Romania: information for victims of rape and sexual assault

First steps

If you’ve been sexually assaulted it’s important to remember that it was not your fault. Rape and sexual assault are always wrong – no matter who commits it or where it happens. It is traumatic and it can affect you both physically and emotionally. Do not be afraid to get help.

It is your choice what you do next, but this information may help you make a decision. The most important thing is to make sure that you are as safe as you can be. You can:

• call the local emergency services on 112
• contact your tour operator if you are travelling with one
• contact consular staff at the British Embassy Bucharest in Romania at +4 021 201 72 00. Consular staff will be empathetic and non-judgmental. They can provide information on local police and medical procedures. Anything you tell them will be treated in the strictest confidence. They can contact your family or friends for you if you wish

For information on support available in the UK, see Rape and sexual assault: returning to the UK.

If you want to report the incident to the police in Romania

Before you go to the police station

If you have a tour operator, they should be able to arrange for someone to support you. If you are in an area where there is a British embassy, high commission or consulate, they will try to send a consular officer to support you, where timing and location allow. You will be able to speak to trained consular staff on the telephone 24/7.

If you approach the police directly, you can also ask them to inform the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate on +40 21 201 72 00 so you can get consular support.

Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence. If you change your clothes, take those you were wearing to the police. You may wish to preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes, or texts.

Potential risks

There is no risk to you if you choose to report a rape or sexual assault to the police.

Homosexuality, extramarital sex and drinking alcohol are not criminal offences in Romania.

The use and possession of illegal drugs are criminal offences. If you believe you have been drugged, you should inform the police as soon as possible, as this may affect the collection of evidence and the investigation.

Police officers

You have the right to an interpreter if you do not speak or understand Romanian. If an English-speaking police officer is not available, the police should arrange interpretation services. This may mean that you have to wait for an interpreter before providing a statement.

If you would prefer to speak to a female police officer, this may be possible depending on availability.

Making a statement and submitting evidence

You should:

• tell the police if you think you have been drugged
• ask for a police report and request a translation in English if applicable

The police will ask you to give a full statement about the incident, including a description of the perpetrator, the location of the incident and the circumstances surrounding it.

You may be asked to provide any evidence relevant to the investigation, such as photographs, text messages, social media communications or other electronic evidence.

The police may retain clothing or other items that could contain forensic evidence. If relevant to the investigation, they may also examine electronic devices or communications.

The police can arrange for you to undergo a forensic medical examination. These examinations are normally carried out in designated hospitals by trained medical personnel. Depending on where the incident occurred, you may need to travel to a larger town or city for the examination.

You will not be required to surrender your passport while the investigation is ongoing.

Investigations are conducted under the supervision of a prosecutor, who directs the criminal investigation and determines what investigative steps are required.

Available support

If you choose to report the incident to the police, the British Embassy may be able to accompany you to the police station, depending on timing and location. Consular staff can also help you contact family or friends, provide information about local procedures, and provide lists of local lawyers and interpreters.

The British Embassy cannot give legal advice, investigate crimes, act as interpreters or pay legal fees.

For a case to be taken to trial, you must report the incident within 3 months of it happening.

You may appoint a lawyer at any stage of the investigation, but you will normally be responsible for the cost of their services.

If you are unable to afford a private lawyer, legal aid may be available and a lawyer may be appointed by the Romanian authorities in accordance with local law. Publicly funded lawyers may not speak English.

The Romanian authorities do not routinely inform UK police when a British national reports a rape or sexual assault in Romania. If information needs to be shared with UK authorities, this would normally depend on the circumstances of the case and applicable legal procedures.

After making a statement

DNA evidence may be collected from the crime scene, and it may also be collected from you, your clothes, and other personal belongings.

You may want to bring a change of clothes with you to the police station, as the police will keep the clothing you wore during the incident for forensic evidence.

If you choose to have a forensic medical examination, the police will take you to the nearest hospital for it.

The police might ask you to return to the crime scene or where you believe the perpetrator is located. You might also be asked to identify the perpetrator. The alleged perpetrator will not be able to see you, and you will not meet them at any point while at the police station.

The police can detain a suspect for up to 24 hours if they have sufficient evidence, or reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed. A judge can extend detention for up to 30 days, and they can make repeat extensions up to a maximum of 180 days.

You will be expected to make a statement in front of the public prosecutor. You have the right to be accompanied by your lawyer, if you have hired one, but they cannot make a statement on your behalf.

You or your lawyer will have access to parts of your case file during the investigation. The prosecutor and/or police will keep you updated on developments in your case.

You can leave the country at any point.

Local police will not inform UK police about the crime.

If you do not want to report the incident to the police in Romania

The British embassy will be able to help you, including by:

• helping you to contact your insurance company or your family
• accompanying you to the local hospital or medical facility, where possible
• providing you with lists of English-speaking medical facilities, lawyers and translators
• helping you with arrangements to travel back to the UK
• providing you with information on local support in the UK

You can also report the incident to your tour operator if you are travelling with one. They may be able to help you, including accompanying you to the local hospital.

