On 22 June 2023 Vladimir Simonko, Executive Director at the National LGBT rights organization LGL, participated at Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination joint hearing with the Parliamentary Platform for the rights of LGBTI people in Europe in Strasbourg, France.

The Executive Director of LGL gave a presentation on attempts to limit the freedom of expression and assembly of the LGBT community in Lithuania, starting with the ban on unfurling the rainbow flag in Vilnius in 2007 and ending with the Kaunas City Municipality’s refusal to issue a permit for the LGBT community’s march in 2021.

The report also reviewed the history of the discriminatory application of the provisions of the Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information in relation to the LGBT community.

© Council of Europe. Alban Hefti