Information on the protection available to women assaulted by police officers was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Amnesty International (AI) reported several incidents in which women were victims of violence at the hands of police (AI 2003; ibid. 1 Sept. 2004). In August 2003, the chief of a local police station, while conducting an investigation, allegedly raped a woman in her house (AI 2003). According to AI, "[a] police commission established to investigate the case reportedly questioned the victim and the suspected perpetrator face to face and persuaded the victim to withdraw her complaint [out of] consideration for the officer's family" (ibid.).

In December 2003, AI reported on a case in which two young women made an appointment to meet a police officer in order to obtain driver's licences (Jan.-June 2004). The women were then purportedly raped and physically assaulted by three senior police officers before being released from the home of one of the alleged perpetrators seven days later (AI Jan.-June 2004). Meanwhile, another police officer attempted to "cover up for his colleagues" when questioned by concerned family about the whereabouts of the two women (ibid.). AI reported that the women were "harassed and threatened by the police not to complain," but by February 2004 the Ministry of the Interior had suspended the accused officers pending the findings of an investigation into their conduct (ibid.). No further mention of this investigation or its outcome could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Following a July 2003 incident during which Bucharest police were caught on video in flagrant offence with prostitutes they were supposed to be investigating, an article by the Associated Press (AP) reported that the Bucharest police department "has vowed to prosecute any officers who are involved in illegal activities" (1 July 2003).

Several reports cited incidents of police abuse involving Romanian women of Roma extraction (AI 2004; Country Reports 2003 25 Feb. 2004, sec. 1.c; ERRC 29 July 2004). AI reported that in November 2003, a Roma women was killed by three police-licensed private security guards at a coal mine because she was trying to collect coal to warm her home (2003). According to AI, many Roma "were afraid to make statements to non-governmental organizations or to file complaints because of fear of further harassment" (2003).

Country Reports 2003 cited two cases in which police officers beat Roma women and which authorities were still investigating at the end of 2003 (25 Feb. 2004, sec. 1.c). In August 2003, a woman was one of four Roma allegedly beaten by police after refusing to vacate a shop that the city had leased to another party (ERRC 2003). As a result of complaints to the authorities, the woman's fine for "disturbing public order" was cancelled and the police officers charged with the beating were fined approximately 25 euros (CAN$40 [Canada 28 Jan. 2005]) each for "'a defective intervention to stop the illegal activities of some Roma persons'" (ibid.). In another incident, a police officer allegedly harassed 11 Roma women after they had complained of discrimination after being refused birth allowances (ERRC 29 July 2004). As a result of the harassment, three women withdrew their complaints (ibid.). Information on the results of the complaints of the other women could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International (AI). 1 September 2004. Europe and Central Asia - Summary of Amnesty International's Concerns in the Region: January-June 2004.. http://web.amnesty.org/library/print/ENGEUR010052004 [Accessed 18 Jan. 2005]

_____. 2003. " Romania ". Amnesty International Report 2003. http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/rom-summary-eng [Accessed 21 Jan. 2005]

Associated Press (AP). 1 July 2003. "Police Officers Filmed Having Sex with Prostitutes in Romania." (Dialog)

Canada. 28 January 2005. Bank of Canada. "Currency Converter." http://www.bankofcanada.ca/cgi-bin/famecgi_fdps [Accessed 31 Jan. 2005]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003. 25 February 2004. " Romania ". United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27860.htm [Accessed 27 Jan. 2005]

European Roma Rights Center (ERRC) [Bucharest]. 29 July 2004. Roma Rights Quarterly. "Romanian Roma Intimidated After Seeking Justice for Rights Violations." (ERRC)

_____. 2003. Roma Rights. No. 4. "Abusive Behaviour Against Roma by Romanian Officials." http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=1303 [Accessed 31 Jan. 2005]

Additional Sources Consulted

The Romania Society for Feminist Analyses, the Association for the Promotion of Women in Romania, and the Women's Association of Romania did not respond to requests for information within time constraints.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact Liga Pro Europe, the National Association of University Women of Romania, the Network of East-West Women, the Society for Interbalkan Cooperation of Romanian Women, the Women's Institute (Bucharest), the Women's National Confederation from Romania, and the Women's League (Brasov).

Internet sites, including: Bucharest Daily News, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Freedom House, Human Rights Watch (HRW), World News Connection (WNC).