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The Lithuania-based Human Rights Monitoring Institute (HRMI) presented an annual human rights award to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius. The award is presented on the international Human Rights Day, 10 December.

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

Over a decade of Lithuania’s membership of the European Union, Lithuania has demonstrated its determination together with the entire EU to promote human rights and democracy, implementing the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Lithuania’s diplomats in the United Nations Security Council and other institutions have consistently called on an effective implementation of human rights and freedoms, strengthening of peace, security, democracy, and prevention of aggression. Today, we are particularly concerned about the ongoing violence and deteriorating human rights in eastern Ukraine and illegally annexed Crimea. Lithuania has constantly called for joint efforts aimed to stop aggression against Ukraine and to resolve the crisis in a peaceful manner.

Lithuania’s activities and experience in the field of human rights were evaluated by the international community this year. For the first time in our country’s history, even three well-known Lithuanian experts became part of the UN’s system of human rights protection: Professor Jonas Ruškus was elected as a Member of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Professor Mr. Dainius Pūras was appointed a Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, Professor Dalia Leinartė continued to work at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

Lithuania also took a significant step in its foreign policy by deciding to seek membership of the main UN human rights body - the Human Rights Council for the 2022-2024 period.

Lithuania is committed to respect its international obligations to promote and protect human rights around the world. Lithuania will continue to act on the international arena and seek to reinforce the principles of universality and indivisibility of human rights, and will promote freedom, democracy and the rule of law in every possible way.