Lithuania

By Daniel Morris | 27. November 2017

II. Objectives and Measures

Objective 1: ensuring State’s duty to protect, defend and respect human rights

A. Legislative measures [pages 1-2]

1. Improvement of the legislative process. The aim is to review legal acts regulating law­ making, including also, if necessary, drafting of required new legal acts, as well as to ensure dissemination of best practice as regards application of the principles of transparency and openness in law-making Law on Legislative Framework of the Republic of Lithuania was adopted on 18 September 2012, and carne into force on 1 January Following the principles of openness and transparency, it provides for law-making to be made public, as general interest-related legislative decisions cannot be made without public awareness and without the possibilities to participate; the public must have access to information related to the national policy objectives, the need for legal regulation and participating bodies; the civil society and interest groups must be provided with a possibility to submit proposals for legal regulation at all the stages of law-making. It also provides for the right to know the bodies that were involved in submitting, drafting and assessing regulatory impact of a respective legislative proposal, and the bodies monitoring legal regulation.

2. Reforming legal regulation regarding administrative The aim is to regulate individual administrative liability in the Republic of Lithuania, to separate it from criminal liability, ensuring the main features of the administrative liability: simple fast-track process, preference to non-repressive impact measures, and their adequacy to the committed offence, thus increasing effectiveness of these measures. The measure is carried out with a view to improving the Draft Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Lithuania, submitted for deliberation to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on 7 June 2012

C. Measures related to research and training on non-discrimination and other human rights.

1. Research and training in non-discrimination. The lnter-institutional Action Plan for the Promotion of Non-discrimination for 2012-2014 was approved by Resolution No 1281 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 2 November 2011, aims to ensure the implementation of educational measures on promotion of non-discrimination and equal opportunities, to increase !legal awareness, mutual understanding and tolerance in terms of gender, race, nationality, language, origin, social status, belief, convictions or views, age, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic origin and religion, to inform the public about manifestations of discrimination in Lithuania and its negative impact on equal opportunities of certain social groups to actively participate in public.

Measures foreseen:

  • to conduct a study into the reasons for changes in societal attitudes and causes of discrimination, as well as the analysis of the results ;
  • to organise seminars, informal education training and discussions on the topics of equal opportunities and non-discrimination for civil servants, trade union representatives and other target groups; in light of the priorities for 2012 as the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, announced by the European Commission (hereinafter referred to as the EC), to organise informational and qualification advancement seminars and other events on manifestations of discrimination and other human rights issues.

It should be noted that under the Programme of the Government for 2012-2016, a working group was set up for drafting an Inter-Institutional Action Plan for the Promotion of Non­discrimination for 2015-2017.

2. Promotion of employment of persons with disabilities. The National Programme on Social Integration for Persons with Disabilities for 2013-2019, approved by Resolution No 1408 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 21 November 2012, aims to create a harmonious environment for the effective development and social integration of persons with disabilities in Lithuania and to ensure the implementation of national legislation relating to the social integration of persons with disabilities and their equal opportunities, and of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with

 Measures foreseen:

  • To organise training of the employers with a view to encourage their social responsibility as regards employment of persons with disabilities.

D. Measures related to research and training on equality between men and women

1.Research and training on equal opportunities between men and women. National Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men for 2010-2014, approved by Resolution No 530 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 4 May 2010 and the Action Plan for the implementation of the National Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men for 2010-2014, adopted by Order No A l -323 of the Minister of Social Security and Labour of 7 July 20 IO, aims to ensure consistent, comprehensive and systematic cross-field implementation of the provisions of the Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, as well as European Union (hereinafter referred to as the EU) and international commitments regarding gender

On-going measures:

  • to conduct an extended study and evaluation of the development as regards treatment of women and men in all spheres;
  • to organise seminars to encourage employers to systematically promote equal treatment of women and men in the workplace and equal opportunities for women and men as regards access to employment or promotion to a senior position;
  • to organise a round table discussion on the role of social partners in the implementation of equal opportunities for women and men in the labour market;
  • to organise seminars on discriminatory treatment of women and men in education;
  • to organise seminars in all regions of Lithuania on the implementation of provisional special measures;
  • to organise a competition for employers ensuring equal treatment for men and ”

E. Measures related to international obligations

Accession to the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. The aim is to create conditions for the ratification of the Convention following Lithuania’s accession to the OECD. To successfully accede to this Convention, criminal legislation must contain a special rule providing for the liability of natural and legal persons for the bribery of foreign public officials in international business transactions. The legislation must also prohibit tax deductions from money obtained as bribes, irrespective of this money being accounted for in accordance with applicable legal requirements.”

F. Measures related to cooperation with non-governmental human rights organisations

1.Cooperation and financial support of non-governmental human rights organisations. The aim is to make a financial contribution to the activities of non-governmental human rights organisations.

Non-governmental human rights organisations are annually invited to participate in a competition for partial funding of their activities.

Objective 2: promoting corporate responsibility and respect in the field of business and human rights [pages 5-6]

The Government formulates and implements public policies mindful of the principle of responsible business and corporate social responsibility (hereafter referred to as the CSR) is an essential condition for sustainable development. Therefore, in its efforts to increase economic competitiveness, the Government not only promotes the use of renewable and environment­ friendly technologies that are best fit to meet long-term public needs, but also the development of socially responsible and human rights-minded business.

