Press Releases

Women’s Conference in Vilnius is a significant contribution to UN efforts to combat violence

Friday, July 1, Vilnius - President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė had a meeting with the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallstrom.

Margot Wallstrom passed a message from the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in which he underlines that the Conference initiated by the President is a significant contribution to the United Nations efforts to combat violence, trafficking in human beings and sexual violence in conflict. According to the Secretary-General, the United Nations stands ready to assist in delivering on the goals set by the Conference in Vilnius.

In the meeting, the UN Representative and the President discussed violence prevention programmes carried out in Lithuania. President Grybauskaitė mentioned the recent adoption of the law on protection against domestic violence as a significant step towards society without violence.

According to the President, Lithuania has been efficiently implementing, for several years now, the National Strategy for Combating Violence against Women aimed at prevention of violence, assistance to victims and work with perpetrators. Much importance is attached to activities of women NGOs which provide assistance to women victims of violence.

The President and the UN Representative also discussed the Government's Programme for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings that is currently being implemented in Lithuania. According to the President, crime investigation must be strengthened and support to NGOs that provide assistance to victims must be increased.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General welcomed the efforts made by the country to fight against these problems.