Minister of Foreign Affairs: Respect for human rights – an integral part of the foreign policy of Lithuania

On 10th of December the world celebrates Human Rights Day. This year, the title of “Preacher of Human Rights” was given to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius. The initiator of the awards is the Lithuanian Human Rights Monitoring Institute.

“The active involvement of Lithuania in the activities of international institutions dealing with human rights shows that the promotion of human rights is an integral part of Lithuania’s foreign policy” – said the Minister.

“Over the decades Lithuania’s membership in the EU Lithuania his actions proved that it is ready with the entire Union to promote human rights and democracy, that they implemented the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” – reads the Lithuanian Ministry of Human Rights.

According to representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in this context, recalling the events in Ukraine, Lithuanian diplomats in the international arena is constantly calling for ensuring human rights and freedoms, the strengthening of peace, security and democracy, prevention of aggression.

For recognition by the international community of Lithuania contribution to the protection of human rights Foreign Ministry believes the appointment of three experts from Lithuania for positions in the UN human rights system; neither. We remind you that the Lithuanian Jonas Ruškus professor was a member of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, professor Dainius Puras – the Special Rapporteur of the UN. Health and professor Dalia Leinart – a member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women of the United Nations.

Today, on Human Rights Day in Gdansk an exhibition of actions to protect the language rights of Poles in Lithuania.

Lithuania is constantly criticized for its failure to comply with the rights of national minorities. Violation of representatives of national communities Lithuanian authorities allege not only living in the country minorities, but also representatives of the Polish and European and international organizations for protection of human rights.