The Romanian constitution in1991 was the guarantee of a further free and democratic country.
At 10 years after the Romanian Revolution in 1989, Romania is on its way towards the integration in European Union.
Progress towards EU integration has certainly been made. Still, questions regarding Human Rights are still being raised.

In this section you will some of the questions raised, regarding Human Rights
Here are also published the texts of the
Procedures before the UN Commission on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Organisations that defend Human Rights.
UN Activity in Romania- Making for the Big Family.

Questions?

Some of the questions regarding Human Rights are:

1.What about the freedom of conscience if the military service is still compulsory?
Argument for this question: Art.18 in Universal Declaration of Human Rights
"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion"
Art. 29 in Romanian Constitution:
"The freedom of conscience is guaranteed"
Art.20 in Romanian Constitution:
" All constitutional disposals regarding the rights and freedoms of citizens will be interpreted according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[...]"
2. What about endless trials?
Argument for this question: Art.6 in Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
"In the determination of his civil rights and obligations[...], everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time. "
3. What about the low economic level and the respect for a decent life?
Argument for this question: Art.25 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services. "


Procedures before the UN Commission on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights

Any individual considering to be denied any of the fundamental rights specified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, may send a complaint to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva at: Palais des Nations 8-14, Avenue de la Paix 1211, Geneva 10, Switzerland. In response, the UN will send an independent rapporteur to monitor the situation.
A report is then being filed with the appropriate Commission- in this case the Commission on Human Rights. After analyzing the report, the Commission will issue a recommendation to the concerning state.
Similarly, any individual claiming to be a victim of a violation of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, may lodge directly with the ciurt in Strasbourg an application alleging a breach of one of the Convention Rights.

The application may be sent to European Court on Human Rights- Council of Europe,
F- 67075, Strasbourg, Cedex, France. However, one should seek advice before at Council of Europe- Information and Documentation Center, Str. Alexandru Donici, Sector2, Bucharest, Romania.
The procedure before the European Court is adversial and public. Individuals may submit applications themselves, but legal representation is recommended, and even required for hearings or after an application is admitted. The Council of Europe has set up a legal aid scheme for applicants who do not have sufficient means. For further concerns regarding the admission of an application, please see the Convention.
Application admitted by committees or referred directly to a Chamber are examined by a Chamber. Chamber decisions on admissibility, which are taken by majority vote, must contain reasons and be made public.


The public library of the UN Information Center in Bucharest.

 If no friendly settlement negociations are recahed, the Chamber will deliver judgement by a majority vote. Within 3 months of delivery of the judgement of a Chamber, any party may request the case be referred to the Grand Chamber, if it raises a serious question of interpretation or application or a serious issue of general importance. A Chamber's judgement becomes final at the expiry of the 3 month period or after rejecting the requestfor referral. All final judgements of the Court are binding on the respondent state concerned.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6. Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7. All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8. Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11. 1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13. 1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14. 1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

2. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15. 1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.

2.No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16. 1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17. 1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

2.No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20. 1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21. 1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.

3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22. Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23. 1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25. 1.Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control

2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26. 1.Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27. 1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28. Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29. 1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

 Declaratia Universala a Drepturilor Omului.

Articolul 1. Toate fiintele se nasc libere si egale in demnitate si in drepturi. Ele sint inzestrate cu ratiune si constiinta si trebuie sa se comporte unele fata de altele in spiritul fraternitatii.

Articolul 2. Fiecare om se poate prevala de toate drepturile si libertatile proclamate de prezenta declaratie fara nici un fel de deosebire ca, de pilda, deosebirea de rasa, culoare, sex, limba, religie, opinie politica sau orice alta opinie, de origine nationala sau sociala, avere, nastere sau orice alte imprejurari. In afara de aceasta, nu se va face nici o deosebire dupa statutul politic, juridic sau international al tarii sau al teritoriului de care tine persoana, fie ca aceasta tara sau teritoriu sint independente, sub tutela, neautonome sau supuse vreunei limitari de suveranitate.

Articolul 3. Orice fiinta umana are dreptul la viata, la libertate si la securitatea persoanei sale.

Articolul 4. Nimeni nu va fi tinut in sclavie, nici in servitute; sclavajul sau comertul cu sclavi sint interzise sub toate formele lor.

Articolul 5. Nimeni nu va fi supus la torturi, nici la tratamente crude, inumane sau degradante.

Articolul 6. Fiecare om are dreptul sa i se recunoasca pretutindeni personalistatea juridica.

Articolul 7. Toti oamenii sint egali in fata legii si au, fara nici o deosebire, dreptul la o protectie egala a legii. Totii oamenii au dreptul la o protectie egala impotriva oricarei discriminari care ar viola prezenta declaratie si impotriva oricarei provocari la o asemenea discriminare.

Articolul 8. Orice persoana are dreptul la satisfactia efectiva din partea instantelor juridice nationale competente impotriva acelor acte care violeaza dreptuile fundamentale ce ii sint recunoscute prin constituie sau lege.

