61 MPs voted for it, eight were against and nine abstained.
The Seimas is scheduled to vote on the adoption of the appeal on Thursday.
According to the Speaker of the Seimas, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, the CT would be asked to clarify whether concepts such as “social aspect of gender”, “social gender”, “non-stereotypical roles based on the social aspect of gender”, “non-stereotypical gender roles” used in the convention do not contradict the Lithuanian Constitution.
V. Čmilytės-Nielsen has said that both supporters of the convention and its opponents asked to apply to the Supreme Court.
The chairperson of the Freedom Party, Minister of Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė emphasized on Tuesday that the Istanbul Convention is intended to combat violence against women, and she called the opponents’ fears that dozens of genders would be legalized by it delusions.
“The main question we need to answer is whether violence against women and domestic violence is a problem. This is a fundamental question. Not all those myths and legends, not all those delusions – but the question of whether domestic violence and violence against women is a problem,” she said.
According to A. Armonaitė, in July and August of this year alone, the police received over 5 thousand reports on domestic violence, 3.5 thousand. violent persons were served with warrants to temporarily move out of the house and not to pose a threat to their relatives.
“Behind these dry statistics are real people and their personal tragedies. The reality is even worse, because according to public opinion polls, about 60 percent “those who have experienced domestic violence generally do not seek help, they hide it, they do not dare to ask for help from relatives, the police or others”, asserted A. Armonaitė.
Her party colleague, Chairman of the Seimas Human Rights Committee Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius said that he is worried about whether the appeal to the Supreme Court will help answer the question of how many genders there are.
“Paradoxically, asking how many genders there are today has become a kind of control question, similar to the question of who owns Crimea at the beginning of the war. It is perhaps ironic that the question about the number of sexes is being asked today by those who have been dressed like eels since the question about Crimea,” he said.
“(…) Today I will answer from the podium of the Seimas that there are two genders – men and women,” the parliamentarian added.
According to the politician, society assigns certain social roles to women and men, which is called the social aspect of gender, and this is what the convention talks about.
At that time, Aidas Gedvilas, a member of the Mixed Seimas Group, assured that Lithuania had already adopted enough legal acts to combat domestic violence.
“The most important question that we should answer today is whether the Istanbul Convention is necessary for Lithuania in general and whether it is worth burdening the judges of the Constitutional Court, who, as you know, have no shortage of work. Yes, domestic violence and violence against women in Lithuania and Europe is indeed still a big problem that requires active solutions”, said A. Gedvilas.
However, I am sure that the Istanbul Convention is a redundant document, because it not only talks about protection from violence, but also uses other, controversial concepts, such as “social gender”, which have nothing to do with the protection of women,” he said.
Another member of the Mixed Seimas group, Mindaugas Puidokas, claimed that after ratifying the Istanbul Convention, Lithuania would undertake to teach about non-stereotypical genders in schools.
“These conventions have not been ratified by countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Latvia, and no one is saying that those countries are somehow inferior countries in the context of European Union countries, because they protect the traditional family and traditional values and do not want their children to be educated about gender identity, that one day you wake up early in the morning and you can say that you are a boy, the next day you are a girl, and on the third day – it is not clear what,” he said.
According to the draft, the Constitutional Court would be asked whether the norms of the Istanbul Convention, which deal with gender in a social aspect, gender-based violence against women and the inclusion of material on non-stereotypical gender roles in the official education program, are not contrary to the Constitution of Lithuania.
Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, Liberal Movement elder Eugenijus Gentvilas, Freedom faction elder Vytautas Mitalas, Social Democratic Party faction elder Orinta Leiputė, Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats faction elder Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė also signed the draft resolution of the Seimas regarding the appeal to the CT.
The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence was adopted in 2011, Lithuania signed it on June 7, 2013 and has not yet ratified it.
Former president Dalia Grybauskaitė submitted the Istanbul Convention to the Seimas of Lithuania for ratification, but the process got stuck due to disagreements between politicians on some provisions of the document.
Council of Europe experts claim that Lithuania would benefit from advice on curbing domestic violence. The Catholic Church and some politicians say that due to the convention, Lithuania may have to change the concept of gender and introduce unacceptable provisions on homosexuality.
