U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

As delivered by Michele Roulbet
29th Session of the Human Rights Council’s UPR 
Geneva, January 16, 2018

The United States warmly welcomes the Romanian delegation to the UPR Working Group.

The United States commends Romania’s commitment to democratic values and to the promotion of human rights.

However, we are concerned about legislative amendments that could undermine judicial independence, ongoing reports from members of religious minorities of unfair treatment– including instances of anti-Semitism, and insufficient progress in combating discrimination against Roma.

Bearing in mind these concerns, we recommend that Romania:

1. Reject legislation weakening the rule of law and endangering the fight against corruption;
2. Adopt and implement a strategy to combat discrimination against members of minority groups, including religious groups;
3. Collect and publish data on hate crimes that include motivation, for example whether the crime is motivated by a bias against the victim’s race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, or disability status.

(end of statement)