About the Programme

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – US Declaration of Independence

The anti-discrimination programme has been an active program of the Centre for Legal Resources (CLR) since 2003. In order to contribute to a Romanian society where equality becomes the norm rather than the exception, CLR pursues the following strategic objectives:

  • an increased efficacy of the Romanian the equality body (National Council for Combating Discrimination-NCCD) in what concerns its role of preventing and combating discrimination in the Romanian society;
  • equality mainstreaming in Romanian laws and policies, especially those with a direct impact on vulnerable groups;
  • an increased capacity of civil society organizations and the members of vulnerable groups to combat discrimination, and a Romanian public which is more aware of discrimination and its effects.

The program works for the achievement of these objectives through the following: Advocacy; Monitoring and reporting; Training and capacity building; Watchdog activities.

CLR has been national focal point for the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in the area of racism and xenophobia (2006-2010), has managed the Romanian network of legal experts for the FRA (2007-2010), and continued as national focal point in the area of fundamental rights for the FRA during 2011 – 2014, becoming part of the FRANET research network. In this capacity, CLR has drafted numerous country reports in the area of racism and xenophobia, but also in other fields (homophobia, human rights institutions, asylum, access to justice, data protection, gender equality, child rights).

CLR has also been part of various European Commission supported networks in the area of anti-discrimination, providing research (from a socio-economic perspective) or training.

Through its various projects, CLR has provided and continues to provide training to NGO members, social partners, staff of local authorities on the following topics: anti-discrimination and equality of chances; media and human rights (with a focus on anti-discrimination); diversity management; and NGO capacity building.

CLR has consistently condemned discrimination, taking public stand against it, especially when it came from state officials (elected or not) and has legally supported or initiated cases before the equality body or courts of law, thus activating the anti-discrimination legislation.