RESTRAINING ORDER IN THE ROMANIAN LEGISLATION AND PRACTICE

Abstract

The protection of the family (especially women and children) consists of important provision in both the international and internal laws of the states. Unfortunately, in Romania, the incidence of domestic violence is high, an aspect that we will highlight in our paper. In this article we aim to analyse the latest legislative changes in the field of protection order, with reference to the provisional protection order. Regarding the temporary restraining order, it is regulated by Order no. 146/2578/2018 (Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of Labor and Social Justice, 2018) on how to manage cases of domestic violence by police officers. Through this normative act, the necessary framework was created so that the police can intervene quickly when phenomena of domestic violence are registered and to ensure the immediate protection of the victims of aggressors. The police officers assess the risk situation in each case, and it may be ordered to issue a temporary restraining order until the competent court rules on the situation created for a longer period of up to 6 months, with the possibility of extending it. We will also present some relevant cases. Over the last 10 years, the protection of the family (especially women and children) has made some important progress both in terms of legislation and practice. Unfortunately, the level of domestic violence is still significant and, in addition to the legislative measures we will refer to in the article, more measures are needed to educate the population and raise awareness of the severity of this phenomenon that affects the integrity and physical and mental development of victims.