Naujienos

Birželio 5 d. Ženevoje vykstančios Jungtinių Tautų Žmogaus teisių tarybos 23-osios sesijos metu, Lietuvos Nuolatinis atstovas prie JT biuro ir kitų tarptautinių organizacijų ambasadorius Rytis Paulauskas diskusijoje apie moterų teises pabrėžė, jog smurtas prieš moteris paliečia moteris nepriklausomai nuo kultūrinių, religinių ar ekonominių skirtumų ir tai gali būti įvairių formų. Smurtas prieš moteris yra rimta problema, kuri kelia susirūpinimą ir todėl turi būti panaikinta.

Pateikiame pilną pasisakymo tekstą. 

Statement by Permanent Representative of Lithuania

H.E. Ambassador Rytis Paulauskas

23^rd Session of the Human Rights Council

Geneva, 5 June, 2013

Annual full-day discussion on Women’s Human Rights

Panel 1: Tacking stock of efforts to eliminate violence against women, from the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action to the 57^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

 Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Lithuania thanks the OHCHR for organising this panel discussion which gives us the opportunity to further highlight the issue of violence against women in the work of the Human Rights Council. We would also like to thank the panellists for their insightful presentations.

Violence against women is one of the most flagrant violations of human rights. It touches women irrespectively of cultural, religious, economic or geographic backgrounds across all countries. It can happen in every area of life – more often at home, but also at work, school, on the street or in the media – and it can take different forms. Violence against women is a serious issue of concern and therefore elimination of it must be a priority for all of us.

In order to combat violence against women effectively all relevant actors must implement consistent and comprehensive measures: from the criminalisation of all acts of violence against women and girls, to comprehensive preventive and protective measures. In this context I would like to share the experience of our country.

Lithuania attaches great importance to full and effective implementation of women’s rights, referring, first of all to The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Millennium Development Goals and Beijing Platform for Action. I am glad to mention, that in 2012 Lithuanian representative became a CEDAW member for the first time.

Lithuania applies a holistic approach towards the issue of violence against women. Our National Strategy for Elimination Violence against Women, adopted in 2006, sets out such priority areas as improvement of legal framework; comprehensive assistance and support  to victims; sanctions to perpetrators; public education and awareness.

We have improved legal framework by adopting the new Law on Protection against Domestic Violence which took effect in 2011. This law aims to protect all victims of domestic violence, but we pay particular attention to women and girls. The Law defines a broad concept of domestic violence. It covers action and inaction which makes intentional physical, psychological, sexual, economic or other effects to person incurring physical, material or non-pecuniary damage. Due to its damage domestic violence is attributed to the category of offenses of public importance.

A significant innovation, determined by this Law is that a police officer, having recorded case of domestic violence, is obliged to take immediate measures to protect the abused person and to initiate an investigation without submission of an official complaint. Therefore perpetrators can be subject to immediate measures, such as removal from home, as well as prohibition of approach, communication and contacts with the victim.

Lithuanian Law on Protection against Domestic Violence also provides framework for the creation of specialized assistance centres which offer integrated assistance services to the victims, including psychological and legal help. Although notable results have been reached in our country, we are well aware that we have to proceed with our work eliminating violence against women and girls.

Madam Chairperson,

Various protection mechanisms have been put in place at international, regional and national levels and play an important role in the elimination of violence against women.

In this light, Lithuania would be interested to hear the views of the panellists on coordination and cooperation among different international and regional actors in order to address the remaining and emerging challenges for the elimination of violence against women.

Thank you.