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17 January 2001
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CRC
26th session
17 January 2001
Morning
Social and Economic Changes Improving Children's Rights, Delegation Says
The Committee on the Rights of the Child began this morning its consideration of an initial report presented by Lithuania by hearing a Government delegation say that the social and economic changes in the country had improved the protection and promotion of children and their rights.
Introducing the report, Rimantas Kairelis, Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania, said his country's democratic, social and economic success had improved the security of children, their protection and the promotion of their rights. He said the Constitution provided that the rights of children were protected by the State and that their health and compulsory education were taken care of by the family and the State.
Mr. Kairelis stated that last year, a law had been adopted by the country's parliament for the establishment of the office of the Ombudsman on the rights of the child which was designed to protect the rights of the child and monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The discussion during the meeting focused on the main subjects of general measures of implementation of the Convention; general principles and civil rights and freedoms.
In the course of the discussion, the 10-member Committee queried the delegation, among other things, on the status of children born out of wedlock; about the dissemination of the Convention; the powers of the newly established office of the Ombudsman; and the social security system.
In addition to Mr. Kairelis, the delegation of Lithuania was made up of Algimantas Rimkunas, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Grazina Imbrasiene, Ombudsman for the Protection of the Rights of the Child; Borisovas, Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Lithuania at Geneva; and Audra Mikalauskaite, Head of the Family and Child Office of the Social Support Department of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
Also, Arunas Pliksnys, Director of the Department of Comprehansive Education of the Ministry of Education and Science; Kristina Barakauskienc, Head of the Law and Foreign Relations Division of the Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior; Ausrine Armonavicienc, Senior Specialist on the Secondary and Tertiary Health Care Division of the Ministry of Health; and Antanas Jatkevicius, Assistant of the Office of the Protection of Child and Juvenile Delinquency of the Criminological Research Division of the Law Institute.
As one of the 191 States to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Lithuania is obliged to present the Committee with reports on its efforts to give effect to the provisions of the treaty.
The Committee will conclude its public consideration of the report of Lithuania when it reconvenes at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
Initial Report of Lithuania
The initial report of Lithuania (document CRC/C/11/Add.21) enumerates the efforts of the Government in implementing measures designed to promote and respect the rights of children. It notes that the Convention was translated into Lithuanian and that the country's laws are already being adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the treaty. In 1996, a law on the fundamentals of protection of the rights of the child was adopted by the parliament to strengthen the protection of children's rights in the country. The law ensures basic rights, freedoms and duties of the child, and guarantees the protection of these rights and freedoms.
After Lithuania promulgated the Act of Independence in March 1990, the economic and social situation began to change rapidly, the report says. At the beginning of the transition period, democratic traditions were still weak and laws protecting children's rights were lacking; fundamental economic and social transformations have affected children; however, newly developed policies and structures have strengthened children’s legal, social and emotional well-being in the society.
The report further notes that in order to coordinate the activities of the various institutions dealing with child rights, a Council for Children's Affairs was established under the jurisdiction of the President of the Republic. A strong emphasis has been put on the policy of consolidation of children's rights and freedoms in the 1997-2000 action programme; a law on State benefits to families with children has been adopted; a programme of prevention of juvenile delinquency has been approved; and a new family code is under preparation, among other things.
The spread of drugs and drug addiction among young people is considered by the Lithuanian Government as one of the most painful social scourges and calamities, the report says; a national programme of drug control and prevention of drug abuse is under preparation; and an action plan for drug control and prevention of drug abuse is being implemented. In addition, there are about 100 non-governmental organizations and foundations protecting the rights of children and representing their interests.
According to the report, the majority age is 18 years; education is compulsory for persons under the age of 16; children under 14 years are not allowed to take employment; and children below the age of 15 are defended in court by their representatives or guardians. Children of foreign origin and those without citizenship are guaranteed the rights as provided for in the Convention without any discrimination; and the same applies to refugee children.
The report says that the number of single-parent families is growing annually in Lithuania; there are about 600,000 families with children; the number of children under 18 years of age had reached 945,000; eighty per cent of children live with both parents, while 130,000 children live with the mother, and around 15,000 with the father; 13,000 orphaned or neglected children live in child-care establishments.
Introduction of Report
RIMANTAS KAIRELIS, Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania, said his country's democratic, social and economic success had improved the security of children, their protection and the promotion of their rights, including their ability to freely express their opinion and participate in social life. One of the Government's priorities was the assurance of the well-being of children residing in the country. The Constitution provided for the rights of children to be protected by the State and that their health care and compulsory education be taken care of by the family and the State.