It’s your choice whether to report the crime. If you don’t report it, your case may not be investigated.

If you decide not to report the crime to the local police, you will still be able to get medical assistance locally. You may have to pay for examination and treatment.

The medical examination: what to expect 

If you are given medication to take while abroad, you should keep the label or make a note of the name of the medication. You can then give it to your local health provider when you return home.

Where to go

Most medical centres treat victims of rape and sexual assault. However, only hospitals in big cities (county hospitals) have departments that can conduct a forensic examination.

If you tell doctors you have been raped or sexually assaulted, they will automatically report the results of any examination to the police. If you are hospitalised, the police will visit you to take your statement.

Examination

If you want someone to accompany you to the hospital, you can contact the embassy or your tour operator to ask for this.

The aim of the examination is to collect evidence. A forensic doctor will carry out the examination. They may:

• ask questions about your general health
• check for bruising and both internal and external injuries
• take swabs for DNA
• test for sexually transmitted infections (STI)
• take photographs of your injuries for their report

Ask the hospital to give you the results of any medical examinations and tests, and also a medical certificate as proof of your visit. Make sure the certificate is printed with an official hospital letterhead and is stamped and signed by a staff member.

If you are travelling with a tour operator, you can ask them to accompany you to the hospital. If you wish, we may be able to accompany you as well, depending on timing and location. We can help you communicate with hospital staff, and help you to contact your insurance company.

HIV prevention

Hospital medical staff can provide advice on HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medication and assess whether it may be appropriate in your circumstances. PEP is available in Romania and is prescribed and monitored by medical professionals.

If you receive treatment in Romania, you may wish to keep any medication packaging, labels or medical documentation. This information may be helpful when discussing your treatment with healthcare providers in the UK.

Emergency contraception

Emergency contraception is available from pharmacies in Romania without a prescription or medical referral. Prices may vary depending on the product and pharmacy.

Hospital medical staff can also provide advice on emergency contraception and may be able to prescribe or administer it where appropriate.

Paying for treatment

You should check what your travel insurance policy covers before receiving medical treatment, where possible.

If you require medical treatment, hospitals and medical providers may ask you to provide proof of insurance, payment details or payment in advance for some services.

Costs associated with medical examinations, treatment, medication and follow-up care may vary depending on the healthcare facility and the services provided.

If you pay for treatment, medication or medical reports yourself, keep all receipts and invoices. These may be required by your travel insurer when making a claim.

If you want to report the incident to the police in the UK

The support available to you and your access to justice may depend on where you report the crime.

You may need to report the crime before you leave Romania if you want it to be investigated and police to obtain important evidence.

If you live in or are remaining in Romania and the crime took place there, you should report the crime there. If you need help to report the crime, you can contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate, or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London.

If you do not report the crime in Romania and you return to the UK, you can still report the matter to your local UK police.

The UK police should send the information you provide to Romania. However, foreign police forces decide whether to investigate a crime in their jurisdiction and they may not take action.

You can report the crime to the UK police even if you are not seeking an investigation abroad. The UK police can offer you access to victim support in the UK. They may still send some details of the crime to police in Romania. This might be necessary to protect vulnerable people, or to stop more crimes being committed.

Court procedures in Romania: what to expect

If a suspect is ordered to stand trial, you may be asked to testify when the evidence is presented before the court.

In certain circumstances, and subject to court approval, you may be able to testify by video conference, including from another country.

Even if you do not appoint a lawyer, you should be kept informed about the progress of the case by the investigating authorities or the court. Communications are typically sent by email or to the address you have provided for correspondence.

Appointing a lawyer can help you understand the legal process, obtain updates on the investigation and court proceedings, submit requests on your behalf and, where appropriate, appeal court decisions.

Depending on the circumstances, a case may be referred for further investigation. If this happens, you may be asked to provide an additional statement or further evidence.

You may choose to withdraw your complaint after it has been made. However, in some cases of rape and sexual assault, criminal proceedings may continue even if you withdraw your statement, as the offence may be prosecuted by the State.

The alleged perpetrator may make allegations against you or challenge your account of events during the criminal proceedings. The authorities will assess all available evidence when deciding how to proceed with the case.

Trial procedures

The court will inform you if your case will go to trial.

The prosecutor will take your case to trial if there is sufficient evidence that a crime has been committed and the perpetrator identified.

If the judge agrees the case meets the requirements under the Criminal Procedural Code, they will order the trial to start.

The trial will be conducted in Romanian. If you do not speak Romanian, you will be entitled to a court-appointed interpreter (free of charge).

You do not need to be present at every court session, but you may be called to testify. If you are outside of Romania, you can request to testify by video conference call.

It can take between 2 and 3 years for a case to reach trial in Romania. The trial itself can last between 1 and 2 years, not including appeals which can take an additional 6 months to 2 years to be settled.

