can be the most difficult to obtain. The report mentions that authorities are considering changing access criteria, including eliminating requirements related to identity documents, domicile, criminal complaints, or protection orders. These are changes under consideration, not rules already eliminated.
Even services outside shelters do not sufficiently meet the needs of victims. According to data cited in the report, the total number of specialized services, residential and non-residential, decreased from 152 in 2022 to 144 in 2025. In rural or isolated areas, the distance to a center remains an additional barrier.
### Avertisment privind deciziile despre copii
Another criticism concerns custody proceedings and setting visitation schedules after episodes of domestic violence. Although the law allows for considering violence against the other parent, GREVIO finds that this does not happen systematically in practice. Experts warn that the effects of violence on children may be underestimated if the court only looks for evidence that the child was directly assaulted as well.
The report also criticizes the use of the notion of „parental alienation” in proceedings involving children. For example, if a child refuses to see their father after witnessing family violence, their refusal may be attributed to the mother, accused of alienating the child from the father. Experts call for the elimination of the notion from legislation and its prohibition in court, so the child’s fear is not overlooked.
### Ce progrese recunoaște raportul
The assessment also notes the changes made by Romania. These include the 2026 law on preventing and combating femicide, the national strategy for gender equality and combating domestic violence, the criminalization of distributing intimate images without consent, and the extension of protection orders beyond family relationships, including for threats, harassment, and some forms of online violence.
Ten intervention centers have been established in hospitals for victims of sexual violence. However, GREVIO says that integrated services are needed, available free of charge, where a victim can receive medical care, psychological support, medico-legal examination, and counseling in the same place. The report specifies that in existing centers, medico-legal documents are still subject to a fee.
Experts also call for stable funding for services for victims, coherent data collection between police, justice, health, and social services, as well as stronger investigations and effective enforcement of protection orders.
The full GREVIO report on Romania can be consulted below:
[GREVIO(2026)8 First thematic evaluation report on Romania EN](https://spotmedia.ro/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GREVIO20268-First-thematic-evaluation-report-on-Romania-EN.pdf)
G.P.