On December 4 at the Reval Hotel Lietuva, HRMI and their partners launched Human Rights Awareness Month 2006. During the event, HRMI presented the results and conclusions of the recent public opinion poll on the human rights situation in Lithuania, acknowledged the winners of the national essay competition among high school students, and recognized the first winner of the Human Rights Champion award.
In her welcome remarks, Ambassador of the Netherlands Kingdom Annemieke Ruigrok emphasized the value of human rights for democratic societies, especially in times when, in the context of the fight against terrorism, they are often confined.
The presentation of the public opinion poll, conducted in November 2006 by the public opinion and market research agency Vilmorus, revealed that Lithuanians lack information about human rights and distrust public institutions set up to provide remedies for human rights violations. About 60 percent of respondents stated that they lack information about human rights, and 2/3 of the respondents did not know where to turn for help in the case of violations.
Vladas Gaidys, Executive Director of Vilmorus, noted that almost 75 percent of the respondents believed that their rights were violated but did not seek help because they did not believe they could get any help. Speaking of the respondents who did turn for help, most of them appealed to wrong institutions, e.g. only 22 percent appealed to courts.
Asta Radvilaite, HRMI Research Director, said stressed that respondents considered mentally disabled are the most discriminated social group. This once again confirms the necessity of reforming the improper and abusive legal and institutional framework for the treatment and social care of the mentally disabled. The elderly and individuals with physical disabilities are also perceived as the most discriminated against.
Kestutis Cilinskas, HRMI Board Chair, underlined that two thirds of the respondents considered court bailiffs the most abusive institution. Other highly ranked instituations were the police and courts. “This means that the public mistrust of courts and law enforcement agencies continues,” has concluded K. Cilinskas.
Henrikas Mickevicius, HRMI Executive Director, noted that public distrust in courts resulted in the perception that the right to fair trial is the most vulnerable among civil and political rights. In conclusion, H. Mickevicius said: “Results of this public opinion poll reveal that Lithuanians lack adequate information about human rights and ways of claiming and defending them. They also distrust public institutions designed to defend human rights. This once again confirms the need for a national human rights institution in charge of shaping national human rights policies, including public education.”
Dalia Budreviciene, a former worker of Krekenavos Agrofirma, who was fired and prosecuted for going public with information about illegal payment practices by her employer has been awarded the title of the Human Rights Champion 2006. Presenting D.Budreviciene with the 5000Lt bank cheque, Tadas Vizgirda, HRMI Board member, said: “Every employee is entitled to receive the money he or she has earned. He or she can also expect that their employer will pay taxes and social contributions for the public benefit and benefit of an employee. In the case of noticed improprieties, everyone is entitled to exercise the freedom of speech and raise questions but not everyone has courage to do it.”
Earlier this year, HRMI in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science announced a national essay competition on human rights related topics for high school students. During the lanuch ceremony, the winners were presented with certificates of “Junior Human Rights Expert” and 200Lt worth gift certificates for books.
At the end of the launch ceremony, more than a hundred guests - politicians, State officials, foreign ambassadors, businessmen, NGO representatives and journalists - were invited for coffee and discussion.
HRMI expresses its gratitude for the generous support provided for the project by the Dutch Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
© 2012 Human Rights Monitoring Institute