On 26 November Amnesty International issued public statement on new homophobic legislation in Lithuania which includes new legislative initiative aiming at the introduction of administrative sanctions for the “promotion of homosexual relations” and the Article 39 of the Law on Provision of Public Information as amended in September 2010.

„Amnesty International is seriously concerned by a new legislative initiative aiming at the introduction of administrative sanctions for the “promotion of homosexual relations”. The legislative proposal is blatantly discriminatory, will unlawfully restrict the right to freedom of expression of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people, and violate Lithuania’s obligations under international law. Amnesty International is urging members of the Lithuanian parliament to vote against this discriminatory amendment of the Administrative Code.“ – it is stated by Amnesty International.

Lithuania’s parliament on 12 November decided to go ahead with legislation imposing fines for the “public promotion of homosexual relations”. The new article in the Administrative Code is entitled “Public promotion of homosexual relations“ and states that “public promotion of homosexual relations is to be punished by a fine from two thousand to ten thousand litas  (€580 – €2900, $792 – $3955)”.

„Amnesty International is also concerned that Article 39 of the Law on Provision of Public Information, as amended in September 2010, remains in force. The amendment provides that advertising and audiovisual communication “must not contain any manifestation or promotion of sexual orientation” and was meant to transpose the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive.“ <…> „Amnesty International urges relevant authorities to act immediately with a view to ensure compliance with Lithuania’s human rights obligations and to eliminate discriminatory provisions from the law.“ – Amnesty International continues in it‘s statement.