Romanian Parliament Passes Femicide Law with Severe Penalties

Romania’s Parliament has passed legislation defining and criminalizing femicide for the first time. The bill received 284 votes in favor, with one against and two abstentions. It establishes penalties equivalent to those for aggravated murder, including life imprisonment.

The law mandates annual data collection and publication regarding femicide and related violence. It also provides protection for orphans of femicide victims, recognizing them as direct victims. The legal definition of femicide includes intentional killing or death resulting from harmful practices, regardless of perpetrator.

The legislation introduces aggravated penalties for violence occurring in front of children and specifically punishes acts motivated by gender. It also includes preventative education on gender equality and non-violent relationships in schools. The law defines three types of femicide: intimate, non-intimate, and indirect.