New Report Takes Stock of Fundamental Rights in the EU, Including LGBTI Rights

On December 13, 2016, the European Parliament adopted a new comprehensive report on fundamental rights in the EU.  The report assesses how fundamental rights are implemented in the EU, and what must still be done to reach standards laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The document includes an extensive snapshot of the situation

2016: Top 10 Most Memorable Activities of LGL

1. Baltic Pride 2016 March for Equality On 18th June, 2016 a crowd of 3000 Lithuanian LGBT* community members and their allies participated in the March for Equality on the central avenue in the downtown of Vilnius to celebrate the Baltic Pride 2016, the most important LGBT* community event in the Baltic states, organized by

Neringa Dangvydė, the author of the fairytale book Amber Heart, has secured her first victory: the court will have to reexamine whether fairytales depicting homosexual characters should be considered as “harmful to minors”. The Supreme Court of Lithuania revoked previous decisions by the Vilnius County Court and Vilnius City District Court and returned the case

According to Milda Vainiūtė, the candidate for the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania and Mykolas Romeris university’s law professor, a consensus will be sought in society regarding the introduction of same-sex partnerships. „Regarding this issue, a common solution, a common consensus will be sought in society and only after [that] decisions will

On December 9th, 2016 on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights, Human Rights Monitoring Institute and National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL invited to the seminar-discussion “#LAISVA_LT: Overview of Human Rights in Lithuania“, held at the Embassy of Finland in Vilnius. As pointed out by non-governmental organizations that monitor

LGL’s EVS volunteer participated in European Solidarity Corps launch event

Last week I was invited to the event with mysterious name European Solidarity Corps launch event. With no expectation and with the view of free lunch and one day out of the LGL`s office I confirmed my participation. Event was taking place in European House. Have you ever been there? I am sure that you

Commission ‘Shockingly Passive’ on LGBT* Rights in Lithuania

On December 5th, 2016 the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBTI Rights has addressed the European Commission regarding its “shockingly passive” position on clear discrimination against LGBT* people in Lithuania. On November 7th, 2016 the European Commission informed the National LGBT* rights organization LGL that it would take no action over a 2013 law that claims

„What are Human Rights?“- a creative workshop to discover your Human Rights

Winter has already arrived… it’s cold, it’s slippery and it’s dark… I was wondering what to do to bring some light into our everyday life’s monotony and at the same time to greet Human Rights Day properly. I decided to facilitate a creative workshop called “What are human rights?” in LGL’s community center. The workshop

On November 2nd, 2016 the Government of the Republic of Lithuania took part in the 26th session of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review, at which time it presented its report on the human rights situation in the country and responded to other member states’ questions and recommendations. In the 26th session, Lithuania received as

Lithuanian Singer Ruslanas Kirilkinas to Perform at Rainbow Ball in Vienna

Ruslanas Kirilkinas, Lithuanian singer and the winner of „Music Academy“, will appear at the charity event „Rainbow Ball“, which will be held for the twentieth time on January 28th, 2017 in Vienna. The singer has prepared a special piece for the event – an anthem for the Lithuanian LGBT* community, which will be presented as

Dutch king meets with LGBT activists

The king of the Netherlands met with members of a Dutch LGBT advocacy group last month. King Willem-Alexander met with COC Nederland staff and volunteers in The Hague on Nov. 22. He also spoke with LGBT youth, seniors and those with bicultural or religious backgrounds. The meeting coincided with COC Nederland’s 70th anniversary. “It’s a

During a video interview for media outlet Alfa the leader of the ruling Lithuanian Peasant and Green Party Ramūnas Karbauskis insisted that his party „will not have a liberal view on same sex partnership law“. The politician further emphasized that „same sex partnerships will not be considered by the current Lithuanian Parliament“. Earlier this year