The National Human Rights Forum discussion “Is There Space for LGBTIQ+ People in Municipalities?” which took place on December 10, 2024, highlighted systematic problems: growing community distrust in government institutions, strengthening of anti-democratic forces particularly in regions, and limited inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people in social life. Dr. Vytautas Valentinavičius from Kaunas University of Technology presented
News / Human Rights
In a landmark decision on December 18, 2024, the Constitutional Court of Lithuania has ruled that Article 4(2)(16) of the Law on the Protection of Minors Against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information violates multiple sections of the Constitution, specifically Articles 25(1,2,3) and 38(1,2), as well as the constitutional principle of the rule of law.
In a comprehensive review of LGBTI rights across Europe, conducted by ILGA-Europe on the implementation of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers Recommendation (2010)5, Lithuania emerges as a country with a mixed record on LGBTI rights and protections. This analysis reveals areas where Lithuania has made strides, as well as significant challenges that remain.
The Lithuanian government has released its proposed legislative agenda for the fall 2024 parliamentary session, which marks the final session of the current Seimas before the national elections in October. The agenda outlines over 50 bills and resolutions to be considered, but notably absent are any proposals specifically addressing LGBTI rights or issues. This last
On August 30th, the Office of the Seimas Ombudsmen in Lithuania hosted a significant discussion titled “Facts Can Overcome Hate: Strengthening LGBTIQ+ Rights in Lithuania.” This event brought together representatives from state institutions, agencies, law enforcemement, researchers and academia as well as non-governmental organizations to address critical issues facing the LGBTIQ+ community. Seimas Ombudswoman and
In 2010, the Council of Europe adopted Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5, a landmark instrument to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This non-binding yet soft law measue outlines measures for Member States to protect LGBTIQ rights. Following reviews in 2013 and 2018, the current report contributes to the third pan-European assessment, focusing on Lithuania’s
Vilnius, 12 April 2024 Hate crime is a matter of concern across Europe and poses major challenges at social, political and legal levels. Violent behaviour motivated by prejudice based on the victim’s disability, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, sexual apathy or gender expression poses a serious threat to democratic values in European
The Vilnius District Court on Friday rejected an appeal from a same-sex couple seeking to have their marriage recognised by the Lithuanian authorities, reports lrt.lt. The two male claimants were asking the court to oblige the Vilnius City Civil Registry Office to register their marriage and to have it entered into the Register of Marriage
Baltic States have joined 35 other countries in a statement of support coinciding with the 28th Budapest Pride Festival in Hungary. Issued by the U.S. Embassy in Hungary, the statement is in effect a call for Budapest to rescind legislative amendments which are seen as discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons
Klaipėda district mayor Bronius Markauskas says that he himself will not support the initiative of the Lithuanian Family Movement to adopt a declaration “On stopping genderism propaganda and LGBTQ+ ideology in the municipality” and will urge his colleagues not to support it as well, BNS reports. Lithuanian Family Movement (Lietuvos šeimų sąjūdis) is a non-governmental organization closely allied
For the first time in Lithuania’s history, three same-sex couples are going to court to defend their right to start a family and register their marriage in Lithuania. According to the Association of Tolerant Youth, which initiated these strategic cases, they aim to resolve the main obstacles in recognizing and regulating these couples’ relationships. “When
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered its judgment in the case of Macatė v. Lithuania (application no. 61435/19) at a public hearing on 23 January 2023 in the Human Rights Building, Strasbourg. The applicant, Neringa Dangvydė Macatė (1975-2020) was an openly lesbian children’s author who wrote a book titled “Gintarinė širdis”