Justice Ministry prepares plan to protect children from sexual abuse

Lithuania’s Justice Ministry is preparing an action plan to protect children from sexual abuse and support victims, LRT reported, citing Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė. She said the ministry had brought together measures proposed by different institutions and hopes to present the plan next week at a government meeting.

The package will include proposals from six ministries. The Social Security and Labour Ministry has suggested measures on child protection and support, while the Education Ministry is preparing a life skills programme to help children recognise inappropriate behaviour.

The Justice Ministry has proposed improving compensation for victims and their protection. The Health Ministry’s contribution covers medication-based treatment for people who have committed offences, Tamašunienė said.

The plan will also include a publicly accessible register of people convicted of crimes against children, which is already under consideration in the Seimas. Under the proposed amendment to the Law on the Fundamentals of Protection of the Rights of the Child, the register would include a convicted person’s name, year of birth, municipality of residence or legal stay, and the date the conviction became final.

The information would remain public for five years after the person had served their sentence. It would then be removed from the register within five working days. The Seimas began considering the proposal, put forward by its Speaker Juozas Olekas, in early September.