The CSR category applies to companies that voluntarily go beyond regulatory compliance in addressing social and environmental issues in their business operations. Respect for human rights in business is one of the CSR areas.

The CSR can be seen as corporate policy and practice, where companies voluntarily integrate social, environmental and transparent business concerns in their business operations and their external relations. Together with social and public partners, companies seek innovative solutions to address systemic social, environmental and overall economic well-being problems.

The Commission’s Communication on the renewed EU strategy 2011-14 for Corporate Social Responsibility, adopted on 25 October 2011 (hereinafter referred to as the Communication on CSR strategy) highlights the importance of internationally recognized principles and guidelines, stating that companies may take account of internationally recognized reliable guidelines and principles, provided also by the UN in the field of business and human rights. (…) This document is an important initiative towards the promotion of the CSR across the EU and internationally, harmonization of existing rules and development of new rules in this field. Lithuania supports the aim to encourage as many as possible companies to act responsibly and to set out clear goals for 2015-2020. The priority in the field of CSR should be given to the awareness-raising and best practice exchange; support to various initiatives; cooperation with Member States; education; cooperation between organisations, CSR capacity development across businesses. Proper implementation of the relevant measures could strengthen the integrated approach to the promotion of CSR and contribute to the exchange of best practices and collaboration.

To achieve this objective, the Government shall implement the following measures:

A. lmpłemented and on-going measures for the development of CSR in Lithuania

1. National Strategy for Sustainable Development. The National Strategy for Sustainable Development attributes CSR to the generał priorities of sustainable economic development. The implementation of the principle of participation of enterprises and social partners provides for closer social dialogue, stronger CSR, public and private sector partnership, as well as sustainable consumption and production.

2. National Programme for the Development of The Lithuanian National Programme for the Development of Corporate Social Responsibility for 2009-2013 (hereinafter referred to as the CSR Programme) and the Corporate Social Responsibility Action Plan for 2009-2011 (hereinafter referred to as the CSR Action Plan) were approved by Resolution No 53 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 12 January 20 I O, which was followed by the next CSR Action Plan for 2012-2013 adopted by Resolution No 1057 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on 5 September 2012. These documents aimed to provide for promotion and development of CSR and to invite businesses to apply its principles in their operations, recognizing that socially responsible business responds to public expectations for welfare and serves as the basis for social and economic development.

The CSR Programme provides for key public policies related to the consistent, purposeful and integrated approach of the State towards the CSR, and establishes objectives of developing a CSR-conducive legal and institutional environment; promoting a better CSR understanding, and raising social and environmental awareness; as well as building CSR capacity among businesses and the stakeholders.

The development of CSR-conducive legal and institutional environment has resulted in simplified structure for the coordination of the development of corporate social responsibility and the management of an effective institutional cooperation (by revoking the governmental CSR Development Commission previously required under the CSR Programme), streamlining the quantitative criteria for the assessment of the implementation of the tasks provided for in the CSR Programme, and the decision by the Minister of Social Security and Labour to set up a Committee to monitor the implementation of the National Programme for the Development of Corporate Social Responsibility (hereinafter refe1Ted to as the CSR Committee), which had to oversee the implementation of the National Programme for the Development of Corporate Social Responsibility for 2009-2013.

The CSR Action Plan provides for the publication and regular update of the list of socially responsible national businesses. This list is placed on the website of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.

3. The application of CRS principłes to the state-owned enterprises. One of the objectives of the CSR Programme approved by the Government in 201O is to develop methodological tools for the application of CSR principles, to ensure their dissemination and the exchange of best practices. It was foreseen that state-owned enterprises (hereinafter referred to as the SOE) operating under the principles of good governance may act as examples of socially responsible business. To this end, since 20 I O, actions were taken to restructure SOEs with a particular focus on corporate transparency and social responsibility. SOEs provide important public services as regards energy, water supply, public transport, electronic communications, health, education, social services and others. The application of the tools of socially responsible business may not only ensure that the highest return for the public is generated but can also make a positive impact on social stability and the promotion of business and human rights principles.

Lithuania already has SOEs engaged in socially responsible business initiatives. Model CSR application plan and its implementing guidelines for state-owned enterprises were prepared in 2012 aimed to facilitate introduction of CSR in state-owned enterprises, and to promote the use of CSR principles in their operations. This document lists examples of good practise of CSR in Lithuanian state-owned enterprises, naming among others AB Lesto, AB Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai, and Vilnius International Airport.

National network of responsible business. A Lithuanian National Network of Responsible Business was created in 2005 to provide training opportunities; promote cooperation and partnership among various sectors in Lithuania and abroad towards sustainable development. The Lithuanian Association of the Responsible Business (hereinafter referred to as the LAVA) was founded on 30 August 2013 on the basis of the former informal Lithuanian National Responsible Business Network, having brought together Lithuanian responsible businesses and organisations, mainly members of the United Nations Global Compact.