Articolul 9. Nimeni nu poate sa fie arestat, detinut sau exilat in mod arbitrar.

Articolul 10. Orice persoana are dreptul in deplina egalitate de a fi audiata in mod echitabil si public de catre un tribunal independent si impartial care va hotari fie asupra drepturilor si obligatiilor sale, fie asupra temeiniciei oricarei acuzari in materie penala indreptate impotriva sa.

Articolul 11.1. Orice persoana acuzata de comiterea unui act cu caracter penal are dreptul sa fie presupusa nevinovata pina cind vinovatia sa va fi stabilita in mod legal in cursul unui proces public in care i-au fost asigurate toate garantiile apararii sale.
2. Nimeni nu va fi condamnat pentru actiuni sau omisiuni care nu constituiau, in momentul cind au fost comise, un act cu caracter penal conform dreptului international sau national. De asemenea, nu se va aplica nici o pedeapsa mai grea decit aceea care era aplicabila in momentul cind a fost savirsit actul cu caracter penal.

Articolul 12. Nimeni nu va fi supus la imixtiuni arbitrare in viata sa personala, in familia sa, in domiciliul sau in corespondenta sa, nici la atingeri aduse onoarei sau reputatiei sale. Orice persoana are dreptul la protectia legii impotriva unor asemenea imixtiuni sau atingeri.

Articolul 13. 1. Orice persoana are dreptul de a circula in mod liber si de a-si alege resedinta in interiorul granitelor unui stat.
2. Orice persoana are dreptul de a parasi orice tara, inclusiv a sa, si de a reveni in tara sa.

Articolul 14. 1. In caz de persecutie, orice persoana are dreptul de a cauta azil si de a beneficia de azil in alte tari.
2. Acest drept nu poate fi invocat in caz de urmarire ce rezulta in mod real dintr-o crima de drepr comun sau din actiuni contrare scopurilor si principiilor Organizatiei Natiunilor Unite.

Articolul 15. 1. Orice persoana are dreptul la o cetatenie.
2. Nimeni nu poate fi lipsit in mod arbitrar de cetatenia sa sau de dreptul de a-si schimba cetatenia.

Articolul 16. 1. Cu incepere de la implinirea virstei legale, barbatul si femeia, fara nici o restrcitie in ce priveste rasa, nationalitatea sau religia, au dreptul de a se casatori si de a intemeia o familie. Ei au drepturi egale la contractarea casatoriei, in decursul casatoriei si la desfacerea ei.
2. Casatoria nu poate fi incheiata decit cu consimtamintul liber si deplin al viitorilor soti.
3. Familia constituie elementul natural si fundamental al societatii si are dreptul la ocrotire din partea societatii si a statului.

Articolul 17.1. Orice persoana are dreptul la proprietate, atit singura, cit si in asociatie cu altii.
2. Nimeni nu poate fi lipstiin mod arbitar de proprietatea sa.

Articolul 18. Orice om are dreptul la libertate gindirii, de constiinta si religie; acest drept include libertatea de a-si schimba religia sau convingerea, precum si libertateade a-si manifesta religia sau convingerea, singur sau impreuna cu altii, atit in mod public, cit si privat, prin invatatura, practici religioase, cult si indeplinirea riturilor.

Articolul 19. Orice om are dreptul la libertatea opiniilor si exprimarii; acest drept include libertatea de a avea opinii fara imixtiuni din afara, precum si libertatea de a cauta, de a primi si de a raspindi informatii si idei prin orice mijloace si independent de frontierele de stat.

Articolul 20. 1. Orice persoana are dreptul la libertatea de intrunire si de asociere pasnica.
2. Nimeni nu poate fi silit sa faca parte dintr-o asociatie.

Articolul 21. 1. Orice persoana are dreptul de a lua parte la conducerea treburilor publice din tara sa, fie direct, fie prin reprezentanti liber alesi.
2. Orice persoana are dreptul de acces egal la functiile publice din tara sa.
3. Vointa poporului trebuie sa constituie baza puterii de stat; aceasta vointa trebuie sa fie exprimata prin alegeri nefalsificate, care sa aiba loc in mod periodic prin sufragiu universal, egal si exprimat prin vot secret sau urmind o procedura echivalenta care sa sigure libertate votului.

Articolul 22. Orice persoana, in calitate sa de membru al societatii, are dreptul la securitate sociala; ea este indreptatita ca prin efortul national si colaborarea internationala, tinindu-se seama de organizarea si resursele fiecarei tari, sa obtina realizarea drepturilor economice, social si culturale indispensabile pentru demnitatea sa si libera dezvoltare a personalitatii sale.

Articolul 23. 1. Orice persoana are dreptul la munca. la libera alegere a muncii sale, la conditii echitabile si satisfacatoare de munca, precum si la ocrotirea impotriva somajului.
2. Toti oamenii, fara nici o discriminare, au dreptul la salariu egal pentru munca egala.
3. Orice om care munceste are dreptul la o retribuire echitabila si satisfacatoare care sa-i asigure atat lui, cit si familiei sale, o existenta conforma cu demnitatea umana si completata, la nevoie, prin alte mijloace de protectie sociala.
4. Orice persoana, are dreptul de a intemeia sindicate si de a se afilia la sindicate pentru apararea intereselor sale.

