In 2020, with the support of the project "Strengthening the Response to Hate Crimes and the Language of Hate in Lithuania" funded by the European Union's Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014–2020), the Prosecutor General issued an updated version of the Methodological Recommendations on the Peculiarities of Conducting, Organizing and Guiding the Pre-Trial Investigation of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech.
The Ministry of Interior compiled a practical guide for law enforcement officers on cooperation with communities vulnerable to hate crimes. Under the same ministry, a working group to promote an effective response to hate crimes and hate speech in Lithuania was established in February 2020. The working group consists of representatives of the criminal justice system, other relevant agencies, and civil society. It has been tasked with: (i) considering the issues of raising public awareness of hate crimes and hate speech, promoting dialogue with vulnerable communities and other ways to increase the effectiveness of the fight against hate crimes and hate speech and making relevant proposals; (ii) monitoring the implementation of the international obligations in the field of prevention of hate crimes and hate speech, and preparing proposals on their proper implementation; (iii) assessing relevant applicable and draft legislation; (iv) considering the issues involved in improving the monitoring of hate crime and hate speech in Lithuania; (v) preparing and publishing annual reports on hate crimes and hate speech in Lithuania; (vi) exchanging relevant information on planned and ongoing activities and best practices in the field of prevention of hate crime and hate speech; (vii) initiating events to strengthen the public's capacity to recognise hate crimes and hate speech, reduce the latency of hate crime, and strengthen the relevant competences of law enforcement institutions and other state institutions and bodies and civil society organisations (CSOs); and (viii) considering the recommendations of international organisations, NGOs, and other organisations with regard to the response to hate crimes and hate speech in Lithuania and preparing proposals for their implementation.
The records under this category include anti-Roma and anti-Semitic hate crime. The number for 'Disturbance of the peace' is the number of cases under Article 284 of the Criminal Code ("Violation of Public Order").
The records under this category include exclusively hate crimes committed with a bias based on sexual orientation.
ODIHR recognizes Lithuania's efforts to address hate crimes in a comprehensive manner, namely through establishing a relevant working group under the Ministry of Interior. However, based on the available information, it observes that Lithuania has not made hate crime data public. In addition, Lithuania would benefit from raising the awareness and building the capacity of criminal justice officials about hate crimes.
ODIHR recalls that in the Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, participating States have committed to making reliable and detailed data and statistics on hate crimes public. In the Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, 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 providing further tailored capacity building assistance for police, prosecution, and judiciary.
In addition to incidents summarized below, this graph includes 1 hate incident reported by Kantor Center as statistics.