U.S. Department of State 2002 Trafficking in Persons Report - Romania

Romania (Tier 2)

Romania is a source and transit country primarily for women and girls trafficked to Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Greece, Italy, and Turkey for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

The Government of Romania does not yet fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government passed a law criminalizing trafficking in persons in December 2001. The Organized Crime Directorate, the lead agency in the Human Trafficking Task Force, investigated and arrested traffickers, and the government prosecuted traffickers under kidnapping and pimping codes, convicting several traffickers. The government cooperates with other governments on investigations. It is strengthening its borders to monitor immigration flow, and the Border Police have signed a memorandum with the Organized Crime Directorate on procedures to follow in suspected trafficking cases. Efforts to investigate and prosecute public officials involved in trafficking remain limited. In an effort to protect victims, in November 2001 the government began allocating space for the shelter of trafficking victims, and it cooperated with an international organization in repatriation procedures for trafficked citizens abroad and non-citizens transiting Romania. Although these current protection efforts are limited, the new law requires the government to grant recovery services to victims and build additional shelters, efforts that would strengthen victim protection. Prevention efforts included cooperation with international organizations' programs, including an anti-trafficking school program and a campaign to eliminate child labor.