Translation of article 200 of the Romanian Penal Code on homosexuality as amended on 11 September 1995; information on the meaning of the expression "causing a public scandal" in article 200; on current penalties for criminal offences related to different homosexual acts; degree and frequency with which the current law is or is not enforced [ROM22406.E]

For a translation of article 200 of the Romanian Penal Code on homosexuality as amended on 11 September 1995 by the Chamber of Deputies, please consult the attachment to Response to Information Request ROM21910.F of 29 September 1995, which is available at your Regional Documentation Centre.

For an update on the status of proposed changes to the Romanian Penal Code regarding homosexuality, for information on the meaning of the expression "causing a public scandal" in article 200, and for information on the current penalties for criminal offences related to homosexual acts, please refer to the attached hard copy of a 17 December 1995 E-mail message sent to the DIRB by the Romanian Helsinki Committee.

For information on the enforcement of the current article 200, please consult the attached hard copy of a 21 December 1995 E-mail message sent to the DIRB by the Romanian Helsinki Committee, as well as the attached excerpts of 1995 Amnesty International reports and the Human Right Watch World Report 1996.

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

Attached Documents


Amnesty International. October 1995. Romania: Romanian Authorities Respond to Amnesty International's May 1995 Report. (AI Index : EUR 39/22/95) London: Amnesty International, pp. 3-4.

_____. Romania: Update to May 1995 Report. (AI Index: EUR 39/19/95). London: Amnesty International, pp. 2-3.

_____. 22 May 1995. Romania: Broken Commitment to Human Rights. (AI Index: EUR 39/01/95). London: Amnesty International, pp. 8-14.

Human Rights Watch (HRW). 1995. Human Rights Watch World Report 1996: Events of 1995. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 226-27.

Romanian Helsinki Committee, Bucarest. 21 December 1995. Hard copy of an E-Mail message sent to the DIRB.

_____. 17 December 1995. Hard copy of an E-Mail message sent to the DIRB.