The Implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Lithuania: Present Situation and Future Perspectives Birutė Kazlauskienė Riga,

The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities On February 1, 1995 – signed. On February 17, 2000 – ratified. On March 23, Lithuania deposited its accession instruments with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Since July 1, 2000 – became effective for the Republic of Lithuania.

Further steps after ratification of the Council of Europe Framework Convention: In September the First Report on the Implementation of the Council of Europe Framework Convention. 0n October 18, a follow-up seminar on the Results of the Monitoring of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by the Republic of Lithuania. In 2006 – the Second Report on the Implementation of the Council of Europe Framework Convention.

The population census carried out in 2001 provided data on 115 nationalities living in Lithuania. National minorities comprised 16.5 percent of the total population in Lithuania.

Number of population in thousandPercentage of the total number of the population Total3674,83484,0100,0 Lithuanians2924,32907,379,683,45 Poles258,0235,07,06,74 Russians344,5219,89,46,31 Belorussians63,242,91,71,23 Ukrainians44,842,91,20,65 Jews12,44,10,30,12 Germans-3,2-0,09 Latvians4,22,90,10,08 Tartars5,23,20,10,09 Gypsies2,72,60,10,07 Armenians-1,5-0,04 Others15,56,10,40,18 Undefined-33,0-0,94

Legislative framework in Lithuania The Republic of Lithuania guarantees and provides comprehensive legal framework to protect and safeguard the rights of national minorities in Lithuania. After adoption of zero version of citizenship in percent of Lithuanian inhabitants were granted citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania.

Lithuanian legislative framework ensuring the protection of national minority rights: Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania (1992). Law on Ethnic Minorities (1989). Law on Equal Opportunities (2003) - trough which Lithuania transposed Racial Equality Directive, 2000/43/EC; Employment Equality Directive, 2000/78/EC prohibits discrimination on different grounds including race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation and religion in the following areas: employment, education, provision of goods and services as well as advertising. Law on the State Language (2002). Law on Education (2003). Law on Citizenship (2002). Law on Association (2004). Law on Political Parties (2004). Draft Law on Ethnic Minorities. Draft Law on the Use of Citizens’ Names and Surnames in their Identity Documents.

In addition to national legislation, the rights of ethnic minorities are protected by the international agreements and conventions: The UN conventions and declarations: The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The UN International Convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights. Declaration and Programme of Action of the UN World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (the so-called Durban Document. The Council of Europe conventions: (Nr. 005) Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as amended by Protocols No. 3, 5 and 8 and as completed by Protocol No 2 (Nr. 009) Protocol No.1 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. (Nr. 157) Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. (Nr.148) The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. (Nr. 163) European Social Charter (revised).

The New Regulations of the Law on Education of the Republic of Lithuania (2003) guarantees the representatives of national minorities the right to receive instruction in the native language and learning of the official Lithuanian language. In the academic year, there were 173 schools where the language of instruction was non-Lithuanian. Education of national minorities

Type of school school year school year Changes Number of schools Number of pupils Number of schools Number of pupils Number of schools Number of pupils Lithuanian Russian Polish Byelorussians Lithuanian- Russian Lithuanian- Polish Russian-Polish Lithuanian- Russian-Polish Jewish German

The Concept of Saturday and Sunday Schools of National Minorities (2004) defines status, mission, and basis for activities of a Saturday/Sunday school of national minorities. Currently there are 43 Saturday/Sunday national minority schools in Lithuania. Non-formal education

Lithuania recognises national identity and cultural continuity for all citizens irrespective of their nationality and encourages national awareness and its expression. Currently there are about 300 national minority NGOs established in Lithuania, the major part of which maintain cultural traditions, language and history. In 2005 national minority NGOs received 725 thousand Litas (about 210 thousand Euro) support from the DNMLLA. National minority NGOs

National minority mass media: The Lithuanian national minorities executes the right to freedom of expression and information in their mother tongue. Currently there are 15 national minority newspapers published, 8 TV programmes on national TV and 6 radio programmes on national radio broadcasted in Lithuania

The Department of National Minorities and Lithuanians Living Abroad to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (DNMLLA) (set up in 1989 )

The Department of National Minorities and Lithuanians Living Abroad under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (DNMLLA) is responsible for: the formation and implementation of the Governmental policy of national minorities; analysis of the situation of the national minorities in the country; investigation of the cultural needs of the national minorities and support of it; framing international agreements and submitting them to the Government; informing the public about the needs of the national minorities, their cultural and public life; care for the preservation of persons belonging to national minorities national identity and cultural heritage; protection of rights of persons belonging to national minorities and safeguarding of their interests.

Advisory bodies working to the DNMLLA: The Council of National Communities with representatives of 20 national communities. The Advisory Board. The Permanent Expert Group.

The Integration Programmes of national minorities implemented by the DNMLLA:  Programme for the Integration of National Minorities into the Lithuanian Society for 2005 to  Programme for the Integration of Roma into the Lithuanian Society for  Programme for the Integration of Roma into the Lithuanian Society for (under preparation)

Institutions under authority of the DNMLLA: The DNMLLA established and coordinates activities of three cultural centres (public institutions) for national minorities : The House of National Communities (Vilnius, 1991). The Roma Community Centre (Vilnius, 2001). The Kaunas Cultural Centre of Different Nations (Kaunas, 2004). Plans are underway to establish cultural centres in Visaginas (end of 2005) and Klaipėda.

1.The House of National Communities The building of the centre

2. The Roma Community Centre The building of the centre

3. The Kaunas Cultural Centre of Different Nations The building of the centre

Projects implemented by the DNMLLA: EU EQUAL programme: “The establishment and testing of support mechanism for the integration of national minorities into labour market“. ”The establishment and testing of support mechanism for the integration of Roma into labour market“. EU Structural Funds: “The DNMLLA’s and its partners‘ staff competence training in formulating and implementing the EU and Lithuanian state policy of national and ethnic harmony”.

Transnational co-operation The DNMLLA also maintains close cooperation with the following transnational institutions: the UN Committee on Human Rights, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Council of Europe General of Human Rights DGII Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the European Commision against Rasicm and Intolerance (ECRI), the European Monitoring Centre (EUMC), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The DNMLLA has signed bilateral interdepartmental agreements on friendly relations and safeguarding the protection of rights and freedoms national minorities with: Russian Federation, Republic of Ukraine, Republic of Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Republic of Poland, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Latvia (under preparation) Transnational co-operation

New and effective forms of neighbourly co-operation and consultation have been established by the following institutions: the Parliamentary Assembly of Lithuania and Poland, the Council of Co-operation of the Governments of Lithuania and Poland, the Advisory Committee of the Presidents of Lithuania and Poland, the Secretariat of the Minister for Social Integration Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, the National Committee on Nationalities and Migration of Ukraine, the National Committee on Religions and Nationalities of the Republic of Belarus.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! T.Kosciuškos 30, LT –01100 Vilnius, Lithuania, Tel