Lithuanian Law on the protection of minors restricts publication of information on homosexual and bisexual relations

Note with concern the adoption by the Lithuanian Parliament of a law which:- deems public information “agitating” for homosexual and bisexual relations detrimental to the “mental health, physical, intellectual or moral development of minors”;- prohibits the publication of such information except in places or at times when such information would be inaccessible to minors,Are shocked that such information has been classified with the promotion of drugs or suicide, and the portrayal of killings, mutilation or torture;Believe that this legislation will serve only to perpetuate discrimination and intolerance and deny young lesbian, gay and bisexual persons access to information which they need in order to live in accordance with their sexual orientation;Emphasise that these provisions violate both the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,Call upon: - the President of Lithuania to refer the law back to the Parliament for revision in the light of Lithuania’s international human rights obligations;- the Parliament of Lithuania to eliminate all discriminatory references to homosexual and bisexual relationships in this law.Signed: 1HÄGG Carina, Sweden, SOC ....