European Network of Ombudspersons for Children

ANNUAL CONFERENCE& GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Strasbourg,7, 8 & 9 th, October

2010

SUMMARY OF ANNUAL ACTIVITIES

Ombudsman for Children of the Republic of Lithuania

Ombudsman for ChildrenOn 25th of March 2010 the third Ombudsman for Children

Mrs. EDITA ZIOBIENE was appointed by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (for 5 year term)

• Educational background:- 2004-2010 Director of the Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights- 2003-to the present Assoc. Prof. For Comparative Constitutional Law, Institutional

Human Rights Protection and Media Law at Constitutional Law Department, Mykolas Romeris University

• Participation:- Since 2005 to the present Member of EU Network of Legal Experts in Non-

discrimination Field- 2005-2010 Chairpersons of the Ethics Commission of Journalists and Publishers- Since 2007 to the present Additional Member of the Advisory Committee on the

Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities- Since 2006 to the present Board Member of ENAR (European Network against

Racism and Xenophobia)- 2005-2006 Member of the EU Network of Independent Experts on Fundamental

Rights

Office of Ombudsman for Children• AnniversaryThis autumn the Office of Ombudsman for Children is going to celebrate 10th

Anniversary:-round table discussion on the role of the Ombudsman for Children-competition of the new logo of the Office (created by children)

• Structure: 17 civil servants (advisers, specialists); 6 contractual employees .

• Location: the Office has moved to a separate premises (accessibility for children) .

Complaints:In 2009: - 407 written complaints;

- 297 investigations started by the initiative of the Ombudsman. From 1st January to 1st of September 2010:

– 218 written complaints; - 76 investigations started by the initiative of the Ombudsman.

The main applicants:members of family – 95 percent; children – 5 percent.

Policies (streamlines)

• The main activities are directed to:

- an essential monitoring of the implementation of the child rights in Lithuania;

- improvement of the conditions of children in care institutions;

- adoption of the Law on prohibition of corporal punishment;

- improvement of the conditions of children having behavioral problems (delinquents);

- child friendly justice.