1) Romania is a Party to the 1980 Hague Convention.

The 1980 Hague Convention: a multilateral treaty, which provides procedural guidelines on the return of children and their protection in cases of international parental child abduction.

Contact the Central Authority established in Romania for cases of child abduction (operational languages: Romanian, English, French and German).

2) Romania is a Party to the 1996 Hague Convention.

The 1996 Hague Convention: a multilateral treaty, which determines jurisdiction, applicable law, co-operation in respect of parental responsibility and access rights, as well as civil and public measures for the protection or care of children. 

Contact the Central Authorities established in Romania under the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection, the Tribunal of Bucharest or the Ministry of Justice for cases of dispute concerning cross-border parental responsibilities and rights of contact with children (operational languages: Romanian, English, French and German).

3) Romania is a Party to the Brussels IIA Regulation.

Brussels IIA Regulation: a legal instrument of the European Union to help resolve family disputes involving more than one country, over divorce, all parental responsibilities and, in particular, the custody of children. Brussels IIA is a regulation applicable to all European Union Member states (except Denmark). The Regulation prevails over the 1996 Hague Convention in cases where the child’s habitual residence is within a European Union Member state (except Denmark). Please be aware that if a decision on access and/or custody rights is taken by a court from the European Union, the regulation foresees that a State Party to the 1996 Hague Convention must recognise the court decision.

Contact the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection, the Tribunal of Bucharest or the Ministry of Justice designated under the 1996 Hague Convention for cases of dispute concerning cross-border parental responsibilities and rights of contact with children (operational languages: Romanian, English, French and German).

You can determine whether all countries relevant to your case are Parties, or not, to the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, the 1996 Hague Convention on Child Protection and/or Brussels IIA (except Denmark) in order to locate the appropriate central authority. As for the 1980 Hague Convention, you can check whether the Convention is in force between two specific States in the Spreadsheet showing acceptances of accessions to the Child Abduction Convention.

According to the Code of Civil Procedure, anyone who cannot meet the costs of legal proceedings, without making it difficult to maintain him/herself or his/her family may apply for legal aid. The application for legal aid must be addressed in writing to the court where the case was taken to as well as a written proof of the applicant's income and financial commitments. You can open the Romanian Courts Portal to find an appropriate court in your town (website in Romanian).

The Pro Bono Network for Human Rights offers legal aid to individuals whose rights have been violated or who have been discriminated against and who belong to vulnerable groups. You can apply for legal aid directly here.

The Ruhama Foundation, based in Oradea, provides free-of-charge information and advice to Romanian citizens on their rights and duties, as well as guidance in accessing public services. The foundation also offers social and counseling services for couples with children in its Centre Counselling and Support Centre. You can contact them directly here.

Asociația Familiilor Numeroase din România (ASFANU) is a non-profit association, whose main purpose is the protection of families, especially of large families (with at least three children). ASFANU provides Courses of Parenting Orientation to families with up to 5-years-old children (website in Romanian).

The Foundation Sensiblu provides free social, legal and psychological counselling to women and children victims of domestic violence within its counselling centre Casa Blu in Bucharest that you can contact directly here (website in Romanian):
Aleea Negru Voda Nr. 4, Bl. C3A, Sc. 3, Et. 3
Ap. 43, Sector 3, Bucuresti
Telephone/Fax: (+40) 21 311 46 36
E-mail: larisa.melencu(at)adpharma.com

Caritas Romania Confederation has partnerships with local authorities and provides social assistance to low-income families, disadvantaged children at risk, people with special needs, the elderly and refugees. You can contact a Caritas member in your town directly here (website in Romanian).

The Association ACCEPT is a non-governmental organisation, which is committed to defending and promoting the rights of LGBTI people.  The organisation provides legal, psychological and medical counselling to LGBTI population in Romania (website in Romanian). You can visit their Facebook page here.

The National Authority for the Protection of the Rights of the Child and Adoption (NAPRCA) carries out the prevention of separation of the child from his/her family, provides advice and information to the families with children on their rights and obligations and services available at the local level. You can contact them directly here.

Save the Children Romania develops educational programmes, protection, social and medical assistance programmes in order to protect children’s rights in Romania. The organisation has branches in 12 counties and the General Secretariat in Bucharest that you can contact directly here (website in Romanian).

SOS Children’s Villages in Romania offer Family Strengthening Programme allowing families with children who are at risk of losing parental care to improve their living conditions and prevent child abandonment. They work in Bucharest, Hemeius and Cisnadie and you can contact directly here (website in Romanian).

Heart of a Child (Inima de Copil) provides social services, psychological counselling to children and their parents as well as counselling and material support for at-risk families. You can contact their office in Galati directly here.

The Romanian National Council for Refugees (CNRR)  is a non-governmental organisation, which provides legal counselling to registered asylum seekers at their Reception Centers in Bucharest, Galati, Timisoara, Maramures, and Radauti and for those living in other locations, including transit areas and at the border crossing points. CNRR also provides legal assistance in court for individual cases, specialised assistance for vulnerable groups (unaccompanied children, single women, elderly persons) and counselling including translation services to migrants and refugees.

The Romanian Forum for Refugees and Migrants (ARCA) provides social services, legal assistance and counselling to refugees, persons granted subsidiary protection and other migrants as well as community and employment mediation. You can contact them directly here.

The Association Generatie Tanara (GTR) runs medical, psychological and social programmes for refugees accommodated in the Emergency Transit Centre in Timisoara.  GTR also works nationwide with victims of human trafficking, Roma, unaccompanied minors and provides search for origins in Romania. You can contact them directly here.

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Romania is an association, which provides rejected asylum seekers, refugees recognised by Romania, or resettled refugees with accommodation assistance, legal counselling, social and medical assistance as well as education courses. You can contact them directly here.

Caritas Romania Confederation has partnerships with local authorities and provides social assistance to low-income families, disadvantaged children at risk, people with special needs, the elderly and refugees. You can contact a Caritas member in your town directly here (website in Romanian).