The periods during which a person receives maternal (paternal) benefit are fully covered by all social insurance guarantees. If a mother or father chooses to stay with the child until the age of three, this person is insured by the means of state budget for full state social insurance pension and sickness social insurance . Thus, the period of child care does not reduce other social insurance guarantees.
Article 180 (2) of the Labour Code provides for that during parental or maternal leave the employee shall keep his or her workplace (duties), except for the liquidation of a company. According to the data of the State Labour Inspectorate since the effective Labour Code (as of 2003) no complaint has been received so far with regard to returning to the former workplace after maternal (parental) leave.
Education and stereotypes
The third periodic report acknowledges the existence of a “ traditional public attitude to the role of the man and woman. ” (CEDAW/C/LTU/3, para. 217) and the fourth periodic report points to the main tasks of the National Programme for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men to change traditional stereotypes of women ’ s and men ’ s roles in economic activity. Please, provide information on whether the initiatives taken have led to a change in the selection of occupations by women and men and give details on figures and the kinds of occupations that are currently being chosen by each sex. Please elaborate upon initiatives that have been undertaken to challenge this stereotypical attitude and list concrete policies formulated to promote the sharing of responsibilities between women and men in family and society and their impact. In particular, please provide details/results of the work of the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman to “ analyse the image of a woman and a man portrayed in the mass media and the developments in the men ’ s and women ’ s roles in the modern society ” and to organise “ trainings for police officers, public authorities and municipal staff on the issue of gender equality ” (CEDAW/C/LTU/4 para. 51).
As part of implementation of the National Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, already since 2005 regular seminars are organised in partnership with Vilnius University Gender Studies Centre for special target groups on stereotypes of female and male roles. As part of the objectives of the National Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men for 2004-2007, a few awareness-raising projects dedicated to challenging gender stereotypes were implemented or are still on-going, that are supported from the European Union structural funds. One of the most successful projects is a Project run by Vilnius University Gender Studies Centre and a the Project run by Kaunas Women Employment Information Centre, both of which have already been described in great detail in the fourth report.
The Office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsman has implemented international project Equality for Local Development: Gender Mainstreaming in Municipalities which was co-financed by the European Commission under the European Community Framework Strategy on Gender Equality. The project was run from October 2006 to December 2007 (15 months). The aim of the project was to stimulate equal gender participation in various walks of economic and social life, reinforce gender equality in municipalities. The project was implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Security and Labour and the Centre for Equality Enhancement. It involved participation of educational staff of Šiauliai municipality, administration staff of Širvintos and Ukmergė regional municipalities, who were all trained how to apply the gender equality principles and conduct gender equality analysis in their daily work. It was an international project, involving participants from Estonian and Bulgarian organisations.
The Social Innovation Foundation implemented the project Implementation of Equal Employment Opportunities for Women and Men: Measures, Practice, Changes (2006-2008) from the European Union structural funds in partnership with the Office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsman. As a result of this project public commissions of equal opportunities for women and men were established in ten pilot Lithuanian municipalities. The commissions composed of representatives of municipalities, labour market institutions, NGOs and social partners will seek to ensure practical implementation of the objectives and priorities of the National Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men on a regional level. The establishment of such commissions on a voluntary basis in municipalities is one of the first attempts to institutionalise the implementation of equal opportunities in local government of Lithuania .
From December 2007 to November 2008 the Office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsman is implementing the project Gender Mainstreaming: from Concept to Action, supported by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour and the EU programme PROGRESS. The target groups of this project are civil servants, members of the Seimas and office staff of the Seimas committees. The aim of the project is to train the target groups on the laws and programme documents of the EU and Lithuania regulating gender equality issues, to provide information and tools allowing to integrate gender mainstreaming in the areas of activity and competence in the public sector of the project ’ s participants.
Challenging gender stereotypes is long lasting process and requires continuous efforts. Following the National Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (Par. 69.7) Impact assessment study of the implementation of the programme and comparative survey of situation will be completed in 2009. To this end an exhaustive comparative study and analysis will be carried out on the changes in the situation of women and men in all areas. The study will cover the entire period of the Programme; its findings will be compared with the previous study on Women in the Lithuanian Society, held in 2001.
