28th August 2025
After examining a complaint by employees of the Ministry of Justice in Lithuania regarding the Vice Minister’s International Women’s Day greeting, the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson found a violation of the law – harassment on the grounds of gender. The Ministry was issued a warning.
Wished That “Men Would Follow in Crowds”
Employees of the Ministry of Justice filed a complaint, stating that the Vice Minister’s greeting for International Women’s Day offended their dignity and demeaned women.
The complainants shared the text of the greeting:
Dear Women of the Ministry,
Warmest greetings on the occasion of the upcoming International Women’s Day from the leadership of the Ministry — or rather, from all the men of the Ministry :)
You are wonderful — may you be happy, healthy, loved, and loving :) :) :). You are the most beautiful and interesting thing that we men… can dream of. Live, love, laugh, and… repeat it all over again! May God bless and protect you.
For the upcoming holiday, we cannot forget men… As the saying goes, man and woman are like two notes, without which the strings of the human soul cannot play a harmonious chord. May you always be the most beautiful and tender note in the chord.
Happy March 8! Don’t be shy to celebrate not only tomorrow — March 8 — but your whole life. Because you deserve it! Humor is a serious thing:
May men’s eyes always shine,
May love dwell in your hearts,
May men follow you in crowds,
And may flowers pave your way!
According to the complainants, the content of this greeting was a primitive expression of sexism. In their view, the Vice Minister perceived women in the Ministry not as professionals valued for their work and contributions, but as objects of male erotic fantasies.
Ministry Expresses Regret
In its response submitted during the investigation, the Ministry of Justice expressed sincere regret. The Minister stated that the Vice Minister had been warned, instructed to immediately undergo training on equal opportunities, violence, and harassment, and directed to carefully evaluate similar statements in the future. At the same time, the Ministry stated that the greeting had been misinterpreted and taken ambiguously.
For his part, the Vice Minister who sent the greeting said in his explanation that he regretted how his “best intentions” might have been miscommunicated. He claimed he did not intend to offend employees but had sincerely aimed to contribute to a festive atmosphere.
Harassment on Grounds of Gender Established
Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson Birutė Sabatauskaitė stressed that in this case, the focus was not on the sender’s intentions but on the effect on the recipients: “In assessing the complaint, we considered how the situation made the employees feel. Regardless of the intentions, the complainants clearly stated that these words made them feel demeaned.”
This assessment was based on the practice of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania, which emphasizes that when determining whether conduct constitutes harassment, it is necessary to consider how the behavior was perceived by the person subjected to it. In other words, even if the person engaging in the conduct did not intend to insult or create a hostile, intimidating, or degrading environment, the fact that the affected individual felt that way may be sufficient for it to be considered harassment.
According to the Ombudsperson, the context of the greeting was also important: “Wishing female civil servants on International Women’s Day that ‘men would follow them in crowds,’ even if meant as humor, crosses professional boundaries. Such a statement objectifies civil servants, stereotyping them as if they are seeking male attention in the workplace,” Sabatauskaitė explained.
The decision also notes that, according to the case law of the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania, a Vice Minister in such a position must understand his responsibility for ensuring a respectful work environment. He is obliged to act in a way that respects the dignity of other employees and to comply with the duties set out in the Constitution, the Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, and other legal acts – to ensure that employees and civil servants do not experience harassment or sexual harassment in the workplace. He must also adhere to the ethical principles established in the Law on Civic Service – to respect individuals, their rights, and not demean their dignity.
By decision of the Ombudsperson, the Ministry was warned for gender-based harassment. The investigation did not establish sexual harassment.
The Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men defines harassment on the grounds of sex as unwanted conduct related to a person’s gender that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity and of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, or offensive environment.