Lithuanian parliament blasted over homophobic laws

VILNIUS – Seimas (Lithuanian parliament) has drawn harsh criticism from local and international human right groups for pushing through a set of controversial laws that are “flagrantly discriminatory” toward homosexuals. The laws, which override a previous presidential veto, put newly-elected President Dalia Grybauskaite in a difficult position during her very first week in Presidency by

Amnesty International condemns adoption of homophobic law in Lithuania

The Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) voted today to adopt the controversial “Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information”.  The law was initially approved by the Seimas on 16 June but was vetoed by the Lithuanian President on 26 June.  With a majority of the 140 Seimas representatives required to overcome

Lithuania: Don’t Revive Censorship Law

Ban on Information About Sexual Orientation Would Endanger Youth (New York, July 13, 2009) – The Lithuanian parliament should not revive a proposed law that had been vetoed by the president, to ban references to gay, lesbian, and bisexual relations in public places, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the speaker of

LITHUANIAN PARLIAMENT TAKES FURTHER STEPS TOWARDS THE CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY Press release by Lithuanian gay league (LGL) July 10, 2009 The Seimas, which earlier rejected amendments criminalizing propagation of homosexuality, this Thursday took another step in this direction. . The amendments will be returned to the assembly hall at autumn session after considering them by

On July 7 Aušra Rauličkytė, adviser to the President of the Republic of Lithuania, presented the presidential decree returning the proposed amendments to the Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information (No. XIP-110Gr) to the Seimas for renewed consideration. The Seimas decided to consider the returned bill once again

Council of Europe Secretary General welcomes decision by President of Lithuania Strasbourg, 02.07.2009 – I am delighted by the news that the President of Lithuania has refused to sign a new law which would have discriminated against the gays and lesbians in Lithuania. His decision should be welcomed by everyone who believes in a modern,

David Cameron has issued an extraordinary apology on behalf of the Conservative Party for legislation banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools. He said the party had ‘got it wrong’ when it introduced Section 28 in the late 1980s. It is one of a series of apologies Mr Cameron has made for his party’s actions

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE Resolution adopted on 22 June 2009 CONF/HR(2009)RES1 Call on the President of Lithuania not to sign the “Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information” because of its homophobic content. The Human Rights Committee of the Council of Europe INGO Conference, Gravely concerned at a growing climate

Amnesty International: PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY

PUBLIC                                                                                     AI Index: EUR 53/002/2009                                                                                                                                               19 June 2009   UA 162/09         Discrimination / Legal concern                            LITHUANIA         Possible adoption of homophobic legislation On 16 June, the Lithuanian parliament (The Seimas) passed a law which includes an amendment which institutionalizes homophobia, violates the right to freedom of expression and the right to

EUROPE: Lithuania Throttles Gay Rights

EUROPE: Lithuania Throttles Gay Rights By Pavol Stracansky BRATISLAVA, Jun 19 (IPS) – Rights groups are calling on EU leaders to act after Lithuanian lawmakers approved controversial legislation that they say makes homosexuals “second class citizens” and breaches European conventions on human rights. The legislation passed by Lithuania’s parliament this week bans the discussion of

Lithuanian Parliament bans ‘propaganda of homosexuality and bisexuality’

MEDIA RELEASE 17 June 2009   For immediate release   Lithuanian Parliament bans ‘propaganda of homosexuality and bisexuality’    On 16 June 2009, the Seimas, Lithuanian parliament, in a final reading and with a great majority (67 votes for, 3 against and 4 abstained) adopted an amended Law on the Protection of Minors against the

At the last moment, the Seimas [Parliament] refused to legalise the right to mock people’s sexual orientation, beliefs and attitudes, yet decided that any information containing a positive attitude towards homosexual, bisexual or polygamous relations has a negative impact on children. This is what is stated in the proposed Law on the Protection of Minors