The Chamber of Deputies adopted on Tuesday a bill regulating that minor mothers, who have reached the age of 16, can make decisions for themselves and their child in relation to state institutions, as well as in obtaining certain financial rights, such as the state child allowance or the monthly child-raising allowance.
The legislative initiative was also adopted by the Senate.
The project aims to regulate full exercise capacity for mothers between 16 and 18 years old, so that they can make decisions for themselves and their child.
"Minor mothers, who have reached the age of 16, have the right to decide for their child, are able to sign medical and/or administrative documents related to the care, upbringing, and development of the child. (…) In the case of minor mothers who have reached the age of 16, the child-raising and care allowance, the state child allowance, both for the mothers and their child/children, as well as any other legal financial rights that the child/children are entitled to, are granted to the mothers, upon their request," the project states.
Romania has thousands of minor mothers, the most in the EU.