Who we are
The Association for the Defence of Human Rights in Romania – the Helsinki Committee (APADOR-CH) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization, established in 1990. APADOR-CH’s Mission is to take action for the protection of human rights and the establishment of equilibrium when they are in danger or infringed upon.
APADOR-CH’s Values are: competence, professionalism, visibility, transparency, standards and ethic concerning the respect for the following values: its own capital, integrity, fairness, impartiality, honesty, objectivity, responsibility and good faith both within APADOR-CH and with third parties.
APADOR–CH’s Vision: A society in which human rights are respected. For everyone, always.
What we do
For 2018-2020, APADOR-CH’s strategic objectives are:
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- The development of efficient legal and institutional mechanisms for respecting human rights and monitoring relevant institutions;
- The improvement of the legislative framework and of the practices regarding the right to free assembly and association, freedom of expression, right to private life;
- The development of practices and institutional mechanisms for increasing transparency and good governance;
- Reacting to human rights threats;
- Public authority intimations and the initiation of strategic litigation in cases which deal with infringement upon human rights;
- Priority monitoring of:
- Police abuses;
- Regulations and practices in the field of national security which have an impact on human rights;
- Regulations and practices concerning deprivation of liberty.
How we do it
– draft comments on, and recommendations to amend laws/draft bills with an impact on civil rights and liberties
– carry out fact-finding missions – in places of detention (prisons, police arrests) and other places where there are indications of gross human rights violations;
– carry out fact-finding missions when there are indications of breaches of the right to life, the right not to be tortured or subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment, the right to liberty and security of the person;
– carry out strategic litigation before domestic courts and the European Court of Human Rights
initiate and carry out awareness raising campaigns on human rights issues;
maintain a constant dialogue with competent public authorities and institutions;
provide information for persons wanting to send applications to the European Court of Human Rights;
– carry out any other relevant activity.
By the end of 2020 APADOR-CH is the main human rights organization in Romania, recognized both at the national and international level as a partner of reference for authorities, civil society, press, international organisms and organizations. It reacts rapidly to challenges in the field and is pro-active in promoting human rights. It has a dedicated team of professionals and volunteers. It has the necessary resources for sustainability and development
Read the APADOR-CH’s STRATEGY ANG GENERAL OBJECTIVES 2018-2020
The Activity of the APADOR-CH, 2019
Download and read full report APADOR-CH 2019
The Board members of APADOR-CH:
Maria Nicoleta Andreescu
Maria-Nicoleta Andreescu is a member of the Board of APADOR-CH since June 2020. She is a sociologist and worked at APADOR-CH between 2007-2018, as an expert, focusing on institutional transparency, assessing respect for human rights in prisons, abuses of police etc. Between 2013-2018 she was the executive director of the association, carried out legislative advocacy activities and managed national and international projects in the field of civil rights.
Gina Crângariu
Gina Crângariu has been a lawyer at the Bucharest Bar association since 1983 and a member of APADOR-CH since the foundation of the association. She works in the field of human rights and has a portfolio of cases supported at the ECHR, one of which before the Grand Chamber.
Cristinel Buzatu
Cristinel Buzatu is a member of APADOR-CH’s Board of Directors since April 2023. He is a lawyer at the Bucharest Bar and has extensive experience in civil society, including working at APADOR-CH between 2013-2016. He collaborates with several national and international organizations on issues of discrimination, domestic violence, sexual violence, refugees, freedom of expression and association. He is part of the team of human rights experts that supports in Romania the FRANET network of the Agency for Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
The team of APADOR-CH:
Georgiana Gheorghe - executive director
Georgiana Gheorghe has a B.A in political science (University of Bucharest) and a master in international human rights law from the Legal Studies Department of Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. She joined APADOR-CH in 2007 and has been engaged in civil society work for over 12 years, working for non-governmental organizations in Romania, Hungary and Latvia. Starting with November 2018 she is the executive director of APADOR-CH.
Silvia Gheorghe - financial director
Silvia Gheorghe is a graduate of the Faculty of Finances and Accounting, since 1993. She joined APADOR-CH in September 1996. She is responsible with bookeeping and overseeing financial and accounting obligations of the association.
Dollores Benezic - communication
Dollores was a journalist, between 1994-2012, published in national newspapers such as „Curierul național”, „Cotidianul”, „Evenimentul zilei”, has worked with Esquire România, Green report or international publications such as Al Jazeera. Since 2012 she started working with APADOR-CH, as a volunteer, involved particularly in the communication area. She helped revitalize the image of APADOR-CH through better dissemination of information about the association’s projects and a constant presence online. From June 2013 has become a regular contributor for APADOR-CH, besides communication area she is involved in multi-annual programs of the association, such as monitoring of human rights in prisons and arrests.
Crina Moise - office assistant
Crina Moise is graduate from the University of Bucharest and began the collaboration with APADOR -CH in April 2015 in the position of Office Asistant. In the last 4 years she worked with NGOs that were attended inmates and people with disabilities.
Livia Popa - legal officer
Livia Popa graduated Law School (University of Bucharest) in 2014 and she has a master degree in International Public Law since 2017. Passionate about social justice and humanitarian aid she engaged in many volunteering activities and she has been working in the NGO field for 3 years. She joined APADOR-CH team since March 2019.
Financial supporters
During our over 20 years of activity we received financial support from:
Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de l’Homme
Swiss Embassy in Bucharest
Royal Embassy of the Netherlands in Bucharest (Program MATRA-KAP)
ARTICLE 19
CEBEMO/BILANCE
Multicultural Diversity Resource Center Cluj
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
European Commission – PHARE Program
European Council
European Commission Delegation in Bucharest
Freedom House
German Marshall Fund of the United States
Global Ministries of the Uniting Churches
Flemish Government through the Department of Vrije Universiteit Brussels law
Dutch Government through the Netherlands Helsinki Committee
U.S. Government through the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest
Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations
J.M. Kaplan Fund
Kerk In Actie
Legal Defence Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities –Neki
Mama Cash
Governments of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the Financial Mechanism
European Economic Area
Mensen in Nood/Caritas
National Endowment for Democracy
Open Society Institute
Open Society Justice Initiative
The Global Fund for Women
Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
United States Agency For International Developement /World Learning For International Developement