Articolul 24. Orice prersoana are dreptul la odihna si recreatie, inclusiv la o limitare rezonabila a zilei de muinca si la concedii periodice platite.

Articolul 25. 1. Orice om are dreptul la un nivel de trai care sa-i asigure sanatatea si bunastarea familiei sale, cuprinzind hrana, imbracamintea, locuinta, ingrijirea medicala, precum si serviciile sociale necesare; el are dreptul la asigurare in caz de somaj, boala, invaliditate, vaduvie, batrinete sau in celelalte cazuri de pierder a mijloacelor de subzistenta, in urma umor imprejurari independente de vointa sa.
2. Mama si copilul au dreptul la ajutor si ocrotire deosebite. Toti copiii, fie ca sint nascuti in cadrul unei casatorii sau in afara acesteia, se bucura de aceeasi protectie sociala.

Articolul 26. 1. Orice persoana are dreptul la invatatura. Invatamintul trebuie sa fie gratuit, cel putin in ceea ce priveste invatamintul elementar si general. Invatamintul tehnic si profesional trebuie sa fie la indemina tuturor, iar invatamintul superior trebuie sa fie de asemenea egal, accesibil tuturor, pe baza de merit.
2. Invatamintul trebuie sa urmareasca dezvoltarea deplina a personalitatii umane si inatarirea respectului fata de drepturile omului si libertatile fundamentale. El trebuie sa promoveze intelegrerea, toleranta, prietenia intre toate popoarele si toate grupurile rasiale sau religioase, precum si dezvoltarea activitatii Organizatiei Natiunilor Unite pentru mentinerea pacii.
3. Parintii au dreptul de prioritate in alegerea felului de invatamint pentru copiii lor minori.

Articolul 27. 1. Orice persoana are dreptul de a lua parte in mod liber la viata culturala a colectivitatii lor, de a se bucura de arte si de a participa la progresul stiintific si la binefacerile lui.
2. Fiecare om are dreptul la ocrotirea intereselor morale si materiale care decurg din orice lucrare stiintifica, literara sau artistica al carei autor este.

Articolul 28. Orice persoana are dreptul la o orinduire sociala si internationala in care drepturile si libertatile expuse in prezenta declaratie pot fi pe deplin infaptuite.

Articolul 29. 1. Orice persoana are indatoriri fata de colectivitate, deoarece numai in cadrul acesteia este posibila dezvoltarea libera si deplina a personalitatii sale.
2. In exercitarea drepturilor si libertatilor sale, fiecare om nu este supus decit numai ingradirilor stabilite prin lege, exclusiv in scopul de a asigura cuvenita recunoastere si respectare a drepturilor si libertatilor altora si ca sa fie satisfacute justele cerinte ale moralei, ordinii publice si bunastarii generale intr-o societate democratica.
3. Aceste drepturi si libertati nu vor putea fi in nici exercitate contrar scopurilor si principiilor Organizatiei Natiunilor Unite.

Articolul 30. Nici o dispozitie a prezentei Decalaratii nu poate fi interpretata ca implicind penrtu vreun stat, grupare sau persoana dreptul de a se deda la vreo activitate sau de a savirsi vreun act indreptat spre desfiintarea unor drepturi sau libertati enuntate in prezenta declaratie.
For any additional information please contact - Pentru informatii suplimentare va rugam sa va adresati la:
U.N.O. Information Center in Romania
Str. Aurel Vlaicu 16 - Bucharest 79 362. CP 1-701; Tel: 401-211.32.42, 211.88.38
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Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The governments members of the Council of Europe, considering the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, reaffirming their profound belief in those fundamental freedoms which are the foundation of peace and justice, have agreed to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental freedoms. To view the text of this Convention you can browse: Council of Europe 		Conventia pentru Apararea Drepturilor Omului si Libertatilor Fundamentale.

Guvernele semnatare, membre ale Consiliului Europei, luind in considerare Declaratia Universala a Drepturilor Omului, reafirmind atasamentul lor profund fata de acele libertai fundamentale care sint la baza justitiei si a pacii, au convenit asupra Conventiei pentru Aparare Drepturilor Omului si Libertatilor Fundamentale. Pentru a vedea textul acestei Conventii mergeti la: Counsiliul Europei
For any additional information please contact -Pentru informatii suplimentare va rugam sa va adresati la:
Council of Europe- Information and Documentation Center
Str. Alexandru Donici 6 - Sector 2, Bucharest



Organisations that defend Human Rights

Amensty International European Human Rights Foundation Human Rights Watch

International Center for Human Rights Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation
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The content of this page was published with the help of Ms. Cristina Ion, deputy-director at UN Information Center in Bucharest and Ms Sandra Ecobescu, formely at the Council of Europe - Information and Documentation Center.