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At the 7th Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius moderated the plenary session “Women and Democracy”. During the session, Linkevičius stressed the importance of women’s role in advancing world peace and the international community’s efforts to ensure protection of women’s rights at the national and international levels.

“Undoubtedly, the role of women in advancing peace and strengthening democracy in all regions and countries around the world is priceless. Resistance to ensure women’s rights in new democracies and countries in transition only weakens the development of a vibrant civil society,” Linkevičius said.

Lithuania and the United States of America are co-chairing the Working Group on Gender Equality and Women’s Rights. The first meeting of the Working Group took place at the Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies in 2011 in Vilnius.

A high-level panel discussion with Shin Dong-hyuk, a North Korean dissident living in South Korea, was held at Lithuania’s initiative. The discussion was attended by ministers and representatives of non-governmental organizations and academic institutions, who discussed human rights violations in North Korea, as well as international community’s contribution to finding global solutions to this problem.

Linkevičius pointed out that the human rights situation in North Korea was particularly complex and there would be no obvious positive change in the near future. “North Korea is party to the core international human rights treaties and conventions; however, there has been no progress made in the field of human rights so far. It is important for the international community to make all necessary efforts to prevent crimes against humanity in this country,” the Lithuanian Foreign Minister noted.

In Ulaanbaatar, Linkevičius met with the highest-ranking Mongolian officials: the President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, the Deputy Prime Minister Dendev Terbishdagva, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Luvsanvandan Bold, the Minister for Population Development and Social Welfare Sodnomzundui Erdene, and presented the priorities of Lithuania’s incoming Presidency of the EU Council, prospects for bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister also met with representatives of Indonesia, Japan, Timor-Leste, and Kyrgyzstan to discuss topical bilateral and multilateral, political and economic issues.

The Ministerial Conference was attended by the highest-ranking representatives from 64 countries and 10 heads of international and non-governmental organizations, including the Burmese dissident and the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi, and Tawakkol Karman of Yemen, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2011.

Lithuania chaired the Community of Democracies from 2009 to 2011. Mongolia took the helm in July 2011. El Salvador assumes the Presidency of the Community of Democracies in April 2013.