News

A Lithuanian Government delegation led by Vice-Minister of Justice Paulius Griciunas visited Geneva on 4-5 September 2017. The delegation took part in the consideration of the report of Lithuania at the 13th session of the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances. The delegation included representatives from the Ministries of Justice, Social Security and Labour, Interior, National Defence, General Prosecutor’s Office, Criminal Police Bureau, Prisons Department, State Mental Health Centre, and Permanent Mission of Lithuania in Geneva.

Vice-Minister Paulius Griciunas introduced Lithuanian's Report on the Implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. This Convention was ratified and entered into force in Lithuania in 2013. It was the first time that Lithuania's report was reviewed by the Committee.

The Lithuania report review was chaired by Committee member Mr. Rainer Huhle (Germany). The information provided by Lithuania was analyzed in detail by Committee’s appointed rapporteurs Suela Janina (Albania) and Emmanuel Décaux (France). Members of the Lithuanian delegation responded to additional questions concerning the application of the Convention in Lithuania. During the debates Committee members gave a positive feedback on the work completed, especially emphasizing the exhaustiveness and quality of the submitted report. Lithuania was commended for the recognition of the Committee’s competence to consider citizens’ complaints on alleged cases of enforced disappearance. Committee rapporteurs characterized the consideration of the report of Lithuania as exemplary and saw the country as a leader in the region in this field.

Based on the results of the report review, the Committee will issue recommendations to Lithuania on further measures needed in order to strengthen citizens’ protection from enforced disappearance. According to the Convention, enforced disappearance is considered to be an arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State or institutions or political organization, concealing that fact and the whereabout of the victim, seeking to ensure that the victim falls outside the protection of the law. In the Republic of Lithuania there are no recorded cases on this kind of crime.

In Geneva the delegation paid a visit to the Permanent Mission of Lithuania. The head of delegation also met with Prof. Jonas Ruškus, member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.