Lithuania - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 40, January 24, 2022

Recommendations by Canada

Recommendation

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Thank you, Mister President.

Canada appreciates Lithuania's continued commitment to defending human rights at home and abroad.

Canada recommends that Lithuania:

1. Develop robust procedures to ensure that hate speech and hate crimes on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religious affiliation, disability or ethnic identity are reported to authorities, and that such crimes are effectively investigated;
2. Redouble efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls by criminalizing marital rape, thoroughly investigating and prosecuting acts of violence against women, and issuing guidelines for and providing training to law enforcement and judicial officials on handling domestic violence cases in all regions;
3. Implement an inclusive concept of civil partnership in national laws to address discrimination against same-sex couples and to reduce discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression;
4. Revise its amendments to asylum legislation and regulations and the implementation of these policies to ensure compliance with its international human rights and refugee protection obligations.

This last summer, Lithuania saw 50 times the usual annual flow of asylum seekers cross its land borders. The scale of this movement of people has strained Lithuania's policies and processes for responding to their needs. We urge Lithuania to continue to adapt its procedures in accordance with its international and humanitarian obligations.