Gay Travel Advisory

Lithuania

Code of Administrative Violations of Law

Sources
  1. Text of the law is available at: https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/TAR.817CC58C1A54/TAIS_410367

Legal Code Text

In January 2014, the Lithuanian Parliament introduced amendments to the Code of Administrative Violations of Law (at Section 214 and elsewhere) penalising activities or publication that violate so-called constitutionally-established family values. These amendments were enacted in the context of the Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information that came into effect in March 2010.

In Macate v. Lithuania (Jan. 2023), the European Court of Human Rights found that Lithuania's restriction on minors' access to information about same-sex relationships (Law No. XI-594, 2009, amending the Law on the Protection of Minors) breached the right to freedom of expression. In response, Lithuania's government proposed a repeal bill (Bill No. XIVP-3270, Oct. 2023), but the Seimas (parliament) rejected it in November 2023. The government then referred the law to the Constitutional Court, which began reviewing it in February 2024 (outcome pending as of report cutoff).

SCRUFF Travel Notes

LGBTI Travelers: The LGBTI community is protected by anti-discrimination laws. However, members of the LGBTI community have experienced verbal and sometimes physical harassment.