The national budget expenditures of 1999 showed that allocations for social needs of children and families made up about 50 per cent of the annual budget allocated for social affairs, Mr. Kairelis went on to state.
As in many other former communist countries, Lithuania's transition from the planned economy to the new democratic management, as well as the creation of the market economy, had been an ordeal for the politicians, Mr. Kairelis said. The changes demanded determination and resolution from all the inhabitants of the country. Social and economic changes had affected the security of many families, including children.
In order to ensure the implementation of the principles of the Convention, the Government of Lithuania had established a National Service of Protection of the Rights of the Child under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, Mr. Kairelis continued to say. At the same time, municipal services were established at every municipality which had 60 offices and 230 employees.
Mr. Kairelis announced that last year, a law had been adopted by the country's parliament on the establishment of the office of the Ombudsman on the rights of the child. The office was designed to protect the rights of children and monitor the implementation of the Convention.
In the course of the last several years, the Government had paid attention to the special support of children deprived of parental care, the Deputy Minister said. Attempts had been made for legal and financial assistance for the fostering families instead of putting the children under institutional care. During the last two years, 50 per cent of children deprived of parental care were moved to live with foster families.
In addition, the national poverty reduction concept and the action plan of the Government, which was approved last year, focused on improving children's rights and social security of families, Mr. Kairelis said. Children's security still remained an important policy to the Government. Further, the Government had approved a national programme against commercial and sexual exploitation of children, which advocated considerable measures in order to elucidate the scope of the phenomenon. However, the problem also demanded national and international efforts to ensure that children were protected from violence and sexual abuse.
Discussion
Discussion focused on the main subjects of the general measures of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; general principles and civil rights and freedoms. Committee members queried the delegation on a number of issues.
What measures were taken to raise awareness of the rights of the child within the family, asked an Expert. Did the Convention include it in the educational curriculum and disseminate it to the general public?
Another Expert said the report did not indicate who the real political person was in chaRge of the protection and promotion of the rights of children. There had to be a political personality to pursue the activities pertaining to the rights of the child. The same Expert wanted to know if children born out of wedlock enjoyed the same rights as children born within the wedlock.
Did the office of the Ombudsman function independently of other Government organs, asked an Expert. Was the Ombudsman reporting to parliament or to the Government? Was the initial report of Lithuania widely available to the general public? And did non-governmental organizations participate in the preparation of the report and in the promotion and protection of children?
Asylum-seekers in Lithuania were detained immediately upon their arrival, commented another Expert, and wanted to know if children were among the detainees. What was the situation of Russian children living in Lithuania?
Fifty-four per cent of families with children below 18 years of age had lower incomes, an Expert said. What was the amount allocated for social insurance to families in that category? Was the Convention incorporated in the educational system? Were children allowed to express their opinions on the provisions of the Convention?
Responding to questions raised by Committee Experts, the members of the Lithuanian delegation said that it had only been two months since the office of the Ombudsman was established. During its short existence it had already received about 20 cases concerning the rights of the child. The media had placed special focus on the Ombudsman and its set up had been widely publicised. The Ombudsman had so far been contacted by schools and homes for children.
The Ombudsman had the right to investigate violations of rights of the child and to receive information on such issues, the delegation said. Further, sufficient rights were given to the Ombudsman to take any initiative concerning children. The Ombudsman could also initiate a
legislative act regarding the promotion and protection of children's rights. The Lithuanian public had welcomed the establishment of the office. The law adopted in May 2000 regulated the activities of the status and structure of the institution of the Ombudsman on children's rights.
The new civil code was adopted in July 2000 and would come into force after one year of its issuance, the delegation said. The code included the family law book which would replace the old marriage and family code. Further, the new penal code was adopted last September and it harmonized with the criminal procedure and administrative offences. The new penal code contained provisions on criminal responsibility of juveniles and crimes against the child and family.
Special juvenile criminal courts had been established and next year, a family court would be set up, the delegation said. The old criminal provisions provided imprisonment as the last resort for juvenile criminals. At present, there were about 350 juvenile prisoners in detention centres. Once the legislative structure was accomplished in the coming years, the provisions of the Convention could be invoked directly by courts.
Under its programme on international cooperation, in 1998, the Lithuanian Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), had started a reform of its juvenile criminal justice system, the delegation said. All structures related to the juvenile criminal justice would be affected by the reform, including the police and the correctional institutions.
