The Lithuanian government has approved a proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code that would require courts to provide information to child rights defenders about convictions related to child abuse cases.
This week, the Lithuanian government endorsed a conclusion from the Ministry of Justice regarding a proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code, suggested by Member of Parliament Laurynas Šedvydas. The amendment aims to address significant challenges faced by child rights defenders who often do not receive vital information about court rulings in criminal cases where representatives have been convicted of crimes against their own children, whether sexual or otherwise.
In instances where the service has not been recognized as the legal representative of the child victim, there are limitations in identifying those children who may face threats to their safety or rights. As such, they cannot effectively initiate situation assessments or protective measures following any guilty verdicts. The proposed changes intend to bridge this information gap to ensure that child rights defenders are informed of relevant court activities to better safeguard children’s welfare.
If the legislation takes effect, courts would be obligated to relay information about judicial decisions involving criminal acts against children, a requirement that is not currently stipulated in existing legal regulations. This initiative signifies a proactive step by the Lithuanian government to enhance the protection mechanisms for children, ensuring that their rights are upheld and that appropriate actions can be taken in situations of potential harm.