21. The fourth periodic report states that the “ Law on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men prohibits such advertising of goods and services which would make the public to form an opinion that one sex is superior to another; the Law also prohibits discrimination of consumers on the grounds of sex. ” Although according to the fourth report advertising is not yet gender-neutral in Lithuania , the Law has stimulated complaints and consultation with the Office for Equal Opportunities. Please, state whether the Office can identify a positive trend toward more ethical advertising and whether further efforts are undertaken, including referring such offences to courts.
In 2007 the number of complaints about goods and services advertisements based on the ground of sex did not decrease. Women image continues to be demonstrated in a stereotypical way. Positive developments in the field of advertising can be noted in frequent consultations of the Ombudsmen ’ s Office staff sought by contractors and producers in advance of creating advertisements with regard to the ethic principle of an advertisement; they often ask how to create advertisements, how to depict products advertised and in so doing avoid forming public attitudes of a certain group of individuals being superior to another.
The fourth periodic report notes that “ in certain professions…like IT, engineering, manufacturing and processing, architecture and construction, agriculture, forestry and fishery, and transport, male students dominated over female students ” (CEDAW/C/LTU/4, para. 111). Please provide information regarding the outcome of the “ action plan for encouraging women to seek a scientist ’ s career ” (CEDAW/C/LTU/3, para. 194) and details of any other initiatives to encourage women to pursue study in non-traditional areas.
The Ministry of Education and Science, seeking solutions to problems related to under-representation of women in technical science and certain physical sciences, has drafted a Strategy “ Women and Science ” aimed at promotion of balanced participation in science, in particular in the highest positions and to ensure gender mainstreaming in sciences. The implementation of this strategy will entail attracting larger number of scientists into under-represented branches of sciences, thus seeking solution to insufficient women ’ s participation on the highest managerial levels of scientific establishments. Moreover, the Ministry of Education and Science is widely implementing measures of science promotion strategy, seeking to draw young and creative minds, regardless of their sex, to seek career in science. In addition, one of the tasks of the National Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men is to increase number of women in science and research.
The reports describe girls as having a “ lower motivation … for exercise and sports. Girls are more particular about the quality of hygiene conditions; furthermore, they are often more diligent and therefore spend more time on studying ” (CEDAW/C/LTU/4, para. 125). Please provide information on action taken by the Government to facilitate the further participation of girls in sport at school. Please also provide information on the results achieved in the Lithuanian implementation of the project ‘ Women and Men in Sports and Media ’ (CEDAW/C/LTU/4, para. 188).
The Ministry of Education and Science has drafted complex proposals on how to improve participation of school pupils in sports, which has been submitted for the Government of the Republic of Lithuania . The proposed measures are to improve pupils ’ , including girls ’ , participation in sports at schools, establish an adequate sports basis at schools, ensure fostering of appropriate sport skills of all age-groups of children, promote a healthy lifestyle, establish an attractive and safe environment for sport. It is also foreseen to draft a national programme for the expansion and upgrading sport bases at schools . Upgraded sport bases at schools (e.g. changing rooms, installation of a necessary number of showers, etc.), better hygiene conditions would be created for girls, thus enhancing their motivation to exercise. One of the most important measures which would facilitate girls ’ motivation to take part in sports is the promotion of more attractive sports (e.g. aerobics, gymnastics, badminton) . The drafted project of Joint Programmes de votes a lot of attention to non ‑ traditional classes of physical culture, aimed at encouraging pupils, and girls in particular, to exercise, as well as to development of new forms of education through children ’ s participation in sport.
Health
24. More than half the women aged 15 to 25 have been found not to use any contraception (CEDAW/C/LTU/3, para. 302; CEDAW/C/LTU/4, para. 182) and according to data from health care institutions, as few as 12 per cent of women of childbearing age use contraceptives (CEDAW/C/LTU/3, para. 302). The third periodic report states this as a reason “ why abortions are still frequent in Lithuania . ” Please indicate what actions the Government is taking to raise awareness of, and provide of wide access to contraception, particularly in rural areas and whether all methods of contraception are free of charge.
