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At the 40th session of the Working Group of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 28 – 31 January 2022 in Geneva, Lithuania offered human rights recommendations to Moldova and South Sudan.

At the UPR of Moldova, Lithuania noted Moldova’s progress in promoting and protecting human rights. Lithuania recommended Moldova to strengthen independence of the judiciary system by ensuring transparency of appointment of judges, combating corruption and eliminating connections to organised crime, as well as to take concrete steps to improve conditions in prisons and detention facilities. Furthermore, Lithuania recommended Moldova to ensure strengthening of freedom of expression as well as media pluralism and transparency of media ownership.

At the UPR of South Sudan, Lithuania expressed its concern about the vulnerable political and security situation in the country, as well as outstanding humanitarian and human rights challenges, including widespread violence, food insecurity and shrinking civic space. Lithuania offered South Sudan recommendation to fully implement the provisions of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, and ensure the timely investigation of all allegations of serious violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law. Lithuania encouraged South Sudan to establish an official moratorium on executions with a view to abolish the death penalty, to develop and implement targeted policies and initiatives to prevent harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearance and killing of human rights defender, journalists and media workers as well as to facilitate humanitarian access and protect aid workers.

The Universal Periodic Review is a human rights mechanism that has been in place since 2008. It is considered to be one of the most successful forms of action of the United Nations Human Rights Council, ensuring equal treatment of all states. It aims to assess the overall human rights situation in each United Nations Member State, making recommendations on ensuring human rights and raising questions about continuing human rights violations. The UPR is conducted every five years and shall be open to all Members of the United Nations. The human rights situation in Lithuania was discussed three times at the United Nations UPR Working Group sessions in the past – in October 2011, in November 2016 and in January 2022.