Environment Minister Diana Buzoianu, initiator of a bill that sanctions forced marriage and cohabitation, emphasises that the initiative does not target minorities.

The law will protect thousands of girls and women from abuse, the USR (Save Romania Union) deputy wrote on her Facebook page on Sunday.

Buzoianu also showed an image from a news report regarding a protest organised in Targu Jiu against the bill that prohibits marriages between minors.

„The bill criminalising forced marriages does not target minorities. It is a law that is meant to protect thousands of girls and women (the absolute majority of victims of these abuses). Our responsibility is to have a safe Romania for children. Let’s look at this picture together: count the women in this picture, women who came out to protest that their families can no longer ‘engage’ 13-14-15 year old girls. Why do you think that only adult men are at this protest for the ‘right of minor girls to be engaged’?” rhetorically asked the USR deputy.

Forced marriage and cohabitation could be sanctioned with imprisonment between 3 and 7 years, according to a bill initiated by parliamentarians Diana Buzoianu (USR), Petre Florin Manole (PSD – Social Democratic Party) and Corina Ene (PSD – Social Democratic Party).

The draft law is aimed at modifying the Criminal Code in order to introduce the crime of forced marriage/cohabitation, USR informed on October 13.

The maximum penalty limit will be increased if the acts are committed under certain circumstances, such as the use of a weapon, the administration of alcohol or any other substances that affect judgment, or if the victim is in the care, protection, education, guard or treatment of the perpetrator, is a family member of the perpetrator or lives with him, according to the press release.

The draft law also introduces as a crime the act of determining a minor under the age of 16 to establish a relationship similar to that between spouses or facilitating this relationship. AGERPRES