Seeking solutions to this problem has become one of the key objectives of the National Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men for 2005-2009. Par. 5.15 of the programme provides for ensuring awareness raising and information on the issues of family planning and reproductive health, particularly in rural areas. Two measures are foreseen in the Programme to implement this objective: “ 54.3. to publish articles, make television and radio broadcasts on reproductive health and family planning ” and “ 54.4. to organise awareness raising of women, particularly women living in rural areas, on contraception and precautions from sexually transmitted diseases ” . The body in charge of implementing the measures financed from the state budget funds is the Ministry of Health.
As part of implementation of these measures all major dailies (the Lietuvos rytas , the Respublika and the Kauno diena ) and regional mass media regularly run articles of informative and consultative nature. Awareness raising programmes have been broadcast on the Lithuanian national radio programme Sveikata (Health) under the headline of Patient ’ s Interest. A booklet for families about family planning has been drafted and is distributed through public health educational centres. Another booklet on family planning and sexually transmitted diseases, first published and distributed in 2004, was reprinted in 2006 and is now again in circulation.
Moreover, by his Order No. V-245 of 3 April 2006 the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania approved the Lithuanian Medicine Norm MN 40:2006. Rights and Duties, Competence and Responsibility of Midwives. Under this norm midwives are obliged to provide information and advice on family planning issues.
In addition, in 2006 methodological material was drafted for teachers on Elaboration of Programmes for Preparation of Children and Youth for a Family Life. This methodological material is recommended for use at schools.
25. More than one quarter of pregnant Lithuanian women suffer from anaemia (CEDAW/C/LTU/3, para. 320). Please provide detailed information on what action the Government has taken to “ fully implement a life-cycle approach to women ’ s health ” as recommended in the Committee ’ s previous concluding comments .
Considering that such a large number of pregnant women suffering from anaemia may be due to hyperdiagnostics, the Ministry of Health has launched an initiative seeking that family doctors and midwives-gynaecologists applied uniform criteria for diagnosing anaemia in pregnant women. These criteria were covered by the Requirements for Health Screening of Pregnant Women approved by Order No. V-1135 of 29 December 2006 of the Minister of Health. On the basis of data of the information system on birth medical record, the number of pregnant women suffering from anaemia is decreasing. In 2004 the number of such women accounted for 6 153, in 2005 – 5 397, in 2006 – 4 713. The data for 2007 will be aggregated in April, 2008.
26. Persons with disabilities in Lithuania are entitled to technical aids under the Strategy for Supplying the Disabled with Technical Aids for 2004-2010 (CEDAW/C/LTU/4, para. 162). What percentage of disabled persons benefited from this strategy are women? Are there any differences in the patterns of technical needs of women and men? Is any assistance given to women with disabilities during pregnancy and/or after childbirth, or in their housework?
The percentage of disabled women and men who have benefited from technical aids under the above-referred strategy is 60 and 40 per cent respectively. Men have a larger demand for wheelchairs, women more often need bath appliances and hygiene aids. There are no individual aids for pregnant women with disabilities, they benefit from the same aids which are available to the entire group of the disabled, e.g. food dosage tools, aids for putting on stocks, aids for gripping, etc. which all come handy in domestic life. People with hearing impairment with children under the age of three are supplied with electronic nannies.
Situation of particular groups of women
The fourth periodic report states that the implementation of the National Action Plan for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion for 2004-2006 accords particular attention “ to single mothers, battered women, victims of trafficking in human beings and vulnerable women groups ” (CEDAW/C/LTU/4, para. 29). Please provide further details on how the Plan addresses such groups of women, the benchmarks set and the results achieved.
