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
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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
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
Open letter to the attention of: – José Manuel BARROSO, President of the European Commission – Jacques BARROT, Commissioner for Freedom, Security and Justice – Vladimir SPIDLA, Commissioner for Social Affairs Brussels, 17 June 2009 Dear President, Dear Commissioners, I call on you to urgently publicly express the Commission position on the adoption of
LITHUANIA: PROPOSED LAW WOULD VIOLATE STUDENTS’ AND TEACHERS’ RIGHTS AND REINFORCE HOMOPHOBIA ACT NOW BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE ON 11 JUNE A proposed amendment to the “Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information” would, if passed, prohibit the discussion of homosexuality in schools and ban any reference to it
Dear Commissioner Spidla, On behalf of ILGA-Europe and the LGBT Intergroup of the European Parliament, we are writing to you to express our grave concerns regarding the new draft version of the Law for the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information currently before the Lithuanian Parliament, and to call upon the
MEDIA RELEASE 29 May 2009 For immediate release On 2 June 2009, the Lithuanian Parliament, the Seimas, will vote on an amendment to the Law on the Protection of Minors against Detrimental Effects of Public Information aimed at banning access to information on homosexuality and bisexuality. The amendment asserted that ‘a detrimental effect on
The lack of respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is still an area for concern in Latvia and Lithuania. Amnesty International is concerned that in these countries, human rights including the rights to freedom of expression and assembly are not fully guaranteed. With this document,
Order and Justice MP Petras Gražulis has proposed imposing the same sanctions for the instigation to engage in bestiality, necrophilia, and homosexuality. This has caused the outrage of Vladimir Simonko, head of the Lithuanian Gay League. The parliamentarian holds the opinion that relevant amendments to the Criminal Code should be adopted. He suggests amending the
Vilnius’ Conservative mayor Vilius Navickas says there are no hindrances for hosting a Baltic gay pride parade in the Lithuanian capital next year. His statement came in comment of reports in the Latvian media that Latvia’s sexual minority organizations believe Vilnius administration would not allow the event in Lithuania. “I have not heard anything about
Today, on the International Day against homophobia, we, representatives of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities in the three Baltic countries are turning to our governments to urge you to take specific measures in order to improve the situation for people of different sexual orientation and gender identities in our countries. Currently LGBT