A law to prevent femicide should have existed long ago, given that 69% of domestic homicides committed last year were femicides, Foreign Minister Oana Toiu stated on Wednesday.
In a Facebook post, she emphasised that violence must be stopped and that aggressors must face the consequences of their actions.
The law passed by Parliament on Wednesday, Toiu added, imposes tougher penalties and zero tolerance for gender-based violence, including life imprisonment for killers acting out of a desire for control or dominance over women.
According to the Minister, under the current law, the state will continue criminal investigations even if a victim withdraws their complaint under pressure or threat.
Furthermore, seeking revenge for a divorce or the refusal to continue a relationship officially becomes an aggravating circumstance for aggravated murder.
Additionally, under the new provisions, police and prosecutors are obliged to take immediate custody of children who witness violence and ensure their legal protection.
The new legal framework establishes penalties for breaching a protection order: anyone who violates a court order and approaches a victim faces between one and five years in prison.
"The law I initiated during the previous mandate, which allows protection orders to be issued for 12 months from the outset - rather than just six months with successive extensions - is also in force. It is an important tool for encouraging victims to approach the court and allowing them the necessary time to rebuild their lives away from the aggressor," Oana Toiu reminded.
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