CYIL vol. 15 (2024)

VIOLETA VASILIAUSKIENĖ, BIRUTĖ PRANEVIČIENĖ Lithuanian Government has submitted the combined second and third periodic reports on 15 February 2021 65 . On the question of prevention of violence in institutions of social care, the report indicates that Lithuania has adopted the Recommendations to prevent violence and sexual abuse against children with disabilities and adults in care institutions were developed, which will be implemented in social care institutions, following the recommendations indicated by the Committee in the previous reporting cycle. This is in accordance with paragraph 18(a) of the CRPD/C/LTU/CO/1 66 . Furthermore, Lithuania outlined that training “Recognition of sexual abuse against children, including children with disabilities, identification of cases and organisation of assistance” was organised. 317 professionals in the field of child well-being took part in the training. 67 In providing information about Article 15, the Government of Lithuania underscored the criminal law measures which protect all persons from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The report notes that “acts of torture or cruel treatment are in principle a qualification attribute to the composition of all major violent crimes. The [Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania] criminalises separately the element qualifying the causing physical pain or minor health impairment – where physical pain or minor health impairment is caused by torturing a victim. The CRP provides separately for criminal liability for prohibited biomedical research involving a human being or a human embryo. If any crime (including all other violent crimes) is committed by torturing or taunting a victim, that circumstance is considered to be a circumstance aggravating criminal liability and such an act would be punishable more severely.” 68 Thus no special measures facilitating the access to criminal justice for persons with disability or those persons with disability who reside in social care institutions were not reported. Reporting on Article 16, Lithuanian Government reported 69 on strengthening the fight against trafficking in human beings; strengthening the response to hate crimes and hate speech; other training of police officers and prosecutors (including training regarding ensuring the needs of persons with psychosocial disabilities in civil and criminal proceedings, and communication with persons with disabilities); protection of persons with disability from domestic violence; protection of pupils in schools from violence and bullying. On 31 March 2023, the Committee has requested in the list of issues 70 from the Government to provide information about measures taken to ensure the protection of persons with disabilities, including women, children and older persons with disabilities, from exploitation, 65 Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ‘Combined second and third periodic reports submitted by Lithuania under article 35 of the Convention, due in 2020’ CRPD/C/LTU/2-3 accessed 14 June 2024, para. 76. 66 Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ‘Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 35 of the Convention. Initial reports of States parties due in 2012. Lithuania’ CRPD/C/ LTU/1 accessed 14 June 2024, para. 18a. 67 Combined second and third periodic reports n (65), para. 76.

68 Ibid, paras. 136–137. 69 Ibid, paras. 138–151.

70 Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ‘List of issues in relation to the combined second and third periodic reports of Lithuania’ CRPD/C/LTU/Q/2-3 accessed 14 June 2024.

90