News and updates on human rights developments in Lithuania and Europe
HRMI urged the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs to reject draft constitutional amendments aiming to narrow down the definition of a family to heterosexual marriage. In 2013, the amendments were initiated by 107 MPs who proposed to define a family as a marriage between a man and a woman or relations stemming from motherhood and …
Parliament Considers Draft Law Discriminating Families and LGBT Community Read More »
Today, Human Rights Monitoring Institute (HRMI) jointly with the SOS Children’s Villages Lithuania and the Centre for Equality Advancement made a submission to the UN Human Rights Council on the occasion of Lithuania’s second Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The submission expands on the human rights issues around domestic and gender-based violence, human trafficking, right to …
HRMI Contributes to Lithuania’s Universal Periodic Review Read More »
Lithuania is one of the few EU countries that still have special schools for disabled children, with homeschooling being an exceptionally common occurrence. According to the Lithuanian Disability Forum, roughly half of disabled children in Lithuania are taught in isolation. This hinders efforts to fully include them and often stands in the way of their …
When Will Lithuanian Schools Become Open to All? Read More »
“This case is not just about ethical media. It is also about the societal attitudes and behaviours that are fostered by degrading, sexist language against women. It is neither funny nor dangerous – sexism towards women is directly linked to physical and sexual violence against women and the tendency to blame the victims themselves.” Mėta …
Human Rights Monitoring Institute (HRMI) introduced its research on pre-trial detention (PTD) in Lithuania to criminal lawyers, who also actively engaged in the discussion held after the presentation. The lawyers unanimously agreed that one of the biggest shortcomings of the criminal proceedings is the absence of adversarial elements, especially in the pre-trial stage. According to …
Defence lawyers: criminal proceedings would benefit from adversarial elements Read More »
HRMI conducted wide, unique, evidence-based research on PTD decision-making process and the use of alternatives through in-depth surveys of defense practitioners, monitoring detention hearings, reviewing case files, and interviewing prosecutors and judges. “The results of the research gave a twofold impression. On the one hand, the overall assessment of the situation in Lithuania is significantly …
Pre-trial detention rates are decreasing, but problems still remain – research report Read More »
In response to the invitation from Office of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to participate in the public consultation on the prevention of human trafficking, HRMI submitted its observations and suggestions on how to combat this crime in order to improve protection of the rights of victims and to ensure successful prevention of …
HRMI Submits Proposals to Combat Human Trafficking Read More »
Dear friends and colleagues, thank you for being with us this year and for your continuous support and interest in our work! We wish you the most joyful and relaxing holiday break, and would like to invite you to remember some of the best and most interesting moments for human rights in Lithuania in 2015. …
10 Memorable Moments for Human Rights in Lithuania in 2015 Read More »
On 27 October, the Head of the Prison Department issued an Order cancelling the regulation which had unduly restricted the lawyers’ access to their clients in the liberty deprivation places. This regulation, violating the right to a fair hearing and defence, was adopted a year ago, when it was established that a lawyer must provide …
Unlawful Restrictions on Detainees’ Right to Meet Lawyer Amended Read More »
“Our research shows that the right to privacy is considered one of the most vulnerable. People are concerned about their privacy, but what can they do to better protect it?”. Natalija Bitiukova of HRMI says that even though individuals can file complaints to data protection authorities, penalties for privacy violations are low – only up …
