LITHUANIA | The Seimas Ombudsman has paid attention to the detention conditions of refugees in Lithuania

During the third quarter of the year, the Seimas Ombudsman Augustinas Normantas visited almost all the institutions that are responsible for the custody of aliens in Lithuania. By performing national prevention of torture under the Optional Protocol (OPCAT) to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Seimas Ombudsman Mr Normantas has monitored the Foreigners Registration Centre, the Refugees Reception Centre and the Frontier Stations of Vilnius and Ignalina Frontier Districts.

After visits to all the aforementioned institutions, the Seimas Ombudsman Mr Normantas invited Renata Kuleš,a representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Lithuania to discuss recommendations provided to monitored institutions and called for closer cooperation with Ms Kuleš in combating human rights violations regarding the custody of aliens in Lithuania.

The Seimas Ombudsman Mr Normantas introduced a national programme for the prevention of torture and discussed procedures for the implementation of recommendations submitted by the Seimas Ombudsman concerning the elimination of human rights violations. The meeting also served as a platform for a discussion concerning cooperation in performing human rights monitoring in different institutions. Furthermore, the representative of the UNHCR in Lithuania Ms Kuleš had an opportunity to introduce the Seimas Ombudsman Mr Normantas to the UN Detention Guidelines on the Applicable Criteria and Standards relating to the Detentions of Asylum Seekers and Alternatives to Detention.

For more information, please see the Press Release by the Seimas Ombudsmen's Office of the Republic of Lithuania.

Source: The Seimas Ombudsmen's Office, LITHUANIA