Global Integrity Report

Romania Home

Facts

Timeline

Notebook

Integrity Scorecard

2008 Assessment

Romania: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Romania: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Civil Society Organizations
Indicators		Score
1	Are anti-corruption/good governance CSOs legally protected?	67
2	Are good governance/anti-corruption CSOs able to operate freely?	83
3	Are civil society activists safe when working on corruption issues?	100
4	Can citizens organize into trade unions?	100

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Are anti-corruption/good governance CSOs legally protected?

1a: In law, citizens have a right to form civil society organizations (CSOs) focused on anti-corruption or good governance.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Law nr. 246/18-07-2005 on governing associations and foundations guarantees the freedom to establish such groups.

1b: In law, anti-corruption/good governance CSOs are free to accept funding from any foreign or domestic sources.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: There is no such restriction in any law, provided general accounting rules are followed.

1c: In law, anti-corruption/good governance CSOs are required to disclose their sources of funding.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: There is no such obligation in law, provided contracts and accounting documents are properly kept for inspection by fiscal authorities.

Are good governance/anti-corruption CSOs able to operate freely?

2a: In practice, the government does not create barriers to the organization of new anti-corruption/good governance CSOs.

Score:

100

Comments: A formal approval is necessary from the relevant ministry in order to set up any kind of NGO.

References: - Suzana Dobre, executive director, SAR, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest - Nicoleta Popescu, lawyer and civil society activist, APADOR-Helsinki Committee, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest

2b: In practice, anti-corruption/good governance CSOs actively engage in the political and policymaking process.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Suzana Dobre, executive director, SAR, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest - Ioana Avadani, president, Center for Independent Journalism, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest

2c: In practice, no anti-corruption/good governance CSOs have been shut down by the government for their work on corruption-related issues during the study period.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no CSOs shut down by the government or forced to cease operations because of their work on corruption-related issues during the study period. YES is a positive score. NO: A NO score is earned if any CSO has been effectively shut down by the government or forced to cease operations because of its work on corruption-related issues during the study period. The causal relationship between the cessation of operations and the CSO\'s work may not be explicit, however the burden of proof here is low. If it seems likely that the CSO was forced to cease operations due to its work, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: - Suzana Dobre, executive director, SAR, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest - Nicoleta Popescu, lawyer and civil society activist, APADOR-Helsinki Committee, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest

Are civil society activists safe when working on corruption issues?

3a: In practice, in the past year, no civil society activists working on corruption issues have been imprisoned.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no CSO activists imprisoned because of their work covering corruption. YES is a positive score. NO: A NO score is earned if any activist was jailed in relation to work covering corruption. The causal relationship between the official charges and the person\'s work may not be explicit, however the burden of proof here is low. If it seems likely that the person was imprisoned due to his or her work, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: - Suzana Dobre, executive director, SAR, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest - Nicoleta Popescu, lawyer and civil society activist, APADOR-Helsinki Committee, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest

3b: In practice, in the past year, no civil society activists working on corruption issues have been physically harmed.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no documented cases of CSO activists covering corruption being assaulted in the specific study period. A YES score can be earned if there was an attack but it was clearly unrelated to the activist\'s work. YES is a positive score. NO: A NO score is earned if there were any documented cases during the study period of assault to an activist who covers corruption. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: - Suzana Dobre, executive director, SAR, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest - Nicoleta Popescu, lawyer and civil society activist, APADOR-Helsinki Committee, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest

3c: In practice, in the past year, no civil society activists working on corruption issues have been killed.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no documented cases of CSO activists being killed because of their work covering corruption in the specific study period. YES is a positive score. NO: A NO score is earned if there were any documented cases during the study period where a person was killed related to a corruption trial, scandal or investigation. The relationship between a mysterious death and an individual\'s history may not be clear, however the burden of proof here is low. If it is reasonable that a person was killed in relation to his or her work on corruption issues, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: - Suzana Dobre, executive director, SAR, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest - Nicoleta Popescu, lawyer and civil society activist, APADOR-Helsinki Committee, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest

Can citizens organize into trade unions?

4a: In law, citizens have a right to organize into trade unions.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution of Romania, art. 40 (1)

4b: In practice, citizens are able to organize into trade unions.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: - Razvan Bobulescu, leader of Alma Mater national trade union, Bucharest - Nicoleta Popescu, lawyer and civil society activist, APADOR-Helsinki Committee, Aug. 12, 2008, Bucharest