Human Rights in Lithuania 2016–2017

Human Rights in Lithuania 2016–2017 CONTENTS Human Rights in Lithuania 2016–2017 Overview © Human Rights Monitoring Institute 2018 CONTENTS Editors: Karolis Liutkevičius, Erika Leonaitė, Kristina Normantaitė, Mėta Adutavičiūtė, Ugnė Grigaitė Main sponsor of the publication: Telia Lietuva The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and independent experts. The sponsors are not responsible for the information or views presented therein. ISSN 2538-8592 Barcode 9772538859009 © Human Rights Monitoring Institute, 2018 m. CONTENTS CONTENTS ABOUT US ............................................................................................................................. 5 FOREWORD .......................................................................................................................... 6 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. 9 I. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, ASSEMBLY, AND RELIGION ..............................18 Freedom of expression ......................................................................................................19 Freedom of assembly ........................................................................................................ 24 Freedom of religion ............................................................................................................27 II. PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION .............................................................................30 III. RIGHT TO PRIVATE AND FAMILY LIFE ................................................................36 Partnership .......................................................................................................................... 37 Reproductive rights and sex education ....................................................................... 42 Right to recognition of sexual identity ........................................................................ 47 IV. PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION ................................................................... 52 Age discrimination ............................................................................................................ 53 Sexual orientation discrimination .................................................................................57 Gender discrimination ..................................................................................................... 62 Disability discrimination .................................................................................................66 Religious discrimination ...................................................................................................71 Nationality and ethnicity discrimination ................................................................... 74 Institutional Guarantee of Equal Opportunities ....................................................... 79 Hate crimes ...........................................................................................................................81 CONTENTS V. RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL .............................................................................................86 Rights of suspects................................................................................................................ 87 Rights of victims ................................................................................................................. 92 VI. RIGHT TO LIBERTY ....................................................................................................96 Pre-trial detention ............................................................................................................. 97 Parole and probation .........................................................................................................99 Involuntary psychiatric hospitalization .....................................................................101 VII. DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY ................................................................................. 106 Children’s socialization centres ....................................................................................107 Prisons .................................................................................................................................110 Life imprisonment ............................................................................................................ 115 VIII. PROHIBITION OF VIOLENCE ............................................................................. 117 Domestic violence .............................................................................................................118 Violence against women and sexual harassment .....................................................122 Violence against children ...............................................................................................126 IX. HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND OTHER FORMS OF EXPLOITATION ............ 131 X. MIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS ........................................................................137 Migrant rights ................................................................................................................... 138 Rights of refugees and asylum seekers .......................................................................141 CONTENTS ABOUT US 5 ABOUT US The Human Rights Monitoring Institute is an independent, non- governmental, non-profit organisation, comprised of human rights professionals – lawyers, social and political sciences experts. Our mission is to contribute to the development of an open and democratic society by ensuring human rights and freedoms. In seeking to fulfil our mission we monitor the human rights situation in Lithuania, conduct research, draft and submit legislative proposals, submit reports to international human rights supervisory bodies, take up litigation in strategic human rights cases, and organise trainings. The Human Rights Monitoring Institute’s main areas of focus are prohibition of discrimination, crime victims’ rights, rights of suspects, accused, and convicted persons, privacy and data protection, and freedom of expression. hrmi.lt CONTENTS 6 HUMAN RIGHTS IN LITHUANIA 2016-2017 FOREWORD While reading this, far from the first, human rights overview by the HRMI I had thoughts which I would like to share with other readers. The Overview reflects Lithuania’s difficult and wind- ing path to implementing the core principles of fun- damental human rights and freedoms. When Lithuania restored its democratic and independent statehood in 1990, we received a historical oppor- tunity to adopt the best experiences of the free world. Dainius Pūras, And the best that the modern world, and especially Human Rights Monitoring Europe, had to offer was the respect for every human’s Institute shareholder rights and freedoms embedded in everyday life. All rights and freedoms are equally important. It is especially important for us here in Lithuania, after the soviet occupation, which forced totalitarian challenges and terrors upon us, to uphold the civil liberties and thwart discrimination, whichever form it might take. The beginning of this path was very successful, the independence movement, the spirit of Reform and Rebirth inspired Lithuanian citizens and authorities to adopt the best practices of liberal democ- racy. However, later it became clear that Lithuania lacked a firm resolution to align itself with the universal principles of human rights. Today it is evident, and we can see from this Overview, that there is a strong resistance among both the authorities and the pub- lic in Lithuania to the principles and practices recommended by the United Nations, the European Union, and the Council of Europe. This year, 2018, is the 70th anniversary of the world community unitedly proclaiming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This Declaration formed the basis for the United Nations conven- tions to follow, guaranteeing the rights of different groups, and also for the documents enshrining the modern European values. It is not difficult to see that the more diligent and consistent a state is implementing human rights, the better that state fares where its eco- nomic and social development is concerned, and the better quality of life for its people. CONTENTS FOREWORD 7 It is obvious that Lithuania needs more European, more, for examples’ sake, Nordic Countries’ spirit. Our northern neighbours, situ- ated not too far from us, show the whole world how much you can achieve by investing in every human’s rights and freedoms, and especially by protecting women’s and children’s rights from outdated and flawed stereotypes. No less important is protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, for example, people with disabilities, LGBTI people, from discriminatory attitudes and phobias. The painful history of humankind gives ample examples that if ordinary citizens are in- different to violations of the rights of others and those different from them, they cannot be sure that it will not be themselves next. The Overview shows that positive steps in combating frequent discrimination in Lithuania are often followed by authorities’ decisions establishing discriminatory practices. Lithuania still fares poorly in areas such as women’s rights (plans to prohibit women from decid- ing what to do with their bodies being a prime example), children’s rights, people with disabilities, especially people affected by mental disability,

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