On January 20, the association LGL (Lithuanian Gay League) appealed to the President of the Republic of Lithuania and the Prime Minister encouraging them to form an interdepartmental work group for the preparation of an action plan for implementation of the requirements laid down in the Council of Europe recommendations. The national advocacy association which

On January 20, Virginija Baltraitienė, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, participated in the “Daily Question’ programme on Ziniu radijas (News Radio) and commented on the recent resolution adopted by the European Parliament regarding discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in Lithuania. The politician did not agree with the concern expressed by the members of

BRUSSELS, 25 January 2011 — Today the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, representing the 27 EU governments until July 2011, failed to outline any plan for action against homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in their 6-month presidency. Socialist and Liberal Members of the European Parliament asked the Hungarian

European Parliament debated the violation of freedom of expression and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in Lithuania on Tuesday and Wednesday. During the discussion members of EP asked for consideration of the proposed amendments to the Lithuanian Code of Administrative Offences introducing an offence of ‘promotion of homosexual relations’ punishable with a fine

European Parliament will debate with the Commission on freedom of expression and homophobia in Lithuania on January 18 at the evening session. The discussion concerns mainly the  recent  proposal for amendments to the  Lithuanian Code of Administrative Offences, but also by extension the law on protection of minors from detrimental information, and the law on

By Emily Šaras Despite its status as a Member State of the European Union and pressure from the European Commission, Lithuania is actively working to decrease tolerance and equality within its legal administrative code.  It has only been two decades since Lithuania’s establishment of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and Lithuania still struggles

At its meetingon 8 December 2010, the Committee of Education, Science and Culture approved the suggestion of Seimas members G. Songaila, V. M. Čigriejienė, R. Kupčinskas, A. Stancikienė and K. Uoka to delete the concept of equal opportunities from the draft Law on the Amendment of the Law on Education, because equal opportunities also include

Today the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) presented its updated report on Homophobia, transphobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in the European Union. The FRA report reveals that in some EU Member States, legislation and practice is increasing the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons,

On 26 November International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) addressed President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, Speaker of the Seimas Irena Degutienė, Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs Stasys Šedbaras, Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights Arminas Lydeka, Minister of Justice Remigijus Šimašius and Ombudsperson Aušrinė Burneikienė with a legal analysis on the

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

Today, Lithuanian human rights activists and the representatives of civil society addressed the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament) Irena Degutiene, Legal Committee chair Stasys Šedbaras, the Human Rights Committee chair  Arminas Lydeka and the chair of the temporary parliamentary group “For equality” Marija Aušrine Pavilioniene, asking them publicly to express their

The ALDE group is calling on the Lithuanian authorities to respect freedom of expression and of assembly and to reject proposals introducing a fine for “public promotion of homosexual relations”, i.e. equality marches for LGBT rights or any public information in favour of LGBT rights. President Verhofstadt has written, together with fellow ALDE MEPs of