International Justice Mission Welcomes the Adoption of the Law to Increase Sentencing for Slavery, Human Trafficking and Child Trafficking in Romania
Human Trafficking
BUCHAREST, May 28, 2024 - International Justice Mission (IJM) welcomes the adoption by the Chamber of Deputies of the legislative proposal that excludes the possibility of suspending sentences for crimes of slavery, human trafficking and child trafficking from the Criminal Code in Romania. The law increases minimum sentences from 3-10 years to 5-12 years, and for human trafficking sentences from 3-10 years to 5-12 years and for the aggravated forms from 5 – 12 years to 7 – 15 years. On April 29, 2024, the Senate of Romania passed the bill, and the vote of the Chamber of Deputies assented. The law now goes for promulgation to the President of Romania.
“Generations of victims will be protected through this legislation, and accountability just took a huge step forward in Romania.”, says Shawn Kohl, Director European Anti-Trafficking Program, International Justice Mission.
“To stop human trafficking and protect vulnerable people, it is important to send a message to potential criminals. The penalties are high and will not be suspended! Increasing penalties was among IJM`s first recommendations to improve the fight against human trafficking in Romania. The next steps are increasing victims' access to services and compensation, but also more effective confiscation of proceeds of crime and money obtained illegally. Congratulations to the Joint Special Committee of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate on Combating Trafficking in Persons for the initiative and the effort. Support from Parliament is particularly important in systematically combating this very serious crime.”, explains Stefan Coman, Partnerships & Advocacy Lead, IJM Romania.
International Justice Mission extensively advocated for these legislative changes in Romania, working closely with the Joint Special Committee of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate on Combating Trafficking in Persons. In the recently published report “Voices for Justice”, IJM highlighted among the key legislative improvements and recommendations the issue of increasing sentences for human trafficking and excluding the possibility of suspended sentences for human trafficking offenses. Currently, approximately 1 in 5 convicted persons receive no jail time - this legislation changes that.
According to the explanatory statement of the legislative initiative presented in the Chamber of Deputies yesterday, “Combating human trafficking is a priority for the Romanian authorities, as a result of the negative impact on trafficked persons, the complex and cross-border nature of this phenomenon, the mobility and flexibility of organized groups, in parallel with the professionalization criminals with specialization in the segment of victimization of beings."
Cristian Băcanu, Member of Parliament and Vice-President of the Joint Special Committee of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate on Combating Trafficking in Persons, said that through this legislation “we are protecting future generations” by tightening the penalties for the crimes of human trafficking, child trafficking and child sexual abuse materials. “Unfortunately, approximately 50% of victims of human trafficking (in Romania) are children. At the same time according to official data, 20% of criminals convicted of human trafficking received suspended sentences. That is precisely why we proposed to the Parliament the radical increase in the penalties for human trafficking, for the trafficking of children, for slavery and for child sexual abuse materials.", said Cristian Băcanu. He also added that by adopting this draft law, the Romanian state gives a signal of support to the victims of human trafficking, but also a strong signal to those who are thinking of breaking the law.
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