Conventions

Lithuania ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Childin 1992. The Seimas ratified the Convention in 1995. The Inception Report of the Republic of Lithuania on implementation of the Convention's provisions in Lithuania was drawn up in 1998. The Second and Third Joint Report on implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was approved in 2004.

In 1997, the Seimas ratified the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Following the provisions of the Convention, the Adoption Service under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour was set up in 2000. The purpose of the Adoption Service is to keep records of prospective adoptive parents and children available for adoption, organise adoption by Lithuanian and foreign citizens, co-ordinate the activities of municipal services for children rights protection related to adoption, protect the rights and legitimate interests of the child eligible for adoption.

In 2001, the Seimas ratified the 1961 Hague Convention Concerning the Power of Authorities and the Law Applicable in Respect of the Protection of Minors. The Convention entered into effect for the Republic of Lithuania in 2002 and has effect only in respect of the Contracting States which have approved Lithuania’s accession.

The Ministry of Social Security and Labour is the designated authority responsible for implementation of the provisions laid down in Article 11(2) of the Convention (prompt notification of the measures taken of public authorities of the state whose citizen the minor is and, if necessary, public authorities of the state of the permanent place of residence).

In 2002, the Seimas ratified the 1950 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Reservations of the Republic of Lithuania under the Convention:

• pursuant to Article 42 and paragraph 2 of Article 24 of the Convention, the Republic of Lithuania consents to using only the English language for any application, communication or other document sent to its Central Authority;
• pursuant to Article 42 and paragraph 3 of Article 26 of the Convention, the Republic of Lithuania shall not be bound to assume any costs referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 26 of the Convention resulting from court proceedings or from the participation of legal counsel or advisers, except insofar as those costs may be covered by the system of legal aid and advice of the Republic of Lithuania.

In 2003, application forms which may be submitted to the Central Authority for assistance in securing the return of a child or the right of access were approved.

Applications may only be submitted to the Ministry only where the cases of unlawful removal or possession of the child as well as the violation of the right of access is related to the state which approved Lithuania’s accession to the Convention. Where such cases are related to the state which has not approved Lithuania’s accession to the Convention, other relevant authorities may be contacted if the child was abducted.

The following services deal with children abduction, wrongful removal or possession prevention, control and investigation: Division 4 of Bureau 1 of the Crime Investigation Service of the Lithuanian Criminal Police Office;

Lithuanian National Bureau of Interpol of the International Relations Service of the Lithuanian Criminal Police Office, the National Border Protection Service under the Ministry of the Interior.

In 2003, the Seimas ratified the 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement, and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children. The Convention entered into effect for Lithuania in 2004. 

Declarations of the Republic of Lithuania under the Convention:

• pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article 40 of the Convention, the certificate under paragraph 1 of Article 40 is issued by the district court of the child's habitual residence in the Republic of Lithuania.

Reservations of the Republic of Lithuania:

• pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 54 of the Convention, any communication sent to the Republic of Lithuania shall be translated into the Lithuanian language or, if it is not possible, into the English language;
• pursuant to item a of paragraph 1 of Article 55 of the Convention, the Republic of Lithuania reserves the jurisdiction of its authorities to take measures directed to the protection of real estate of a child situated in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania.