On November 25th, 2015 the Committee on Legal Affairs of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania held a hearing on a proposal to amend the Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, which states that “family emanates from a marriage between a man and a woman”. The participants of the hearing,
News / LGBT Guide LT / From Lithuania
The Cypriot parliament has voted in favour of the Civil Partnership Bill, meaning that same-sex couples in Cyprus will be legally recognised for the first time. The legislation, which has generated lots of debate nationally, will offer couples the same rights as civil marriage. However, joint adoption rights are not included as part of the
On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, the members of the National Equality and Diversity Forum (NEDF) cordially invite to the seminar-discussion “Human Rights in Lithuania. NGOs’ Perspective”, which will take place on December 9th, 2015 at 2:00-4:30 PM at the premises of the Embassy of Finland (K. Kalinausko str. 24, Vilnius). In
Health authorities in the US, Australia and UK have all highlighted an alarming increase in rates of syphilis among gay and bisexual men Although HIV receives much attention in the press – particularly following last week’s announcement by the actor Charlie Sheen that he is HIV positive – it is not the only sexually-transmitted infection
In September, 2015 the representatives of the partner organizations met to discuss the upcoming Baltic Pride 2016 in Vilnius. The topics included Pride Voices, International Human Rights Conference, Pride March, Pride Park and Pride House. Security, fundraising, political and legal situation, official slogan and preliminary program – within only two days the whole Pride Week
“Being Transgender is not a choice. Choosing to hurt someone is.” About the Transgender Day of Remembrance The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice,
In November, 2015 the national LGBT* rights organization LGL filmed 2 social videos for its social campaign „#TRANS_LT“, aiming to increase visibility of transgender persons in Lithuania. The social videos, filmed by a creative team of LGL and local movie director Romas Zabarauskas, feature the members of the local trans* community sharing the challenges they
New EU rules on victims’ rights that apply as of today (16 November) will bring major changes in the way victims of crime are treated in Europe. The Victims’ Rights Directive lays down a set of binding rights for victims of crime, and clear obligations for EU Member States to ensure these rights in practice
On November 7, 2015 the OSCE representatives together with the hate crime victims gathered in the LGBT* community center. During the meeting, members of the local LGBT* community shared their painful experiences and thus enabled the ESBO officers to comprehend real discriminatory cases in Lithuania. In the meantime, the OSCE will organize trainings for the
IGLYO is deeply concerned to hear the shocking and sudden advancement of oppressive anti-gay propaganda bill In Lithuania, which similarly to the laws in Russia will infringe the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. The suggested legislation outlaws ‘public denigration of constitutional family values’, which is specifically designed to prevent discussion of LGBTIQ issues in a positive
A bill designed to restrict freedom of expression and freedom of assembly has made an unwelcome reappearance on Lithuania’s parliamentary agenda. ILGA-Europe was shocked to learn that an amendment to the country’s administrative code which punishes ‘public denigration of constitutional moral values’ will be voted on this Thursday (12 November 2015). Bill XIP 4490(3) would
Lithuania’s Social Democratic Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius abstained from commenting on the proposal by the MP Petras Gražulis to introduce administrative liability for any public denigration of the “constitutional family values”. However, the Prime Minister of Lithuania insists that „society must conform to the norms of decency“ or otherwise „claim responsibility“. „I really can not