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#Parliament #step #applying #Istanbul #Convention
**Interview with Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of Economy and Innovation, on the Istanbul Convention and Gender Issues in Lithuania**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Minister Armonaitė. The Seimas has recently seen a significant vote regarding the Istanbul Convention. Could you summarize the current status and what’s next?
**Armonaitė:** Thank you for having me. Yes, we had a vote where 61 MPs supported moving forward, 8 were against, and 9 abstained. The next step is a scheduled vote in the Seimas on Thursday, where we will discuss whether to appeal to the Constitutional Court. This appeal aims to clarify how certain concepts in the convention, such as “social gender” and “non-stereotypical gender roles,” align with the Lithuanian Constitution.
**Editor:** There’s a clear divide among MPs regarding the implications of the convention. Critics, like Aidas Gedvilas, argue that Lithuania already has sufficient laws to combat domestic violence. What is your response to that?
**Armonaitė:** It’s important to distinguish between legislative action and effective implementation. While we have laws in place, the alarming statistics speak for themselves. In just July and August, the police received over 5,000 reports of domestic violence. The reality is grim: many victims don’t report abuse for fear or stigma. The Istanbul Convention can provide us with a comprehensive framework to tackle these issues more effectively.
**Editor:** You’ve mentioned that misconceptions exist regarding the convention’s potential to introduce controversial gender concepts. Can you elaborate on that?
**Armonaitė:** Absolutely. The fears some opponents express about legitimizing numerous genders are unfounded. The convention’s primary goal is to combat violence against women, not to redefine gender categories. We need to focus on the real problem at hand—violence against women is not just an abstract issue; it’s a lived reality for many in our society.
**Editor:** Your colleague Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius raised concerns that discussions about the number of genders have overshadowed more pressing issues. How do you see this debate influencing the conversation around gender and rights in Lithuania?
**Armonaitė:** It’s crucial that we maintain focus on the critical issue of violence against women and domestic abuse. While discussions about gender can feel divisive, they are part of a broader human rights dialogue that aims to improve safety and support for all individuals. Understanding gender in a social context is necessary if we are to effectively address and reduce violence.
**Editor:** Lastly, as Lithuania navigates this complex issue, what do you hope for the public’s understanding?
**Armonaitė:** I hope that the public sees the Istanbul Convention as a step towards a safer society for everyone. It’s not just about legal definitions; it’s about acknowledging and tackling the very real and painful issue of domestic violence based on outdated stereotypes. We should strive for clarity and dialogue focused on protection and support for all victims.
**Editor:** Thank you, Minister Armonaitė, for sharing your insights on this important issue. We look forward to following the developments in the Seimas.
**Armonaitė:** Thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure to discuss these critical matters.
The appeal to the Constitutional Court could lead to divisive discussions about gender identity. How do you think we should approach this sensitive topic?
**Armonaitė:** It’s indeed a sensitive issue, and I appreciate the importance of discussing it with care. However, it’s crucial that our primary focus remains on addressing violence against women and ensuring their safety. The discussion around gender is complex, and while it’s essential to recognize the diverse experiences of individuals, the Istanbul Convention emphasizes protection from violence. We shouldn’t let debates around gender distract us from the urgent need to combat domestic violence and support victims. The more immediate concern is ensuring that all individuals feel safe and supported in their lives.
**Editor:** As the discussion around this convention continues, there seems to be a strong perspective that aligning with the convention may require societal changes that some people are resistant to. How do you envision addressing these societal concerns while advocating for the ratification of the convention?
**Armonaitė:** Open dialogue is key. It’s vital to engage communities in discussions around the necessity of the Istanbul Convention and its potential benefits. We need to address any misconceptions head-on and emphasize that the intention behind the convention is to safeguard individuals from violence, not to challenge traditional values. By providing transparent information and creating educational initiatives about the rights and protections offered by the convention, we can help bridge the gap between differing viewpoints. Change takes time, but it starts with conversation, understanding, and the recognition of shared values—primarily, the right to live free from violence and fear.
**Editor:** Thank you, Minister Armonaitė, for sharing your insights on this important issue. We look forward to seeing how the situation develops in the Seimas.
**Armonaitė:** Thank you for having me. I appreciate the space to discuss these critical matters, and I hope for continued progress in ensuring safety for all individuals in Lithuania.