The lack of respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is still an area for concern in Latvia and Lithuania. Amnesty International is concerned that in these countries, human rights including the rights to freedom of expression and assembly are not fully guaranteed.

With this document, Amnesty International reminds Latvia and Lithuania of the commitments they willingly entered into when joining the European Union (EU) — the ‘union of values’ — to respect and protect human rights. Such commitments not only include individual human rights such as to peaceful freedom of association, assembly and expression, but also include the obligation to extend such rights to all individuals.

The Lithuanian authorities are not at liberty to pick and choose to whom they grant these rights and they should instead exercise their leadership to promote respect for diversity, not foster a climate of intolerance.