Human Rights Monitoring Institute

The Human Rights Monitoring Institute announces that for her outstanding work in promotion and protection of children's rights Mrs Rimante Salaseviciute, Children‘s Rights Ombudsperson, won the annual Human Rights Champion Award.  

According to Dainius Puras, HRMI Chair of the Board and Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Ombudswoman has been exceptionally active and innovative in promoting and protecting children’s rights in Lithuania. Mrs Rimante Salasevicute has proposed numerous amendments to relevant legislations. She has taken special care of the rights of the most vulnerable groups of children, in particular of those being disabled and living in special care institutions. In Dainius Puras opinion, Rimante Salaseviciute has been promoting the children’s rights in Lithuania in deed and not in name.

“For the first time in Lithuania we have a Children's Rights Ombudswoman who has been communicating with children and has been keeping her ears open to their opinions. Rimante Salaseviciute is considered one of the best children's rights ombudsperson in Europe and her recent election as the President of the European Network of Children's Rights Ombudspersons is a solid confirmation of this“, emphasized D. Puras.

Rimante Salaseviciute was appointed the Children's Rights Ombudsperson in January 2005. The same year on, she was elected a member of the European Ombudspersons Institute. On 25th September 2009 Mrs Rimante Salaseviciute was elected the President of the European Network of Children's Rights Ombudspersons.

The Human Rights Champion 2009 has been announced by Dainius Puras and the first good will human rights ambassador Nomeda Marcenaite during the popular TV show “Good Morning” broadcasted by Lithuanian National Television on 10th December.