Šimašius’s Committee invites to discuss human rights

Is support of minorities’ rights an honest concern or a self-promotion? The LGBT’s initiative members, national minorities representatives, disabled people – second-class persons or fully fledged residents of the capital city? The Committee “For A Vilnius We Are Proud Of!” (“Už Vilnių, kuriuo didžiuojamės!”) invites for a discussion on human rights. The discussion will start at 6:15 PM on 28th of January this year (Monday), in the restaurant MO bistro Vilnius”, Pylimo 17 street, Vilnius.

As local elections approach, the issue of human rights is becoming a topical issue on the political agenda. In the team of mayor Remigijus Šimašius, “For A Vilnius We Are Proud Of!” („Už Vilnių, kuriuo didžiuojamės!”) are three candidates for whom human rights are not only a symbol, but also a way of life and a profession – as written by the organizers of the meeting.

Why do human rights enter politics? The Mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Šimašius, “the professional gay” Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, Polish lawyer Evelina Dobrovolska (Ewelina Dobrowolska) and person with disabilities Monika Ošmianskienė will answer these and other questions during the informal meeting. During the meeting, Tomas, Ewelina and Monika will talk about what and how they would like to implement if they were elected to the Vilnius City Council in the local government elections on 3rd March, 2019.

The discussion will be moderated by Jūratė Juškaitė, communication manager of the Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights (Lietuvos žmogaus teisių centras) and editor of the portal “manoteises. lt”.

“Over the past four years, Vilnius, ran by Mayor Remigijus Šimašius, has turned towards its inhabitants:

– Bilingual plaques expressing respect for national minorities and their language rights has been added in Vilnius;

– In 2016, the permission for the parade of the Baltic Pride “For Equality”, for the first time in the history of independent Lithuania, was agreed without a court;

– On Narbuta Street in Vilnius the first universal above-ground pedestrian crossing was built, friendly to all – pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities;

– The new and comfortable buses going to airport (both for disabled passengers and parents with baby carriages) now have the light boards in English” – as written by of the organizers of the meeting.