In a new report the Council of Europe Anti-racism Commission (ECRI) calls on the Lithuanian authorities to consider adopting an LGBTI equality strategy and ensure that Roma have better access to education (see also the translation of the report in Lithuanian). ECRI notes a number of positive developments since the previous monitoring of Lithuania in 2016, including in the field of inclusive education and anti-bullying prevention in schools, LGBTI equality, access of Roma to education and housing, as well as training of police officers and prosecutors on hate crime. The authorities have also made great efforts to welcome and integrate an extraordinarily high number of Ukrainians displaced as a result of Russia's war of aggression.
However, despite the progress achieved, some issues give rise to concern. As a consequence, ECRI makes a series of recommendations, including the following. ECRI recommends that the authorities significantly increase the funding for the Offices of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, the Parliamentary Ombudsperson, and the Inspector of Journalist Ethics for them to be able to effectively fulfil their mandates. A country-wide system should be set up to collect data on racist and anti-LGBTI bullying in schools.
ECRI also recommends that the authorities ensure that the necessary funding for a comprehensive coverage with Roma teaching assistants is provided. Low-threshold vocational trainings and skills-building activities for which little or no formal education is required should also be offered, taking into consideration the specific needs of Roma women.
Lithuania should better promote LGBTI equality, Roma inclusion>
