On December 9th, 2016 on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights, Human Rights Monitoring Institute and National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL invited to the seminar-discussion “#LAISVA_LT: Overview of Human Rights in Lithuania“, held at the Embassy of Finland in Vilnius. As pointed out by non-governmental organizations that monitor and document human rights situation in Lithuania, these rights are still not being considered to be a relevant part of the political agenda. In the battle against the country‘s worsening demographic situation, politicians often forget that respect for each person‘s fundamental human rights, freedoms and dignity is a prerequisite for ensuring that anyone can feel welcome in Lithuania.

In the course of the seminar-discussion, the representatives of the civil society discuss some of the most pressing human rights challenges under the present day conditions:

(1) the United Nations‘ (UN) human rights recommendations to Lithuania in its Universal Periodic Review (presented by Birutė Sabatauskaitė, Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights);

(2) the increase in cases of restriction of freedom of expression in Lithuania (presented by Mėta Adutavičiūtė, Human Rights Monitoring Institute);

(3) the negative impact that the amendment to Article 38 of the Constitution, on the definition of family, could have on Lithuanian families (presented by Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL).

The participants of the event were welcomed by the Ombudsperson of the Equal Opportunities Agneta Skardžiuvienė, the Member of the Lithuanian Parliament Dovilė Šakalienė, the representative of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Olena Petsun and the Ambassador of Finland in Lithuania and Belarus Christer Michelsson. The discussion was moderated by Mindaugas Jackevičius (journalist, delfi.lt).

@Augustas Didžgalvis Photography

In September and October of this year, non-governmental organizations Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights, Human Rights Monitoring Institute and National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL initiated the #LAISVA_LT social campaign, which aimed to draw attention to legislative efforts to narrow the constitutional definition of family. The seminar-discussion will also feature the diverse Lithuanian families featured in the campaign‘s video clips and photo stories, who will explain what the word „family“ means to them personally. For more information on #LAISVA_LT campaign, please consult www.laisva.lt.

Organizers and supporters: