The project for the prevention of domestic violence was voted in the Senate. What will the local authorities be obliged to do

PNL deputy Alina Gorghiu declared on Tuesday that the project amending the legislation on preventing and combating domestic violence was voted in the Senate and goes to the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body. The project stipulates that the local authorities are obliged to contact the victim within 3 days of issuing the protection order and at least 14 days before it expires, according to News.ro.

“An important step forward in the fight against domestic violence (…) Through this project we amend and complete the legislation on the prevention and combating of domestic violence, as well as the law on the protection order, so that the protection of victims is real, continuous and applicable, not just formal”, writes Alina Gorghiu on Facebook.

The PNL deputy presents what this law specifically changes.

“In this way, victims are actively informed, not left alone; Local authorities will have the obligation to contact the victim: within 3 days of issuing the protection order, at least 14 days before its expiration, in order to request an extension”; Stronger protective orders for repeat offenders; The court can order protection orders of up to 24 months, if the aggressor has been sanctioned in the last 5 years — regardless of whether the victim is the same or another; Easier access to justice for victims. The victim can choose the court, from his home – or from the place where the violence took place”.

The project also provides for mandatory intervention on the aggressor.

“The court is obliged to order psychological counseling and/or psychotherapy and can recommend treatment or hospitalization, where appropriate. The court can also order programs for addictions, in the case of the consumption of psychoactive substances”, the PNL deputy also says.

The law also provides control over compliance with the protection order: “periodic presentation of the aggressor to the police, periodic or unannounced checks, the obligation to notify the change of residence, the obligation of the aggressor to provide monthly information to the police bodies regarding the performance of each psychological counseling session and/or psychotherapy. Tougher sanctions for violating the measures.”

Violation of the obligation to follow psychological counseling and/or psychotherapy, as well as to inform the police about them, becomes a misdemeanor and is sanctioned with fines between 5,000 and 10,000 lei.

In addition, the Protection Order is communicated within a maximum of 5 hours to the police and local authorities with powers to protect the victims.

The project will go to the decisive vote in the Chamber of Deputies. “I will support this project to the end, so that the safety of the victims becomes a real priority of the state”, says Gorghiu.