21st June 2022
Just before the Baltic Pride parade in the capital, the ombudspersons of Lithuania, Norway and Finland signed a document calling for effective protection of LGBTI+ people from discrimination.
Representatives of Lithuanian and Nordic equality and human rights institutions call on the Lithuanian authorities to take specific policy-making measures to protect same-sex families, the rights of transgender people, and LGBTI+ youth.
The public statement of the ombudspersons – independent officials protecting human rights – was signed on 2 June by Birutė Sabatauskaitė, Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, Erika Leonaitė, Seimas Ombudsperson, Bjørn Erik Thon, Equality and anti-discrimination Ombud, and Mirka Mokko, Communications Manager at the Finnish Non-Discrimination Ombudsman’s Office.
The ombudspersons also invite LGBTI+ people who have experienced discrimination to contact the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman and the Office of the Seimas Ombudsman. “Our team will be marching in the Baltic Pride parade for equality, sending a message that we care about the daily experiences of discrimination against LGBTI+ people. If you are afraid to file a complaint, just give us a call or write to us”, encourages B. Sabatauskaitė, the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson.
During the meeting of the representatives of the equality and human rights institutions the statement was signed, as well as the role of these institutions in establishing legal protection for LGBTI+ persons, the investigation of complaints of discrimination and other violations, challenges in changing the points of view of the hostile society, and opportunities for cooperation with local LGBTI+ communities were discussed.
B. Sabatauskaitė, the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman believes that in Lithuania of the 21st century the LGBTI+ community cannot be turned into the outcasts of the society. “For almost thirty years we have heard that the time is not right yet, the society is not ready, the political situation is too tense to ensure the equality of homosexuals, bisexuals, transgender people, and other people. Many excuses can be found. But all of them simply embarrassingly hide the message that someone’s equality, while guaranteed by the Constitution, is completely dependent on political will. I hope that true LGBTI+ equality is really close”, she says.
E. Leonaitė, the Seimas Ombudsperson, is convinced that ensuring the rights of LGBTI+ people is one of the conditions of modern democracy. “The fundamental provision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that all humans are born free and equal with respect to their dignity and rights. Unfortunately, in reality, we still face challenges in ensuring the equality and dignity of all members of our society. The LGBTI+ community is an important part of our society, and full respect for the rights and dignity of these people must become a self-evident part of the daily life in our democratic European state. As the head of a national human rights institution, I feel responsible for contributing to positive change, so I am very pleased to have the opportunity to share good practice with colleagues from the Nordic countries, as well as to hear the perspective of organizations representing LGBTI+ people. I believe that speaking, listening, and dialogue are extremely important means leading to respect for each person, recognition of his or her personal value, and at the same time – the opportunity to live in a truly safe and free state”, the ombudsman concludes.