News and updates on human rights developments in Lithuania and Europe
To contribute to solving the problem of recognition of same-sex couples in Lithuania, three such couples have applied to the courts for the right to legalise their families. These strategic cases were initiated and financially supported by the Tolerant Youth Association. This is the first case so far in Lithuania where same-sex couples have been …
Same-sex couples will seek legalisation in the courts Read More »
The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has released its concluding observations on Lithuania’s efforts to protect economic, social, and cultural rights. While the committee welcomes positive developments such as the Constitutional Court’s ruling recognizing gender identity and sexual orientation among the prohibited grounds for discrimination and the adoption of action …
United Nations Urges Lithuania to Address Human Rights Concerns Read More »
The Vilnius Regional Administrative Court (VRAAT) in case No eI2-2077-535/2023 found that the Migration Department unlawfully and unjustifiably failed to examine an asylum application submitted by a Cuban citizen at the Lithuanian Embassy. Applicant deported to Cuba without an asylum decision The applicant fled Cuba to escape persecution by the authorities for participating in pro-democracy …
The European Court of Human Rights has handed down a significant ruling in the case of Macatė v. Lithuania, which concerns the distribution of a children’s book of fairy tales featuring same-sex relationships. The book’s distribution was halted soon after its publication in 2013 and resumed a year later only after being labelled as potentially …
The European Court of Human Rights rules against Lithuania in a freedom of speech case Read More »
We submitted comments and proposals on the draft laws amending the Law on the State Border and its Protection (LSA) and the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (LSA ). We propose to abandon the legalisation of “reversals” In our comments to the draft amendments to the ISA, we pointed out that the proposed …
HRMI has made proposals for draft laws on the rights of migrants and asylum seekers Read More »
The Vilnius Regional Administrative Court issued a ruling in case No eI2-2374-1066/202, in which it found that there is no legal basis for refusing to accept an application for a residence permit on the basis of a work contract when a person has applied for asylum in Lithuania. The applicant in the case came to …
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has published a report on its December 2021 periodic visit to Lithuania, together with the response of the Lithuanian authorities. During the visit, the Committee visited local police headquarters; arrest houses in Vilnius and Kaunas; prisons in Marijampolė, Pravieniškės, …
Berlin-Brussels-Vilnius Most EU countries made little effort to resolve documented rule of law issues, allowed existing shortcomings to go unaddressed, or even made things worse in all areas assessed, ‘Liberties Rule of Law Report 2023’ finds. Exceeding the scope of the European Commission’s annual rule of law audit, Liberties’ (a watchdog CSO that safeguards the …
We have launched a new project “Crossing the border – monitoring and advocating for the rights of migrants and asylum seekers”. The project aims to ensure the effective implementation of the rights of migrants and asylum seekers, with an emphasis on the human element, and the compliance of public policies, legislation, decisions and practices with …
Launching a new project on the rights of migrants and asylum seekers Read More »
The Human Rights Monitoring Institute has provided the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants with up-to-date information on the rights of migrants in Lithuania. The Special Rapporteur is currently working on a report on “Human rights violations at international borders: trends, prevention and accountability”. In this document, HRMI provides an overview …
HRMI provided information on migrants’ rights to the UN Special Rapporteur Read More »
