Progress and shortcomings following the ECtHR ruling: we call for firm measures against harassment in the world of work

In January 2026, A.L.E.G. sent a new communication to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, monitoring the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment in the case of C. v. Romania, concerning sexual harassment in the workplace.

The European Court’s judgment, final since 2022, found that the Romanian authorities had failed to effectively investigate a case of sexual harassment, violating Ms. C.’s right to privacy. In its new communication, ALEG welcomes some recent legislative progress but warns that the proposed measures are still insufficient to ensure real protection for people exposed to harassment in the world of work.

The proposed amendments to the law on occupational safety and health do not explicitly address sexual and gender-based harassment and provide for insufficient penalties for employers who fail to fulfill their obligations. This creates inconsistencies with other laws and significantly reduces the deterrent effect.

There is also a need for real, disaggregated data on the extent of sexual harassment in the workplace, given that the authorities rely almost exclusively on officially reported cases.

A.L.E.G. calls for Romania’s Action Plan on the implementation of the ECHR decision to be updated with concrete measures, such as regular data collection at national level, training for judges, prosecutors, and labour inspectors, and capacity building for the responsible institutions.

The new contribution is supported by 18 non-governmental organizations and reflects A.L.E.G.’s commitment to closely monitor Romania’s compliance with its obligations to eliminate sexual harassment and gender-based violence in the workplace.

The communication sent to the Committee of Ministers can be accessed here. 

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This initiative is part of the “Employers for Respect” campaign, initiated and coordinated by A.L.E.G. The gaps in the legal framework regarding harassment in the workplace and the poor implementation of the law are documented in this policy brief published by A.L.E.G. in 2021 and in the policy brief on the harassment of migrant workers, published by A.L.E.G. in 2023.