The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council approved recommendations for Lithuania
On 1 February, at its 40th session the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council approved 232 recommendations for Lithuania in the field of human rights.
The accreditation of the Office of the Seimas Ombudsperson as the National Human Rights Institution in accordance with the Paris Principles was positively assessed during the Universal Periodic Review, conducted on 26 January 2022. States commended changes in Lithuanian legal system related to the criminalization of torture and the prohibition of corporal punishment of children.
The international community was informed on the progress made by Lithuania in the areas of protection of the rights of the child, integration of persons with disabilities, improvements made in the field of mental health, combatting domestic violence and violence against women, human trafficking.
Lithuania received questions and recommendations from 82 countries on gender equality and non-discrimination, protection of children rights and rights of persons with disabilities, women empowerment, reducing gender pay gap, Roma rights, improving conditions in prisons, situation of migrants, protection of LGBTQI+ rights, adoption of the Law on Partnership and the Law on National Minorities, prevention and prosecution of hate crimes and human trafficking, combatting domestic violence and ratification of the Istanbul Convention.
The delegation of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania decided to accept 138 recommendations, has noted six recommendations, and postponed its decision on the remaining 88 recommendations for further consultations. Lithuania's final position on the recommendations received during the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review will have to be adopted by June-July 2022, when the report of the consideration of Lithuania will be approved at the 50th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council will start in November 2022. The review of the human rights situation in Lithuania is scheduled to take place at the 54th session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council in January-February 2027.
