The program is managed by the Ministry of Justice, as a Program Operator, in partnership with the Norwegian Ministry of Justice, the Norwegian Court Administration, the Norwegian Correctional Services Directorate, and the Council of Europe. The program contributes to the consolidation of the rule of law by means of measures aimed at:
- strengthening the capacity of the penitentiary and the probation system in Romania
- improving access to justice for vulnerable groups, including the Roma
- improving the capacity of the Romanian authorities to implement the Istanbul Convention on combating domestic and gender-based violence
- improving the application of the European legal concepts by the Romanian judicial system
- increasing the capacity of the Public Ministry to fight organized crime and corruption
The value of the program is 52,941,176 euros (45,000,000 euros Norwegian grants and 7,941,176 euros co-financing from the national budget).
norwaygrants.just.ro is the dedicated website of the Program, managed by the Program Operator.
Within the program, the following 7 predefined projects will be financed:
Correctional (31,000,000 euros)
A project implemented by the National Administration of Penitentiaries in partnership with the National Probation Department, the Penitentiaries from Baia Mare, Botoșani, Vaslui, Târgu Mureș, the National School for the training of penitentiary agents from Târgu Ocna, the Norwegian Academy of Corrective Services, the Penitentiaries from Halden and Stavanger, Norway, the Rogaland Probation Office and the Østfold Probation Office.
It aims to improve the capacity of the correctional services in Romania (both penitentiary and probation), to contribute to the social reintegration of the convicted persons, by facilitating their transition from the penitentiary to the probation system and, subsequently, within the community, by means of a close cooperation with the local authorities.
Improving the correctional services in Romania by implementing the principle of normality – 4NORM (-ality) (5,000,000 euros)
A project implemented by the National Administration of Penitentiaries, in partnership with the Ploiești Penitentiary, the Poarta Albă Penitentiary, the Craiova Penitentiary, the Târgu Ocna National School for the training of penitentiary agents, the National Department of Probationary Services, the Babeș-Bolyai University and having as partners from the donor state, the Norwegian Correctional Services Academy, the Norwegian Correctional Services and the Hedmark Prison.
It will contribute to a better social reintegration of the persons condemned by the reform, in three penitentiary units (Craiova, Ploiești, Poarta Albă), of the social reintegration programs and of the daily activities carried out by them, in order to make them responsible before and after the release from the prison.
CHILD – Inclusion of children through learning and development (1,494,117 euros)
A project implemented by the National Administration of Penitentiaries in partnership with the Târgu Ocna Educational Center and the Tîrgu Ocna City Hall. The project will facilitate the social reintegration of minors and young people by improving the education services and the specific assistance provided within the Târgu Ocna Educational Center.
Supporting the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Romania (2,500,000 euros)
A project implemented by the National Agency for Gender Equality in partnership with the Shelter Movement Secretariat, Saint Olavs University Hospital, the Department of the Center for Research and Education in Criminal Psychiatry in Brøset, Norway.
By assessing the prevalence of different forms of violence against women, it will contribute to improving the capacity of the Romanian authorities to implement the Istanbul Convention in Romania, by assessing the capacity of the Romanian authorities to implement the national policy in the field of domestic and gender violence, by developing the working tools and by the professional training of the involved specialists, as well as by setting up the centers for victims of sexual violence and the counseling centers for aggressors.
Fighting criminality and corruption (4,250,000 euros)
A project implemented by the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice in partnership with the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism. It will contribute to improving the capacity of the Public Ministry to fight against organized crime and corruption, through measures of developing the professional and technical capacity.
Training of the staff from the judicial system and strengthening the institutional capacity in this area (4,100,000 euros)
Project implemented by the Superior Council of Magistracy in partnership with the National Institute of Magistracy, the National School of Clerks in partnership with the Norwegian Court Administration. The project is addressed to the need for professional training of judges, prosecutors and other legal professionals in order to fully understand and apply the European legal concepts in their professional activity.
Legal assistance and guarantees for the access to justice (2,000,000 euros)
A project implemented by the Council of Europe. It will contribute to improving the capacity of the Roma population and other vulnerable persons in Romania to effectively exercise their rights, in non-criminal matters, by providing the access to information on their rights and legal assistance.