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26th session
17 January 2001
Morning
Social and Economic Changes Improving Children's Rights, Delegation Says
The Committee on the Rights of the Child began this morning its consideration of an initial report presented by Lithuania by hearing a Government delegation say that the social and economic changes in the country had improved the protection and promotion of children and their rights.
Introducing the report, Rimantas Kairelis, Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania, said his country's democratic, social and economic success had improved the security of children, their protection and the promotion of their rights. He said the Constitution provided that the rights of children were protected by the State and that their health and compulsory education were taken care of by the family and the State.
Mr. Kairelis stated that last year, a law had been adopted by the country's parliament for the establishment of the office of the Ombudsman on the rights of the child which was designed to protect the rights of the child and monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The discussion during the meeting focused on the main subjects of general measures of implementation of the Convention; general principles and civil rights and freedoms.
In the course of the discussion, the 10-member Committee queried the delegation, among other things, on the status of children born out of wedlock; about the dissemination of the Convention; the powers of the newly established office of the Ombudsman; and the social security system.
In addition to Mr. Kairelis, the delegation of Lithuania was made up of Algimantas Rimkunas, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Grazina Imbrasiene, Ombudsman for the Protection of the Rights of the Child; Borisovas, Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Lithuania at Geneva; and Audra Mikalauskaite, Head of the Family and Child Office of the Social Support Department of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
Also, Arunas Pliksnys, Director of the Department of Comprehansive Education of the Ministry of Education and Science; Kristina Barakauskienc, Head of the Law and Foreign Relations Division of the Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior; Ausrine Armonavicienc, Senior Specialist on the Secondary and Tertiary Health Care Division of the Ministry of Health; and Antanas Jatkevicius, Assistant of the Office of the Protection of Child and Juvenile Delinquency of the Criminological Research Division of the Law Institute.
As one of the 191 States to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Lithuania is obliged to present the Committee with reports on its efforts to give effect to the provisions of the treaty.
The Committee will conclude its public consideration of the report of Lithuania when it reconvenes at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
Initial Report of Lithuania
The initial report of Lithuania (document CRC/C/11/Add.21) enumerates the efforts of the Government in implementing measures designed to promote and respect the rights of children. It notes that the Convention was translated into Lithuanian and that the country's laws are already being adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the treaty. In 1996, a law on the fundamentals of protection of the rights of the child was adopted by the parliament to strengthen the protection of children's rights in the country. The law ensures basic rights, freedoms and duties of the child, and guarantees the protection of these rights and freedoms.
After Lithuania promulgated the Act of Independence in March 1990, the economic and social situation began to change rapidly, the report says. At the beginning of the transition period, democratic traditions were still weak and laws protecting children's rights were lacking; fundamental economic and social transformations have affected children; however, newly developed policies and structures have strengthened children’s legal, social and emotional well-being in the society.
The report further notes that in order to coordinate the activities of the various institutions dealing with child rights, a Council for Children's Affairs was established under the jurisdiction of the President of the Republic. A strong emphasis has been put on the policy of consolidation of children's rights and freedoms in the 1997-2000 action programme; a law on State benefits to families with children has been adopted; a programme of prevention of juvenile delinquency has been approved; and a new family code is under preparation, among other things.
The spread of drugs and drug addiction among young people is considered by the Lithuanian Government as one of the most painful social scourges and calamities, the report says; a national programme of drug control and prevention of drug abuse is under preparation; and an action plan for drug control and prevention of drug abuse is being implemented. In addition, there are about 100 non-governmental organizations and foundations protecting the rights of children and representing their interests.
According to the report, the majority age is 18 years; education is compulsory for persons under the age of 16; children under 14 years are not allowed to take employment; and children below the age of 15 are defended in court by their representatives or guardians. Children of foreign origin and those without citizenship are guaranteed the rights as provided for in the Convention without any discrimination; and the same applies to refugee children.
The report says that the number of single-parent families is growing annually in Lithuania; there are about 600,000 families with children; the number of children under 18 years of age had reached 945,000; eighty per cent of children live with both parents, while 130,000 children live with the mother, and around 15,000 with the father; 13,000 orphaned or neglected children live in child-care establishments.
Introduction of Report
RIMANTAS KAIRELIS, Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania, said his country's democratic, social and economic success had improved the security of children, their protection and the promotion of their rights, including their ability to freely express their opinion and participate in social life. One of the Government's priorities was the assurance of the well-being of children residing in the country. The Constitution provided for the rights of children to be protected by the State and that their health care and compulsory education be taken care of by the family and the State.