National Action Plan for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion for 2004-2006 is an umbrella complex programme. It integrates a number of different programmes and measures aimed at combating specific problems, for instance, measures of the National Action Plan for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion for 2004-2006, aimed at improvement of situation of battered women, victims of domestic violence, victims of trafficking in human beings closely related to the relevant special programmes: National Strategy for the Elimination of Violence against Women and National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Trafficking in Human Beings. Measures which address situation of older women and single mothers are explicitly supported both from the state budget and the EU Structural Funds.
In 2005 proficiency training courses were organised under the educational programme Peculiarities of Work with Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings and Means of support, aimed at briefing social workers, social pedagogues, police officers and other social partners on the concept of trafficking in human beings, dynamics and prevalence of this phenomenon, and means of help. In 2006 a seminar was organised titled Prevention, Reintegration of Victims and Legal Issues. The seminar was attended by 46 social workers of municipalities, social pedagogues, staff of services protecting children ’ s rights. In 2005-2007 every year a tender is organised to select projects for funding which are targeted at victims of trafficking in human beings, their protection and reintegration to the society. In 2006 the sum of LTL 455 thousand was spread among 13 projects which provided help to 402 victims of trafficking in human beings. Out of 402 of project participants 90 victims of trafficking in human beings acquired general secondary education and (or) vocational training, 245 attended retraining and computer literacy courses, continued earlier studies, attended lectures and consultations on various topics. 149 victims were reintegrated into the labour market. A total of LTL 1.285 million was allocated from the state budget for the implementation of all these measures in 2005–2007.
In 2006 a survey was conducted titled Analysis of the Situation of Minors – Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings in Lithuania and Framework for the Rehabilitation Programme for Minors – Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings. The aim of the survey was to identify the dynamics of the number of minors – victims of trafficking in human beings and the patterns of this phenomenon.
In 2006 recommendations were drafted and distributed among social pedagogues and class mentors on How to Talk with Parents about Risks of Trafficking in Human Beings, information leaflets titled This Is not Going to Happen to Me were published and distributed among graduates as a preven tive measure (circulation of 13, 000 copies).
A full-range help (temporary safe shelter, psychological and legal consultations, emergency medical and social services) was provided to 314 women in 2005, in 2006 this figure rose to 1 212 women, in 2007 – to 1 838 women-victims of domestic violence. Measures of domestic violence prevention are implemented very active. In 2007 an information campaign was organised to combat violence against women, 52 seminars and 4 conferences were held, dra wing over 1, 000 participants. Training was organised for volunteers, staff of women crises centres, police officers, methodology of work with women-victims of violence was drafted, legal awareness-raising training was organised for women. A total of LTL 1.5 million was allocated from the state budget for the implementation of all these measures in 2005-2007.
A survey of the need for vocational training and professional guidance programmes for the elderly was carried out. The survey findings have revealed that almost one third of the elder population of Lithuania would like to remain socially active citizens. Approximately 15 per cent of the respondents, the majority of whom are younger than 70, would like to find employment, an equal percentage would like to take part in activities of NGOs, clubs, amateur art, to learn and educate themselves. The findings have shown that vocational training and professional guidance services are of low interest among the population of Lithuania above 60. Most of them, nevertheless, would like to learn something for a pure pleasure of learning and for additional opportunities of contact and personal fulfilment offered by education.
In view of these findings 10 educational and guidance programmes have been elaborated for the elderly. Educational programmes have been drafted taking into account the recommendations on educational and guidance services for the Lithuanian population above 60.
A non-formal professional guidance programme of 64 hours has been elaborated titled the Social Integration of the Elderly, aimed at stimulating activity, occupation, learning drive and motivation to participate in the labour market of the retired population above 60.
Educational methodology for training information technology skills in the elderly was elaborated; elderly women can take part in various courses: courses aimed at boosting their motivation, training courses, they can acquire new qualifications and professional competences or take part in retraining, computer literacy, nursing and social work courses, courses on self-presentation to employers, drafting of and implementing a business plan, courses of the English and German languages.
