VILNIUS, June 6, 2008  –  An amendment by Lithuanian Prime Minister Egidijus Klumbys to exclude sexuality from the draft law on equal opportunities has been approved by the country’s parliament, the Seimas.

In addition, age and disability have been removed from the original draft.

European Commission Directive 2000/78/EC obliges member states to ensure that people complaining of discriminatory behaviour in their respect based on their age, disability and sexual orientation should have the right to get support and be represented by relevant trade unions or expert organisations or associations.

In addition, governments must guarantee that the sanctions imposed in cases of discrimination are not only effective and proportionate, but also do not encourage any further discrimination.

The Lithuanian Gay League said this morning that the amendment “considerably narrows” the application of the non-discrimination principle in Lithuania.

“We hereby encourage parliament members in their next meeting to pass such amendments to Law on Equal Opportunities, which include all types of discrimination listed in article 13 of the European Community Treaty, including the fields of education, social security, health care and opportunities to use goods and services, and to guarantee application of the non-discrimination principle to the widest possible number of the country’s population, rather than restrict human rights based on people’s age, disability, and sexual orientation,” the League said in a statement.

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Posted: 6 June 2008 at 14:00 (UK time)