In September, 2018 Remigijus Šimašius, the Mayor of Vilnius, recorded a video inviting the residents and quests of Vilnius to participate at the Baltic Pride March for Equality, which will take place in Vilnius on 8 June, 2019. ”Dear friends from all over the world, I am very proud to stand here in support for
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On August 10th, 2018 following a series of arson attacks directed at the premises of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL and the apartment of its co-founder and Executive Director Vladimir Simonko, a wave of solidarity amongst the LGBT community in Lithuania emerged. As such, Romas Zabarauskas, an openly gay film director in Lithuania, had
On 20th-24th August, 2018 the representatives of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL participated in an NGO exchange programme in Helsinki (Finland). During the exchange week, LGL’s communication coordinator Eglė Kuktoraitė and LGL member and volunteer Nadežda Petruchina learned about the activities of the local LGBTI organization Seta and participated in meetings with representatives of
In August, 2018 the National LGBT rights organization published educational material for LGBT activists operating in hostile environments. “Restricted Expression: Guidelines and Recommendations for LGBT activists in hostile environments” looks at legislations, both enacted and proposed, aimed at limiting the freedom of speech and expression in Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine. The publication also provides guidelines
On the 10th August, 2018 at 04.00 A. M. the entrance to the office of the National LGBT rights organization LGL was badly damaged by a vicious homophobic attack. The exterior door and door blinds were set on fire using unknown flammable substance. The LGL office is located in the central area of Vilnius. The
Ministers and representatives of the member countries of the Equal Rights Coalition have met in a global conference in Vancouver, Canada. In the conference, spanning from the 5th of August to the 7th of August, the representatives have pledged to build a world where no one is left behind – regardless of their sexual orientation,
United Nations Human Rights Committee has urged Lithuania to ensure LGBTI human rights. The Committee criticized the Law on the Protection of Minors Against the Detrimental Effects of Public Information, which unjustifiably limits freedom of speech on LGBT* matters. The Law states that underage people are harmed by such information and that it should be
In 2010 the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5 on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. All Member States including Lithuania agreed upon this Recommendation. In July, 2018 the National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL prepared a documentation report to assess what actions have
On 8th June, 2018 the representatives of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL were presented with LGBT Hero Award during an event, organized by Latvian LGBT* NGO “Mozaika” on the occasion of the “Baltic Pride 2018” festival in Riga (Latvia). The LGBT Hero Award was given to LGL as a sign of appreciation for LGL’s
On June 27th, Eglė Kuktoraitė, communications coordinator of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL, participated in a meeting with representatives from the European Commission, as well as Google+, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube, at Facebook’s Dublin headquarters. During the meeting, representatives from several European non-governmental organizations currently monitoring hate speech on social media discussed problems
From 2017, the project “Change in Business, Public Sector, Society – New Standards for Reducing Discrimination” is being implemented. One of the goals of the project is to ensure access to information for vulnerable groups: people with disabilities, the elderly, the unemployed, migrants, national minorities, LGBTI community members. Article 9 of the United Nations Convention
On 9th June, 2018 the representatives of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL joined thousands of Baltic Pride 2018 marchers and showed Lithuania’s support to the Latvian LGBT* community. The event provided with an opportunity to bring focus to LGBT human rights situation in the region. LGL representatives arrived in Riga with a special LGL