On 26 June, Valdas Adamkus, the President of Lithuania vetoed an amended law adopted by the Lithuanian Parliament on 16 June on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information. The law considers public information ‘promoting’ homosexual and bisexual relations detrimental to the “mental health, physical, intellectual or moral development of minors” and prohibits its publication at places or times accessible to children.

On 24 June, Delegates to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly from 18 nationalities and different political groups signed an urgent declaration (http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc09/EDOC11969.htm ), calling upon the President of Lithuania to veto the homophobic law, expressing their shock that this information is classified in the same category as the promotion of drugs or suicide, and the portrayal of killings, mutilation or torture.

IPPF EN who was present in Strasbourg at the time worked strongly with International Gay and Lesbian Association (ILGA) and Amnesty International to organize counteraction. ILGA, with the support of IPPF EN, presented a proposal for a statement to The Human Rights Committee of the International Non Governmental Organisations (INGOs) of the Council of Europe, which was adopted and transferred to president of the INGOs who faxed the appeal to the Lithuanian representation to the Council of Europe and to the President of Lithuania himself.

The President’s veto is an important victory, but Lithuanian LGBT associations and youth groups continue to call upon the support of their international allies since the law will be submitted to the Parliament for a second reading (most likely in autumn) and this could overrule the President’s veto.  

According to LifeSiteNews.com, Poland may soon consider passing a similar law. MP Artur Górski, Deputy Head of the Parliamentary Commission on Polish-Lithuanian cooperation, stated that he intends to copy the Lithuanian law and introduce it before the Polish parliament for adoption.