This country profile presents the administrative data collected in Romania during the 2023–2024 data collection exercise with the support of national data providers and national researchers.
The list of 13 indicators developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) for the purposes of this data collection exercise is presented in Annex 1.
The data collected in other countries and the methodological report are published in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database.
Key findings of EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise
The figure below outlines the main findings from EIGE’s most recent administrative data collection exercise on intimate partner violence and domestic violence in Romania.
FIGURE 1Main findings
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Victims of intimate partner violence and domestic violence
- In 2022, 34,776 victims of intimate partner violence were recorded by police.
- In the same year, 76 % of domestic violence victims recorded were women (43,923 out of 57,783).
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Femicide
- In 2022, 67 victims of intimate partner homicide were recorded by police.
- In the same year, 64 % of domestic homicide victims recorded were women (49 out of 77).
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Rape
- In 2022, police recorded 1,014 women victims of rape. During the year, women comprised 94 % of rape victims recorded by police (1,014 out of 1,080).
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Protecting victims of domestic violence
- In 2022, 19,442 protection orders applications were filed for victims of domestic violence.
- In the same year, 11,695 protection orders were granted to victims of domestic violence.
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Perpetrators reported and convicted for violence
- In 2022, 49,254 men were reported for domestic violence.
- In the same year, only 235 men were sentenced for domestic violence, and 337 were held in prison for this crime.
Intimate partner violence
EIGE defines intimate partner violence as ‘any act of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occurs between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence with the victim’.
In Romania, a legal definition of intimate partner violence does not exist. However, police data is available on victims of violence between intimate partners.
Victims of intimate partner violence
According to the latest data, 34,776 victims of intimate partner violence were recorded by police in 2022. This includes both women and men victims of violence committed by an intimate partner.
Figure 2 Annual number of total victims of intimate partner violence (Indicator 1), 2014-2022
Between 2014 and 2022, the annual number of women victims of intimate partner violence recorded by police has increased notably. This increase may be attributed to various factors, such as improvements in data collection systems and processes for identifying victims. Moreover, some victims that were recorded by police in later years may have reported incidents of violence that occurred in earlier years (e.g., in response to new awareness raising campaigns or improved access to support services).
EIGE’s research shows that intimate partner violence remains a significant issue for women in Romania. This finding is substantiated by the results of the EU-GBV survey which show that 49 % of ever-partnered women in Romania have experienced psychological, physical (including threats), or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Victims of specific forms of intimate partner violence
As part of EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Romania shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic intimate partner violence recorded by police (Indicators 4-7).
Figure 3 Annual number of total victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic intimate partner violence (Indicators 4-7), 2014-2022
EIGE’s data shows that police record a greater number of women victims of physical intimate partner violence than of psychological intimate partner violence each year. However, data from the EU-GBV survey reveals that experiences of psychological violence may be more common amongst women in Romania.
While 25 % of ever-partnered women in Romania have experienced physical intimate partner violence (including threats) during their lifetime, 46 % have experienced psychological intimate partner violence. This discrepancy indicates that victims of psychological violence are less likely to report their experiences to the police compared to victims of physical violence. It may also suggest that those suffering from psychological abuse might not recognize it as a reportable form of violence.
Domestic violence
EIGE defines domestic violence as ‘all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit, irrespective of biological or legal family ties, or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence as the victim’.
In Romania, domestic violence (referred to as ‘family violence’) is defined by Law no. 25 of March 9, 2012 amending Law no. 217/2003 on Preventing and Combating Family Violence. It refers to any physical or verbal act (except for self-defence) committed by a family member against another member of the family, which causes or may cause physical, mental, sexual, emotional or psychological harm or suffering, including the threat of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
Victims of domestic violence
According to the latest data, women represent most domestic violence victims in Romania (76 % in 2022). In 2022, 43,923 women victims of domestic violence were recorded by police.
It should be noted that in 2017 and 2020, the Romanian Police enlarged the list of offences included in the area of domestic violence.
Figure 4 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic violence (Indicator 1), 2014-2022
The police data recorded in Romania sheds light on the extent to which women suffer from domestic violence. Findings of the EU-GBV survey also show that, during adulthood, 39 % of women have experienced physical violence (including threats) or sexual violence by a domestic perpetrator.
Victims of specific forms of domestic violence
As part of EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Romania shared data on the annual number of victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic domestic violence recorded by police (Indicators 4-7).
Figure 5 Annual number of female and total victims of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic domestic violence (Indicators 4-7), 2014-2022
Femicide: Number of women killed
EIGE defines femicide as ‘killing of women and girls because of their gender’. It is the most severe manifestation of gender-based violence. EIGE’s femicide classification framework distinguishes between killings committed by intimate partners and family members and other forms of femicide, which are less common.
There is no legal definition of femicide in the Romanian Criminal Code. However, national level police data is available on female and total victims of domestic homicide, and homicide in ‘any relationship’.
In 2022, police recorded 67 victims of homicide killed specifically by intimate partners. As this data is not sex-disaggregated, it is not possible to assess the extent to which women have been killed by intimate partners in recent years.
Figure 6 Annual number of total victims of intimate partner homicide (Indicator 9), 2014-2022
Women are disproportionately affected by domestic homicide. In 2022, almost two thirds (64 %) of victims of domestic homicide were women (49 out of 77). These findings underscore the urgent need for effective interventions and preventive measures to address domestic violence against women before the consequences become fatal.
