On March 19th the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania (Seimas) hosts the discussion European and Lithuanian Values: Identical or Different?

On March 19^th the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania (Seimas) hosts the discussion European and Lithuanian Values: Identical or Different?. The event is dedicated to the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the European-wide Action Week against Racism and other forms of intolerance. The discussion will be moderated by Mr. Leonidas Donskis, Member of European Parliament.

The panellists of the discussion are Mr. Henrikas Mickevicius (Executive Director of the Human Rights Monitoring Institute), Ms. Ulrika Cronenberg (Ambassador of Sweden in Lithuania), Ms. Ausrine Marija Pavilioniene (Member of Seimas), Mr. Dainius Puras (Member of UN Committee on the Rights of the Child), Ms. Randi Solberg (Adviser at the Norwegian Equality- and Anti-discrimination Ombud's office) and other participants.

According to H. Mickevicius, judging from political decisions of the recent years it would be natural to ask a question either Lithuanian political practice doesn’t challenge the fundamentals of Western liberal democracy. Talking more concrete, doesn’t it challenge commitments of Lithuania in the field of human rights?

“It’s of crucial importance to start a public and open discussion on these issues, otherwise Lithuanian people can be easily manipulated by the politicians, who have specific views on democracy and human rights”, H. Mickevicius tells.

The discussion will start at 10.00 a.m. and it will take place at the Constitution Hall of Seimas (Gedimino 53, Vilnius).

The discussion is organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania, The Human Rights Monitoring Institute and The Committee on Human Rights of Seimas.