Lithuania: Possible adoption of homophobic legislation

Index Number: EUR 53/002/2009
Date Published: 19 June 2009
Categories: Lithuania

On 16 June 2009, the Lithuanian parliament (The Seimas) passed a law which includes an amendment which institutionalizes homophobia, violates the right to freedom of expression and the right to be free from discrimination. The President has ten days to decide whether or not to veto the law. Should he decide to sign the “Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public information”, an alarming national legal precedent will be set.