As a result of projects which have been implemented and supported under the EU EQUAL Initiative, the models assisting the disabled, people close to the retirement age, long-term unemployed, ethnic minorities, sexual minorities, victims of trafficking in human beings and other target groups in labour market integration have been developed and tested. Direct beneficiaries of the activities of EQUAL projects were 3 , 000 target group members; measures have been implemented which were intended to combat negative stereotypes and promote social tolerance. Round-table discussions, open-door days, conferences have been organised targeted to local and national politicians, employers, interested organisations and the public at large.
While implementing projects supported under the EU EQUAL Initiative and aimed at reconciliation of family and professional life, models and support mechanisms have been developed and tested for women, and single mothers raising children or looking after other dependants, seeking to integrate them into the labour market. Schemes of child care, care for the elderly and disabled have been developed; information is being collected and distributed on the balance of working time and flexible work arrangements. In addition, measures have been elaborated enabling to find in-house and external social services to non-working members of the household unable to reconcile family and professional life because of dependants – a person with disability (whether a child or an adult) or an elderly unable to look after himself or herself, to avail of such services and return to the labour market. A total of LTL 4.4029 million was allocated for this measure in 2005–2006.
Moreover, 2006 saw an improvement of the Law on Cash Social Assistance for Low-Income Families (Single Residents). The purpose of the law is to fix the size and conditions for providing state social assistance, the rights and duties of beneficiaries, and the sources of funding for low-income families or adult single residents after having assessed the assets and income of such persons, provided they have exhausted all other available sources of income.
28. The Human Rights Committee has expressed concern about the social and economic situation of the Roma minority and continued discrimination, poverty and unemployment suffered by the Roma (CCPR/CO/80/LTU, para. 8). Please provide statistical data on the status of Roma women and girls and indicate what targeted measures are being taken to prevent discrimination against them in education, employment, health, housing and other areas, including an assessment of the results of the first phase of the Programme for Roma Integration into Lithuanian Society.
On the basis of the 2001 population census, 2 571 individuals were registered as Roma. However, the census might not have covered all the Roma actually residing in Lithuania, the real number can, thus, be larger, around 3 000. The Roma population is scattered over the entire territory of Lithuania , with the largest and most impoverished pocket (counting as many as 670 of population) located on the outskirts of Vilnius , close to Kirtimai. This settlement is home to a few Roma who, due to various reasons have no official documents and cannot exercise full rights as citizens. However, the majority of Roma do have the Lithuanian citizenship and the problems of their employment are not related to the lack of official rights.
As part of the measures under the Programme for Roma Integration into Lithuanian Society for 2000 – 2004, the Department of National Minorities and Lithuanians Living Abroad to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter – the Department) organised a series of lectures on a healthy lifestyle and damage of narcotic substances to health. Moreover, since 2000 – 2002 Roma received consultations of a paediatrician and therapeutist working at Naujininkai ward out-patient clinic and providing consultations on health issues at the public body Roma Community Centre. Meanwhile, on 26 of March 2008 the Government of the Republic of Lithuania approved the new programme for Roma Integration into Lithuanian Society for 2008-2010. The new programme has a threefold approach: 1) ensuring a fully-fledged integration of Roma population into Lithuanian society and reduction of social exclusion, 2) preservation of Roma national identity, having regard to their specific conditions of life, 3) promotion of public tolerance and trust in Roma national minority.
Drug addiction prevention is one of the highest priorities of all the programmes focussing on Roma integration. In this area individual measures are also foreseen in the newly approved programme for Roma integration. The programme provides for organisation of competitions for Roma on prevention of psychoactive drugs ’ use, implementation of measures targeted at the reduction of demand for and supply of drugs and psychothropic substances among Roma population . The body in charge of implementation of these measures is the Drug Control Department under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania .
