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Introduction





Asia

Europe and Central Asia

Middle East and North Africa

Special Issues and Campaigns

United States

Arms

Children’s Rights

Women’s Human Rights

Appendix




The Role of the International Community

Council of Europe

On January 18, 1998, the Romanian government agreed to make public the Report to the Romanian Government by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). The report detailed the findings of a group of international experts who visited Romania from September 24 to October 6, 1995, and concluded that persons in police custody “face a not inconsiderable risk of being subjected to police mistreatment, which is sometimes severe mistreatment, even torture.” The CPT recommended increased human rights training for police officers, that the general prosecutor issue a directive on the methods of processing and investigating claims of police mistreatment, and the adoption of a code of practice for police interrogations.

On April 25, 1997, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe suspended its monitoring of Romania’s human rights record for one year. On June 25, 1998, the assembly officially removed Romania from the list, with the understanding that Romania would amend article 200 of the Romanian Penal Code, a condition of Romania’s initial admission into the council. Romania, however, failed to amend the legislation during 1998.

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities engaged Romanian government officials on minority issues, including education and language rights and the rights of ethnic Roma.

European Union

Romania was not among the first five countries approved for ultimate E.U. accession, but participated in pre-accession talks in March. The European Parliament adopted a resolution in September criticizing Romania for its continued discrimination against gays and lesbians.

United States

The development of a market economy is the primary U.S. policy goal. The U.S. focused little attention on the human rights situation, missing opportunities to influence the strengthening of human rights in Romania. President Constantinescu visited the United States in July. He focused on the process of NATO expansion and democratic and economic reforms. Without mentioning human rights practices directly, President Clinton indicated that Romania had to make significant changes before it would be accepted for membership in NATO, and urged Romanians to “stay the course” of reform.

Relevant Human Rights Watch report:

Public Scandals: Sexual Orientation and Criminal Law in Romania , in cooperation with the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, 2/98.



Countries


Albania

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Republic of Belarus

Bosnia and Hercegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Czech Republic

Georgia

Greece

Hungary

Kazakstan

Kyrgyztan

Macedonia

Romania

The Russian Federation

Slovakia

Tajikistan

Turkey

Turkmenistan

United Kingdom

Uzbekistan

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Asylum Policy in Western Europe


Campaigns



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