ACTION : MODELE DE LETTRE EN FRANÇAIS
On 26 June 2009, President Valdas Adamkus vetoed the “Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information”. This wide-ranging censorship law was passed by the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) on 16 June, in violation of the right to freedom of expression which is protected by international and regional human rights treaties to which Lithuania is a party. The law was widely criticized for its discriminatory restrictions on public information on homosexuality.
On 7 July, the Seimas voted to reconsider the bill, with 90 Parliamentarians voting in favour and 20 against. The Seimas will sit in plenary on Tuesday 14 July, to decide whether to overturn the Presidential veto. If the veto is overturned, the bill will become law.
One clause of the law seeks to ban materials that “agitate for homosexual, bisexual and polygamous relations” from schools or public places and media where they could be viewed by children, on the grounds that they would have a “detrimental effect on the development of minors.”
This provision could be used to prohibit any legitimate discussion of homosexuality, impede the work of human rights defenders and further the stigmatization of and prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It would institutionalize homophobia and violates the right to freedom of expression and the right to be free from discrimination.
The law classifies public information about homosexuality and bisexuality with other prohibited material that portrays physical or psychological violence, the display of dead bodies, and other clearly salacious information. The same article of the law also bans information that “encourages gambling, encourages and suggests participation in the games of chance, lotteries and other games that imply easy win”, “displays a hypnosis session” or “promotes bad eating, sanitary and physical passivity habits”.
ECRIVEZ AVANT LE 14 JUILLET : MODELE DE LETTRE EN FRANÇAIS
calling on the Speaker of the Seimas to ensure that any legislation ensures that all persons in Lithuania, including children, fully enjoy the right to freedom of expression – including the right to seek, receive and impart information, without discrimination of any kind ;
asking him to ensure that any discrimination is prohibited and to guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination, including discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity ;
urging the Speaker of the Seimas to provide adequate non-discriminatory information and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people.
