“Major human rights problems included trafficking of persons for labor, sexual exploitation, and forced begging. Significant societal discrimination against Roma continued. Government corruption remained a widespread problem that affected all sections of society,” says the State Department’s country report on Romania.
“During the year there were reports that police and gendarmes mistreated and harassed detainees and Roma. Prison conditions remained poor. The judiciary lacked impartiality and was sometimes subject to political influence. Property restitution remained extremely slow, and the government failed to take effective action to return Greek Catholic churches confiscated by the former Communist government in 1948.”
According to the report, Romania retains a restrictive law on religion. Cases of violence and discrimination against women, child abuse and discrimination against sexual minorities were reported.
The State Department notes that Romania’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and press, rights which are generally respected. Nevertheless, according to the report, people with ties to political groups own or indirectly control numerous media outlets, “and the news and editorial tone of these outlets frequently reflected the views of the owners.”