Protecting Children’s Rights through Criminal Law Measures

Abstract

In today’s increasingly complex world, protecting children through criminal law has become a growing priority, especially as new forms of abuse and exploitation threaten their safety and development. This article explores how Romania addresses these challenges, focusing on how its legal system aligns with global standards such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Lanzarote Convention. The best interests of the child are in the right of the child to normal physical and moral development, socio-affective balance and family life. The research employs a comparative legal approach and draws on both statutory analysis and academic commentary. The analysis identifies several weaknesses in practice, particularly in areas such as inter-institutional coordination, specialist training for justice professionals, and support services for young victims. While Romania’s legal framework is comprehensive on paper, its implementation often falls short. To bridge this gap, the paper proposes a multidisciplinary strategy that integrates legal reform with educational and social support measures. Key recommendations include improving institutional collaboration, enhancing professional training. The considerations from the given paper, we think, can open the way for us to the problem of the correct solution of the use of legal concepts and theories before the courts. UDC: 341.231.14-053.2:343.62(498); JEL: K10, K14