Lithuanian parliament moves to criminalize homosexuality

Any move by the Lithuanian parliament to criminalize the promotion of homosexuality would violate the country's international obligations to uphold freedom of expression and fight discrimination, Amnesty International warned on Wednesday.

This warning comes as the Lithuanian parliament prepares to debate during its autumn session legislative amendments that would criminalise the "promotion of homosexual relations in public places".

"These proposals are a new low in Lithuania's slide to state-sponsored homophobia," said Nicola Duckworth, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director.

If adopted, they would permit the prosecution of an extremely wide variety of activities, including campaigning on human rights issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity, providing sexual health information to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people or the organization of gay film festivals, or Pride events.

"Anyone detained under the proposed amendment to the Penal Code would be considered by Amnesty International to be a prisoner of conscience," said Nicola Duckworth.

The proposed amendments follow the adoption in July this year of the discriminatory "Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information". This law bans materials that "agitate for homosexual, bisexual and polygamous relations" from schools or public places and media where they could be viewed by children. The new amendments go even further as they would potentially criminalise almost any public expression or portrayal of, or information about, homosexuality.

The amendments would effectively prevent LGBT people from accessing the appropriate information, support and protection to enable them to live with their sexual orientation and gender identity. They are also likely to lead to increased discrimination and other human rights abuses, in a range of areas, including employment and the access to goods and services.

"Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin wall, the Lithuanian parliament is turning the clock back by imposing draconian limitations on the flow of information and the freedom of expression and stigmatising part of the population," Nicola Duckworth said.

"It is hard to believe that a member of the European Union should even be considering the adoption of such legislation."

"Parliamentarians, as the elected representatives of the people, should be the leading force in safeguarding the rights of all and respecting the country's international obligations."(EOM)