Red shoes at Bucharest's Romanian Athenaeum honour women killed by domestic violence, as Romania adopts its first femicide law and tougher penalties.
Red shoes lined the steps of Bucharest's Romanian Athenaeum on Tuesday, marking women killed by domestic violence. The display drew attention to a grim pattern in Romania, where official figures suggest about one woman has been killed each week since early 2026.
Organiser Alessandra Stoicescu called the numbers worrying, saying the home is no longer always a place of safety.
Recent data shows nearly a third of Romanian women report verbal or physical abuse by a partner. Journalists warn violence cuts across social lines, including educated households.
Lawmakers have responded with a new femicide law, defining the crime in national legislation for the first time and setting tougher penalties, alongside stricter protection orders and sanctions for breaches.
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