Figure 7 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic homicide (Indicator 9), 2014-2022
Data is also available in Romania regarding the annual number of women killed by any perpetrator. In 2022, police recorded 85 women victims of homicide.
Figure 8 Annual number of female victims of domestic homicide and any homicide (Indicator 9), 2017-2022
Rape: Number of women victims
EIGE defines rape as ‘sexual penetration, whether vaginal, anal or oral, through the use of object or body parts, without consent, using force, coercion or by taking advantage of the vulnerability of the victim’.
In Romania, rape is criminalised under Article 218 of the Penal code and is defined as sexual intercourse (including oral or anal intercourse) committed by coercion, by making it impossible to defend oneself or to express one's will or by taking advantage of this state as well as any other acts of vaginal or anal penetration committed under these conditions. Unlike EIGE’s definition of rape, Romania’s penal code does not mention consent.
In 2022, police recorded 287 victims of rape committed specifically by intimate partners. As this data is not sex-disaggregated, it is not possible to assess the extent to which women suffer from intimate partner rape.
In recent years, the annual number of women victims of rape recorded by police has increased. However, it should be noted that fluctuations between years can be attributed to various social and institutional factors and do not necessarily imply that violence has worsened in the country over time.
Figure 9 Annual number of total victims of intimate partner rape (Indicator 8), 2014-2022
EIGE’s findings show that almost all victims rape committed within the domestic sphere are women. In 2022, 546 victims of domestic rape were recorded by police, of which 95 % were women victims (516 out of 546).
Figure 10 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic rape (Indicator 8), 2014-2022
In 2022, 1,014 women victims of rape were recorded by police overall. Women comprised 94 % of victims of rape committed by any perpetrator during the year (1,014 out of 1,080).
Figure 11 Annual number of female and total victims of rape in any relationship (Indicator 8), 2017-2022
Protecting victims of violence
A protection order, in the context of violence against women, is defined as ‘a legal injunction that requires an offender to refrain from doing certain acts and to stay away from the victim’. Protection orders can be adopted under criminal or civil laws. They are fast legal remedies to protect the persons at risk of any form of violence by prohibiting or restraining certain behaviour by the perpetrator.
In 2022, nearly 20 thousand protection order applications were filed for victims of domestic violence (19,442). In the same year, 11,695 protection orders were granted to victims of domestic violence.
Figure 12 Annual number of protection orders (applied and granted) for total victims of domestic violence (Indicator 10), 2014-2022
Between 2018 and 2019, the number of protection orders for victims of domestic violence grew notably. This increase is related to the introduction of provisional protection orders in 2018. Provisional protection orders enable the police to swiftly act in situations where there is an imminent threat to the health and safety of a domestic violence victim, allowing them to promptly remove the aggressor from the household.
In 2024, Romania also introduced a new law which improve access to protection orders for victims of domestic violence (Law 26/2024).
Perpetrators of domestic violence
Perpetrators are defined as ‘persons brought into formal contact with the police and suspected/arrested or cautioned for a criminal offence’.
Perpetrators reported
In 2022, 49,254 men were reported to police for domestic violence against total victims. Between 2014 and 2022, the number of perpetrators reported for domestic violence roughly doubled. This increase may be attributed to various factors, such as improved reporting mechanisms, enhanced law enforcement training, judicial reforms, and better data collection. Collectively, these factors may have empowered more victims to come forward and seek justice.
Figure 13 Annual number of male perpetrators reported for domestic violence (Indicator 3), 2014-2022
Perpetrators prosecuted
In 2022, 1,372 perpetrators were prosecuted for domestic violence. This figure includes both men and women who were prosecuted for this type of violence.
Figure 14 Annual number of perpetrators prosecuted for domestic violence (Indicator 11), 2014-2022
Perpetrators sentenced
In 2022, 235 male perpetrators were sentenced for domestic violence against total victims.
Figure 15 Annual number of male perpetrators sentenced for domestic violence (Indicator 12), 2016-2022
Perpetrators held in prison
Finally, data from EIGE’s data collection exercise shows that 337 male perpetrators were held in prison for domestic violence against total victims on December 31st of 2022.
Figure 16 Number of male perpetrators held in prison for domestic violence on December 31st (Indicator 13), 2014-2022
Summary of data availability and next steps
Findings from EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise in Romania underscore the persistent threat of intimate partner and domestic violence to the safety and well-being of women and girls.
The collection of robust administrative data on intimate partner violence and domestic violence is essential to ensure effective policymaking, resource allocation, and the development of targeted interventions to support victims and prevent further violence.
EIGE’s research shows that, in Romania, police data is widely available on victims, offences and perpetrators of domestic violence. Data on victims of intimate partner violence is also available, although this data is not disaggregated by the sex of the victim. This is also the case regarding the data shared on intimate partner homicide and intimate partner rape.
Justice sector data is more limited in Romania. Data is available only on protection orders for victims of domestic violence. No data has been shared on protection orders for victims of intimate partner violence.
While data has been shared on perpetrators reported, prosecuted, sentenced, and held in prison for domestic violence, this data is not disaggregated by the sex of the victim. This makes it challenging to explore the extent to which men are brought to justice for violence against women.
In May 2024, the EU adopted Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence. Article 44 establishes that Member States must work with EIGE to collect administrative data on these forms of violence and must adhere to common standards. EIGE remains committed to supporting Member States in their efforts to collect comprehensive, reliable data on violence against women and domestic violence.
Further details on the data collected during EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise are available in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database and on its website.
Annexes
Annex 1: List of EIGE’s 13 indicators on intimate partner violence and domestic violence