Lithuania
Lithuania regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Data are collected by the Police Department under the Ministry of the Interior and the Prosecutor General's Office. Lithuania's annual hate crime report is published here.
Lithuania began implementing ODIHR's Training Against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programme in 2015 and continues to train police officers using ODIHR's training curriculum. In 2018, Lithuania co-organized a workshop on hate crime recording and data collection with ODIHR and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. The workshop was based on ODIHR's Information Against Hate Crimes Toolkit (INFAHCT) and resulted in a set of recommendations for relevant state authorities.
In February 2020, the Lithuanian Ministry of Interior established a working group to promote an effective response to hate crimes and hate speech in Lithuania. The working group consists of representatives of seven national authorities and 11 civil society organizations. The working group proposes measures to strengthen the effectiveness of efforts to address hate crime and hate speech, monitors the implementation of international obligations, considers relevant legislation, and prepares annual reports on the situation of hate crimes and hate speech in Lithuania, among other roles.
In 2023, the Action Plan for the Implementation of Equal Opportunities, 2024-2026, was approved, and includes measures to prevent hate speech and hate crimes. Amendments were also made to recommendations for the pre-trial investigation of hate crime and hate speech, drafted with support from ODIHR, to include a definition of hate crime and bias indicators.
OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES
| Year | Hate crimes recorded by police | Prosecuted | Sentenced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 25 | 8 | 7 |
| 2022 | 34 | 12 | 6 |
| 2021 | 31 | 10 | 10 |
| 2020 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| 2019 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| 2017 | 9 | 4 | 3 |
| 2016 | 20 | 6 | 7 |
| 2015 | 24 | 5 | 4 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| 2012 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| 2011 | 5 | 2 | Not available |
| 2010 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| 2009 | 3 | Not available | Not available |
Hate crime recorded by police
KEY OBSERVATION
ODIHR recognizes Lithuania's efforts to enhance the capacity of prosecutors to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. However, based on the available information, it observes the low numbers of officially recorded hate crimes. In addition, Lithuania would benefit from further building the capacity of prosecutors and judges to address hate crime.
ODIHR recalls that in Ministerial Council Decisions 9/09 and 12/04, OSCE participating States committed to collect reliable data and statistics, take appropriate measures to encourage victims to report hate crimes – including through co-operation with civil society – and to make use of all reliable information available. To that end, a robust system for recording hate crime and initiatives to encourage victims to report such crimes must be introduced. Participating States have also committed to introducing or further developing professional training and capacity-building activities for law enforcement, prosecution, and judicial officials dealing with hate crimes.
ODIHR stands ready to support Lithuania in meeting its relevant commitments through the provision of comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime recording and data collection, as well as by providing further tailored capacity-building assistance for the prosecution, and judiciary.
INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CIVIL SOCIETY
🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.
🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.
🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.
🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.
🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.
🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.
Racist and xenophobic hate crime
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-09 | Threats/Harassment | Lithuanian Gay League (LGL)
|
Show info |
Anti-Christian hate crime
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-02 | Violent attacks against people | Jehovah's Witnesses
|
Show info |
Anti-LGBTI hate crime
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12 | Violent attacks against people | Lithuanian Gay League (LGL)
|
Show info |
| 2023-09 | Threats/Harassment | Lithuanian Gay League (LGL)
|
Show info |