ALDE Party member Freedom Party (Laisvės partija) celebrated three decisions by Lithuania’s Constitutional Court in recent weeks as a significant step forward for individual freedoms in the country.
Party members initiated three appeals on the subjects of civil unions, assisted reproduction and the abolition of censorship that will now be integrated into the country’s constitution.
On 17 April, the Constitutional Court ordered that civil union partnerships must be available to both different-sex and same-sex couples, effectively obliging courts to register partnerships even in the absence of a law.
“This is a decision that we have achieved together. We have put this subject on the political agenda, we have drafted the appeal to the Constitutional Court, we have defied pressure and sometimes painful compromises, and today we can say that our efforts have produced a result that will help people to actually uphold their rights,” said party leader Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius.
The Court also ruled it is unconstitutional to ban unmarried couples or single women from using assisted reproductive technology. The law must be reviewed and corrected by the Lithuanian Parliament.
“The Freedom Party consistently said that such bans not only violate inherent dignity, but also push Lithuanian people to seek help abroad. Thanks to our persistent work, to our principles, to our clear values, we have taken another step towards a state in which everyone has the right to a family, regardless of their marital status or gender,” said former Member of Parliament Morgana Danielė.
A third victory came when the Constitutional Court ruled that disseminating information to minors that "disparages family values" or promotes family concepts differing from those in the Constitution and Civil Code (such as rainbow families) is unconstitutional.
“This is not only a legal victory, but also a bright memory of our party founder Neringa Dangvydė-Macate. She was not only a principled human rights defender who fought tirelessly for a just Lithuania, but also a person who embodied our values and the belief that everyone has the right to live in dignity and freedom,” said a party statement.