Human Rights Law at Lithuania
Lithuania's human rights framework is anchored in its Constitution, international commitments, and active civil society engagement. Here's an overview:
š±š¹ Constitutional Protections
Lithuania's Constitution, adopted in 1992 and amended in 2019, enshrines fundamental rights:
Human Dignity: Article 21 prohibits torture, inhuman treatment, and degradation of dignity.
Privacy Rights: Article 22 safeguards personal life, correspondence, and communications.
Freedom of Expression: Article 25 guarantees the right to freely express opinions and receive information.
Equality Before the Law: Article 29 ensures all persons are equal before the law, prohibiting discrimination based on gender, race, nationality, language, origin, social status, belief, convictions, or views.
Right to Fair Trial: Articles 31 and 32 provide rights to a public and fair hearing, presumption of innocence, and protection from self-incrimination. (Lithuania 1992 (rev. 2019) Constitution - Constitute, Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania | European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, Lithuania, WIPO Lex)
š International Commitments
Lithuania is a party to major international human rights treaties:
European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR): Ratified in 1995.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Ratified in 1992.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD): Ratified in 1998.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): Ratified in 1994.
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC): Ratified in 1995.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Ratified in 2018.
Istanbul Convention: Signed in 2013; ratification is pending due to constitutional concerns. (Istanbul Convention)
Lithuania has also served as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2022ā2024 term, focusing on promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms. (Lithuaniaās Candidacy to the Human Rights Council 2022-2024 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania)
āļø Legal Framework and Enforcement
Lithuania's legal system upholds human rights through:
Constitutional Court: Ensures compliance with the Constitution and adjudicates on constitutional matters.
Judicial Council of Lithuania: Oversees the independence and self-governance of the judiciary.
Human Rights Monitoring Institute: An independent NGO that monitors and reports on human rights issues, including gender-based violence, hate crimes, and discrimination. (Judicial Council of Lithuania)
ā ļø Ongoing Human Rights Challenges
Despite these protections, Lithuania faces several human rights challenges:
LGBTQ+ Rights: In December 2024, the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional a provision of the Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information, which prohibited the dissemination of public information portraying same-sex relationships as equivalent to opposite-sex relationships. This decision aligns with the European Court of Human Rights' judgment in the Macate v. Lithuania case, affirming the right to freedom of expression. (Lithuania: Law imposing restrictions on information on same sex relationships is unconstitutional - Department for the Execution of Judgmentsof the European Court of Human Rights)
Landmine Ban Treaty: In April 2025, Lithuania announced plans to withdraw from the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, citing security threats from Russia. This decision has raised concerns among human rights and humanitarian organizations about the potential humanitarian impact of reintroducing landmines. (Campaigners sound alarm as European nations move to exit landmine ban)
For more detailed information or assistance regarding human rights issues in Lithuania, you may contact the Human Rights Monitoring Institute at info@hrmi.lt or visit their website at hrmi.lt.
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