Lithuanian parliament appoints new children’s rights ombudswoman

The Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) on Thursday appointed Alina Jakavonienė as the country’s new children’s rights ombudswoman, following a secret ballot, LRT reports.

Jakavonienė, previously deputy director of the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service, secured 85 votes in favour, with six lawmakers opposing, seven abstaining, and one ballot spoiled. Her candidacy was formally registered by the Seimas speaker in late May.

She succeeds Edita Žiobienė, whose five-year term expired on January 7. Žiobienė had led the office since 2010, following a nomination by then-Seimas speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen. Before her appointment, Žiobienė served as head of the Lithuanian Human Rights Centre and as a legal department chief in the Kaunas County Governor’s Administration.