Moreover, the programme attaches a lot of attention to health issues. It provides for elaboration and implementation of educational projects about healthy lifestyle , organisation of events promoting healthy lifestyle in areas densely populated by the Roma minority as well as educational establishments with numerous Roma pupils, organisation of a series of lectures on sanitary and hygiene issues for Roma girls and women. It is planned to organise health screening of Roma population not covered by the state mandatory health insurance (within the competence of a family doctor) and submit the aggregated data on the condition of health of the Roma population. The body in charge of implementation of these measures is the State Public Health Centre of Vilnius County, and the Department together with the Ministry of Health.
The Office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson has received quite a few complaints about Roma employment during recent years. In 2007 13 per cent of all complaints were lodged by Roma population. The complaints noted that potential employers refused to provide employment only because a potential candidate was of a Roma origin. In employment relationship the employee is the weaker party: all employers claimed they had already agreed to employ other candidates, in one case a vacancy was filled by the decision of another administrator, etc. Investigation of one complaint resulted in a court case still pending in Vilnius 2nd District Court. A high unemployment rate among the Roma population has been noted by the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in its third report about Lithuania , in which it strongly recommends “ to take measures to improve employment conditions of the Roma population ” .
Information is provided regarding efforts to engage rural women in agriculture and alternative enterprises (CEDAW/C/LTU/4, paras. 189-191). Please provide information on the impact of such efforts, including the number and nature of new enterprises as well as on the general health situation of older rural women, their , access to free health care services and social and cultural opportunities.
In 2007 alone the Ministry of Agriculture allocated LTL 97 thousand from the Special Rural Support Programme to finance events organised by the Chamber of Agriculture and the Association of Lithuanian Women Farmers. This amount was used to organise 3 conferences, 23 seminars, covered participation in 3 exhibitions (a total of 29 events). Seminars were organised in rural areas having most active women who demonstrated the highest motivation to get information. The seminars helped to train about 440 people, 80 per cent out of whom were rural women. The annual international conference Rural Women Around the Baltics: Problems and Challenges drew participation of 90 rural areas of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania (each state was represented by approximately 30 conference participants), while the conference on the Role of Rural Women in Sustainable Rural Development was attended by 335 women from Lithuanian rural areas.
The Lithuanian Rural Development Programme for 2007–2013 (hereinafter – the Programme) stipulates that the distribution of funds of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (hereinafter – EAFRD) should give priority to rural women applying for support. In particular, this is relevant when funds are distributed for measures under Axis 3 titled Quality of Life in Rural Areas and Diversification of the Rural Economy: Measure 1 ) Diversification to Non-Agricultural Activity (the description of this measure lists as one of prior itised selection criteria that “ an applicant and (or) manager of a small enterprise is a woman ” ; Measure 2 ) Bu siness Creation and Development; Measure 3 ) Encouragement of Rural Tourism Services and Measure 4 ) Renovation and Development of Rural Areas. Activeness of women and youth is supported through Measure 1 Implementation of Local Development Strategies under Axis 4 Implementation of the LEADER Method, Measure 2 Inter-territorial and Trans-national Cooperation and Measure 3 Support for Acquiring of Skills and Animating Inhabitants of Local Action Group. In 2007–2013 the implementation of the LEADER method will receive a much larger allocation of support (up to 6 per cent of all funds from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development).
Optional Protocol
Please provide information about measures taken to make the Optional Protocol to the Convention, which Lithuania ratified on 5 August 2004, widely known.
It should be noted that Lithuania ratified the Optional Protocol on 29 June 2004 by the Law No IX-2300, the law ratifying the Protocol came into effect as of 5 August 2004. An official translation into Lithuanian of the Optional Protocol has been distributed through gender equality electronic network covering women NGOs, all structures of the institutional gender equality mechanism, women politicians, women scientists, women centres of trade unions as well as other interested parties of equal opportunities. Moreover, the full text of the Optional Protocol was uploaded on the Women information portal at www.lygus.lt as well as the official website of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, where it is widely available to all interested parties. Opportunities offered by the Protocol were presented to participants of many seminars and trainings, in particular those held in the second half of 2004 immediately after the ratification of the Protocol in the framework of the project Gender Mainstreaming in Lithuania , coordinated by Women ’ s Issues Information Centre.