National minorities – still at risk of discrimination

According to recent information of Lithuanian Institute for Human Rights Monitoring, the citizens of Lithuania still do not believe in human rights protection mechanisms in their country. The Institute invokes the results of the survey on the general public opinion.

According to the results of the survey conducted from October 3rd to October 12th for the request of the Institute, as many as 66,4% of respondents do not believe that they are able to protect their rights. Nevertheless, it is worth noticing that the percentage of pessimists decreased for 10% in the last two years (in 2012, more than 77% of respondents thought that the possibility of enforcing their rights is very low).

As the Institute informs, the number of people claiming that their rights were violated in Lithuania remains stable. This is the opinion of one citizen of Lithuania in five (more than 18% in 2012 and the same number in 2014).

According to the survey, as many as 95% of the respondents who claim to have their rights violated, did not even try to protect them or claim for them (In 2012 the number of such cases was 81,80% and in 2010 – 77,70%).

Regarding the violation of rights the most (30%) reported this to police or prosecution, 26% reported it to the court, 16% to non-governmental organisation, 14% to the media and 6% to Sejm.

According to the respondents, national minorities are at the most serious risk of discrimination. They were placed in a discrimination-risk group along with the seniors, the disabled, sexual minorities, women and children.

Institute for Human Rights Monitoring commissions the surveys every two years. Their aim is to check the general public opinion on different issues, among others, human rights protection mechanisms.

Institute for Human Rights Monitoring was established in 2003 and it is a non-governmental organisation.