Lithuanian MFA Political Director Addresses Human Rights Council in Geneva
On 27 February 2019, at the High-Level segment of the 40th session of the Human Rights Council held in Geneva, the Political Director of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Asta Skaisgirytė reaffirmed Lithuania’s commitment to human rights and expressed strong support to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and her mandate.
In pursuing its campaign for a first-time membership in the Human Rights Council during the period of 2022-2024, Lithuania attaches a particular priority to gender equality, rights of women and girls, safety of journalists and human rights defenders, rights of the child, rights of the persons with disabilities, freedoms of expression, assembly and association. Ambassador Asta Skaisgirytė drew the attention of international community to the persecution of members of the LGBTI community in Chechnya, human rights violations and abuses in Russia-controlled areas of Ukraine and Georgia, and to the access denial to international human rights monitoring mechanisms.
The Geneva-based Human Rights Council was established in 2006 by the UN General Assembly. Its 47 members are elected from among the UN Member States. Lithuania takes part in the work of the HRC as an observer. Lithuania has presented its candidacy to the Human Rights Council for the term 2022-2024.
