A quarterly international newsletter on sexuality, sexual health, and sexuality education.
Volume 2, Issue 3 - Winter 2002/2003
Developing Effective Laws and Policies in Lithuania
Women's reproductive health and rights have spent years on the back burner in Lithuania while the Baltic nation has focused on economic reforms required for its accession into the European Union. There is now promise that women's health and rights issues are resurfacing in national policy discussions.
In 1996, the Lithuanian government adopted the Family Policy Proposal and Action Plan. In accordance with one of the plan's provisions, the Lithuanian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (LFPSHA) worked on preparing a Draft Law on Family Health Care that outlined a broad definition of family planning and contraception, abortion regulations, sexuality education for youth, artificial insemination, and sterilization. The draft law was never passed because of conservative opposition in the Parliament at the time.
Lithuania currently has few laws addressing reproductive health. Abortion is permitted and regulated only under a ministerial decree. In addition, there is no legislation or policy ensuring access to family planning. In the entire country of 3.7 million people, there is only one state-funded family planning clinic.The clinic was reduced to approximately one-tenth its size two years ago.
The conservatives blocking the draft law on family health care in the Lithuanian Parliament were defeated in elections in late 2000. Many people are now working to build the legal foundation for sexual and reproductive rights of Lithuanian women.
The groundwork is well underway and the Ministry of Health is now working on drafting the first ever reproductive health and rights law. This development is one of the outcomes of the first formal meeting between Lithuanian legislators, policymakers, and reproductive rights activists. The meeting was held in December 2001 in Vilnius.
The chairs of Lithuania's Parliamentary Committee of Health and Family and Social Welfare, the vice-minister of health, health officials, and other lawmakers from the country participated in the meeting. LFPSHA and the U.S.-based Center for Reproductive Law and Policy (CRLP) also attended the meeting and were asked to assist in drafting the law.
The meeting resulted in several important commitments:
At a press conference held in the Lithuanian Parliament, Dr. Nafis Sadik, former executive director of UNFPA, stated:
"It is hoped that the universality of sexual and reproductive rights and the urgent need to advance the reproductive health of all Lithuanian people will transcend all political barriers and that law and policymakers from all political parties will be able to work together to protect and advance these rights in Lithuania."
For more information, contact:
Lithuanian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (LFPSHA)
Saltoniskiu 58-109
Vilnius LT-2600
Lithuania
Phone: 370.2.79.03.19
Fax: 370.2.73.16.30
E-mail: lithfpa@delfi.lt
Center for Reproductive Law and Policy (CRLP)
120 Wall Street
New York, NY USA 10005
Phone: 917.637.3600
Fax: 917.637.3661
E-mail: info@crlp.org
Web site: http://www.crlp.org
Center of Reproductive Law and Policy (CRLP)
1146 19th St., N.W.
Washington, DC USA 20036
Tel: 202.530.2975
Fax: 202.530.2976
E-mail: dcinfo@crlp.org
Web Master: siecus@siecus.org