Alina Jakavonienė nominated for child rights ombudsman role

Alina Jakavonienė, currently deputy director of Lithuania’s State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service, has been proposed as the country’s next child rights ombudsman, stating she views the position as “responsibility for children’s real lives, not just formal legal decisions,” LRT reports.

Presenting her priorities to parliament on Wednesday, Jakavonienė emphasised improving the quality of handling individual complaints and their systematic analysis. She stressed that children need “real, coordinated action from all institutions,” noting that services must be not only legally established but also timely and accessible.

Key focus areas in her proposed agenda include adolescent wellbeing, tailored support for behavioural, psychological, and emotional disorders, as well as addressing addiction and social media influences. She also called for nationally binding standards to ensure safe environments for children.

Jakavonienė, who has worked in child protection since 2008 and led the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service until 2019, acknowledged the contributions of current ombudsman Edita Žiobienė in strengthening the system. The ombudsman is appointed and dismissed by parliament for a five-year term upon the speaker’s proposal.

“A strong ombudsman institution benefits not only children and families but the state itself. Protecting children’s rights is the foundation of a mature, responsible, and humane society,” she said.