Sentencing

Rapes and sexual assaults are considered ‘crimes against the person’:

• for rape, sentences range from 3 to 18 years in prison, depending on the circumstances of the rape and its consequences

• for sexual assault, sentences range from 2 to 15 years in prison, depending on the circumstances of the sexual assault and its consequences

For both rape and sexual assault:

• judges can also consider imposing additional orders, eg restricting the perpetrator’s ability to contact you

• prison sentences can be shortened if the perpetrator is deemed to present no further danger to society

If the perpetrator is found guilty, they will be sentenced to imprisonment . They could also be released on supervision if they meet a strict set of criteria, which may include their criminal record and risk of re-offending.

If the perpetrator is found not guilty, they will be released and may be able to claim compensation from the State.

Hiring a lawyer

A privately-hired lawyer can represent you in all stages of the court trial. They can obtain information from the court about your case and can file appeals on your behalf.

You can get help from English-speaking lawyers in Romania.

Find a private lawyer in Romania.

Legal aid

You may be entitled to legal aid in Romania.

Legal aid is provided on request if the crime was committed in Romania, and it was reported within 60 days of it happening. The court may consider your financial circumstances (means testing) when making its decision.

Legal aid covers lawyers’ fees and it is limited to 2 times the minimum national wage. It may cover legal aid during criminal court proceedings, as well as enforcing court decisions that grant damages or compensation.

Lawyers will usually charge a fee before going to court, depending on their contractual agreement with you.

Compensation

You may be able to seek compensation for injuries, losses or damages resulting from the offence.

A Romanian court may order an offender to pay compensation as part of criminal proceedings, or compensation may be pursued separately through civil proceedings where appropriate.

Victims of violent crime may also be eligible to apply for compensation under Romanian legislation, subject to the relevant legal requirements.

You should seek legal advice about the compensation options available in your individual case.

Points of contact

The police officer in charge of your case is likely to be your main point of contact.

If you appoint a private lawyer, you may need to decide whether you wish to receive updates and other communications directly from the police officer or through the lawyer.

If you have returned to the UK or are not in Romania, you should be able to communicate with the police officer by email.

You do not generally need to provide a local Romanian address. If you appoint a lawyer, you may be able to use your lawyer’s address for correspondence relating to the case.

Support organisations in Romania

It is your choice to let people know. If you are ready to talk about it, these organisations may be able to help you.

ANAIS Association

• email: office@asociatia-anais.ro
• phone: +40 737 318 553
• services are available in Romanian

ANAIS provides information, counselling, social support and referrals for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Necuvinte Association

• email: contact@necuvinte.ro
• phone: +40 21 243 33 33
• services are available in Romanian

Necuvinte provides psychological support, legal information and referrals for survivors of gender-based and sexual violence.

National Helpline for Victims of Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking and Gender Discrimination

• phone: 0800 500 333 (free call)

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in Romanian. The helpline provides information, crisis support and referrals to specialist local services for victims of violence.

Asociația pentru Libertate și Egalitate de Gen (ALEG)

• email contact@aleg-romania.eu
• phone: +40 753 893 531
• services are available in Romanian

ALEG. provides online counselling, individual psychological counselling and legal assistance, including representation in court proceedings, for survivors of sexual violence and gender-based violence.

Fundația Sensiblu

• phone: +40 787 541 854
• services are available in Romanian.

Fundația Sensiblu works to prevent and combat violence against women and can provide information, support and referrals to specialist assistance services for victims of violence.

Centrul FILIA

• phone: +40 213 138 024
• email: office@centrulfilia.ro
• services are available in Romanian

FILIA provides information, advocacy and signposting to support services for women affected by gender-based violence.

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre 

Glasgow & Clyde Rape Crisis Centre is a support service for British women and girls aged 13 and over who have been raped, sexually assaulted or sexually abused. They can also assist friends and family members of survivors.  

Their service gives access to UK-based real time support from anywhere in the world via telephone, instant messaging or email.  

Helpline and live chat are available from Monday - Friday 11am – 2pm and Monday - Thursday 5.30pm to 7.30pm UK time.

When you return to the UK

If you think there is a risk that you have contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI), you should ask your local health provider to test you. You should do this even if you have been tested in the country where the assault took place.

You may want to let your GP or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) know what has happened to you. You can talk to them about your experience, and they can help you get further support and advice where you live.

England

Help after rape or sexual assault

Rape Crisis England and Wales

NHS Choices

Scotland

NHS Inform Scotland: Help after rape or sexual assault

Wales

New Pathways: Life Beyond Sexual Violence

Ynys Saff SARC

Rape Crisis England and Wales

Northern Ireland

The Rowan (SARC)

Nexus NI

Disclaimer

This information has been prepared by UK government officials who are not legally or medically trained. It should therefore never be used as a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. It is intended to help British nationals overseas make their own informed decisions. Neither the UK government nor any official of British embassies, high commissions or consulates accept liability for any loss or damage which you might suffer as a result of relying on the information supplied.

Medical information has been provided by The Havens Sexual Assault Referral Centres of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and was accurate at the time of production (2 February 2022).