RSS
CCR to consider today the revision of Constitution to specify that family is founded on marriage between a man and a woman
The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) on Wednesday will be considering a citizens' legislative proposal submitted by the Senate for the revision of Constitution to specify that family is founded on marriage between a man and a woman.
The Senate last month submitted to CCR a legislative proposal to check the observance of constitutional provisions for the revision of the Constitution.
On May 23, the Family Coalition tabled with the Senate a legislative proposal for the revision of the Constitution to spell out that family is based on marriage between a man and a woman, an initiative that was signed by 3 million citizens. After being registered with the Senate, it was introduced to the Standing Bureau on June 7 and forwarded to CCR to be checked for constitutional compliance.
The Family Coalition argues that their legislative proposal to amend the Constitution would explicitly protect families and parents' rights
The suggested wording for Article 48 (1) in the Constitution is: ''The family is founded on the freely consented marriage between a man and a woman, their full equality, as well as the right and duty of the parents to ensure the upbringing, education and instruction of their children.'' In its current wording, the article mentions freely consented marriage of the spouses.
The Initiative Committee is made up of 16 members: Nadia Tataru, Georgeta Stoian, Alina Tomi, Mariana-Liliana Georgescu, Tudor Sisu, Vlad Mirita, Mihaela Manuceanu, Sorin Lavric, Mihai Gheorghiu, Calin Diaconu, Pavel Chirila, Cornel Bratu, Liviu Axinte, Constantin Necula, Paul Negrut, Mircea Tudor.
The initiators suggest that the national constitutional revision referendum be held at the same time with this year's general election.
Also on Wednesday CCR will be considering constitutional objections over Article 277 (2) and (4) in Romania's Civil Code made in a court case by Relu Adrian Coman, Robert Clabourn Hamilton, ACCEPT Association, involving Romania's Interior Ministry, the General Immigration Inspectorate and the National Council Against Discrimination as parties.
Article 277: Interdiction or equating of forms of living together with marriage : "(2) Same sex marriage contracted abroad whether between Romanian citizens or by foreign citizens is not recognised in Romania. (...) (4) Legal provisions regarding free movement in the territory of Romania of citizens from the EU member states and the EEA, are valid."
Homosexuality in Romania was illegal until 2000, when the country decriminalised it after harsh criticism from the European Union and the Council of Europe.