The national budget expenditures of 1999 showed that allocations for social needs of children and families made up about 50 per cent of the annual budget allocated for social affairs, Mr. Kairelis went on to state.
As in many other former communist countries, Lithuania's transition from the planned economy to the new democratic management, as well as the creation of the market economy, had been an ordeal for the politicians, Mr. Kairelis said. The changes demanded determination and resolution from all the inhabitants of the country. Social and economic changes had affected the security of many families, including children.
In order to ensure the implementation of the principles of the Convention, the Government of Lithuania had established a National Service of Protection of the Rights of the Child under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, Mr. Kairelis continued to say. At the same time, municipal services were established at every municipality which had 60 offices and 230 employees.
Mr. Kairelis announced that last year, a law had been adopted by the country's parliament on the establishment of the office of the Ombudsman on the rights of the child. The office was designed to protect the rights of children and monitor the implementation of the Convention.
In the course of the last several years, the Government had paid attention to the special support of children deprived of parental care, the Deputy Minister said. Attempts had been made for legal and financial assistance for the fostering families instead of putting the children under institutional care. During the last two years, 50 per cent of children deprived of parental care were moved to live with foster families.
In addition, the national poverty reduction concept and the action plan of the Government, which was approved last year, focused on improving children's rights and social security of families, Mr. Kairelis said. Children's security still remained an important policy to the Government. Further, the Government had approved a national programme against commercial and sexual exploitation of children, which advocated considerable measures in order to elucidate the scope of the phenomenon. However, the problem also demanded national and international efforts to ensure that children were protected from violence and sexual abuse.
Discussion
Discussion focused on the main subjects of the general measures of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; general principles and civil rights and freedoms. Committee members queried the delegation on a number of issues.
What measures were taken to raise awareness of the rights of the child within the family, asked an Expert. Did the Convention include it in the educational curriculum and disseminate it to the general public?
Another Expert said the report did not indicate who the real political person was in chaRge of the protection and promotion of the rights of children. There had to be a political personality to pursue the activities pertaining to the rights of the child. The same Expert wanted to know if children born out of wedlock enjoyed the same rights as children born within the wedlock.
Did the office of the Ombudsman function independently of other Government organs, asked an Expert. Was the Ombudsman reporting to parliament or to the Government? Was the initial report of Lithuania widely available to the general public? And did non-governmental organizations participate in the preparation of the report and in the promotion and protection of children?
Asylum-seekers in Lithuania were detained immediately upon their arrival, commented another Expert, and wanted to know if children were among the detainees. What was the situation of Russian children living in Lithuania?
Fifty-four per cent of families with children below 18 years of age had lower incomes, an Expert said. What was the amount allocated for social insurance to families in that category? Was the Convention incorporated in the educational system? Were children allowed to express their opinions on the provisions of the Convention?
Responding to questions raised by Committee Experts, the members of the Lithuanian delegation said that it had only been two months since the office of the Ombudsman was established. During its short existence it had already received about 20 cases concerning the rights of the child. The media had placed special focus on the Ombudsman and its set up had been widely publicised. The Ombudsman had so far been contacted by schools and homes for children.
The Ombudsman had the right to investigate violations of rights of the child and to receive information on such issues, the delegation said. Further, sufficient rights were given to the Ombudsman to take any initiative concerning children. The Ombudsman could also initiate a
legislative act regarding the promotion and protection of children's rights. The Lithuanian public had welcomed the establishment of the office. The law adopted in May 2000 regulated the activities of the status and structure of the institution of the Ombudsman on children's rights.
The new civil code was adopted in July 2000 and would come into force after one year of its issuance, the delegation said. The code included the family law book which would replace the old marriage and family code. Further, the new penal code was adopted last September and it harmonized with the criminal procedure and administrative offences. The new penal code contained provisions on criminal responsibility of juveniles and crimes against the child and family.
Special juvenile criminal courts had been established and next year, a family court would be set up, the delegation said. The old criminal provisions provided imprisonment as the last resort for juvenile criminals. At present, there were about 350 juvenile prisoners in detention centres. Once the legislative structure was accomplished in the coming years, the provisions of the Convention could be invoked directly by courts.
Under its programme on international cooperation, in 1998, the Lithuanian Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), had started a reform of its juvenile criminal justice system, the delegation said. All structures related to the juvenile criminal justice would be affected by the reform, including the police and the correctional institutions.
* *** *