Special Legal Issues Encountered In Establishing Protection Orders

Résumé

Romanian legislation in force, particularly Law No. 217/2003, has attempted to shed more light on issues that have long dominated and concerned our society—domestic and intimate partner violence— and finding viable solutions to reduce this phenomenon, which has reached alarming proportions in recent years, especially in rural Romania. The latest shocking case, in which an abusive husband against whom a protective order had already been issued kidnapped, raped, and killed his ex-wife with 15 knife wounds, shows us how deeply physical violence has penetrated family environments in Romania and how serious the consequences can be when drastic measures are not taken or when the competent authorities fail to respond appropriately in such cases.

This article aims to briefly analyze some of the unusual social and legal situations encountered in the establishment of protection orders, issues that raise questions both about the distinct interpretation of admissible evidence in the imposition of the measure and about the separate analysis of some courts regarding the application of relevant legislation.