The Foundation for the Defense of the Citizens Against State Abuses (FACIAS) has submitted the case to the Public Prosecutor's Office and has called for an investigation after several children in state care were discovered to have been restrained with rope in the social centre "Alexandra" family-type home in Slobozia, Ialomița County. These children were subjected to abusive treatment and housed in degrading conditions, under the eyes of those entrusted with the legal responsibility to protect them, namely the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection (DGASPC) Ialomita.
According to information that has been made available to the public, following a control that was carried out in March 2025 at the social protection unit in Slobozia, it was found that three of the 16 children that were hospitalised in the centre had been immobilised with objects of clothing or string. According to the inspector Monica Dumitrescu, "One child had his sleeves tied and a small leg stuck through his sleeves, being immobilized at the hands. The second had his blouse tied with a string, and the third had a cord tied around his abdomen, tied by his hands behind his back." The staff acknowledged the prevalence of such practices, ostensibly in the name of child protection, yet they were unable to offer any medical justification for these methods. Alarmingly, AJPIS Ialomita had conducted an inspection just three days prior, during which no irregularities were identified.
The checks also revealed systemic problems. For instance, at the "Alexandra" centre, there is only one psychologist working with 16 children with severe disabilities. Furthermore, there is a lack of adequate education and training among some members of staff. These issues are the responsibility of DGASPC Ialomita, which, under the provisions of Law 292/2011 on social assistance, is obligated to ensure the provision of qualified personnel within protection institutions.
In this denunciation, FACIAS calls for two things to happen. Firstly, it demands a full investigation into the crime of ill-treatment of minors. Secondly, it seeks to ensure that those who are found to be responsible for these abuses against minors in their care are punished. Secondly, the denunciation seeks to send a strong message that such abuses are unacceptable and must not be repeated. The responsibility for these violations does not lie solely with those who perpetrated the acts, but also with those who either disregarded them or negligently permitted their occurrence.
Since 2016, FACIAS has been collaborating with the People's Advocate Institution within the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture and has participated in the controls carried out in detention centers and social protection units.