Romania has hosted the ADI-ROM thematic visit on relations between Roma and the police on 17-19 June 2025. The visit was organised in Bucharest by the National Agency for Roma and attended by partner countries: Albania, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Norway, and Republic of Moldova.
The participants shared initiatives and good practices on improving relations between Roma communities and the police and exchanged with representatives from Romanian authorities, both central (Office of the Prime Minister, Prosecutor’s Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, Ministry of Interior, General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police, including the Unit on Investigation of Hate Crimes within the Inspectorate, National Agency for Roma, Police Academy “Alexandru Ioan Cuza”, Inter-ministerial Committee for monitoring the implementation of the National Strategy for Preventing and Combating Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Radicalisation and Hate Speech) and local level (Police Stations Jilava and Magurele, Ilfov county, Ilfov County Council).
Civil society organisations – RomaJust Association and E-Romnja Association - informed the participants on their current activities aiming at improving the relations between Roma and police.
It was emphasised that issues such as excessive use of force or of firearms, police raids in Roma communities, police brutality, or violence by private individuals, followed by inadequate investigation, continue to be reported by various bodies of the Council of Europe. Participants reiterated that crimes should not be treated as ethnic issues, but as general issues that concern society in its entirety. These issues need systemic solutions, that ultimately also reach the Roma communities. Introduction of aspects related to investigation of hate crimes and to Roma culture and history in curricula of police schools and Police Academy was presented as a good practice. Most of the practices presented or viewed as needed refer to police training, awareness of communities and victim support.
“What Roma people need from the police agents interacting with them is to be heard without being labelled”, expressed a Roma police agent addressing the group of experts.
A thematic report based on the conclusions from the visit will be presented for adoption to the Steering Committee on Anti-discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion (CDADI).
