Association ACCEPT and Others v. Romania

Romania failed to protect participants of an LGBTQ+ film screening from a violent homophobic attack and to investigate its discriminatory motive.

Participants of an LGBTQ+ film screening in Bucharest were intimidated and threatened by counter-protesters while police failed to intervene effectively; the subsequent investigation did not properly address homophobic motives.

The Court held that the authorities failed in their positive obligations under Articles 3, 8, 11 and 14 to protect the participants and to investigate whether the attack was motivated by hatred against sexual orientation.

Reinforces the duty to investigate homophobic hate motives in violent incidents.