Lithuania made progress in several areas of human rights in 2025, but many issues remain unresolved because existing laws often fail to translate into practical improvements in people’s daily lives, the country’s parliamentary ombudsmen said Tuesday.
“Progress in human rights must be measured by the results for the individual – whether a person actually manages to cross the bridge from formally existing laws to everyday reality without having to fight for it,” Ombudsperson Erika Leonaitė said during the presentation of the 2025 human rights monitoring report.
The report found no significant change in the prevalence of violence, with overall trends remaining similar to previous years. Authorities received 55,900 reports of domestic violence last year, about 1,500 more than in 2024, while 4,300 related criminal acts were registered.
Women accounted for 75% of domestic violence victims. More than half, 54%, of domestic violence protection orders were issued repeatedly, highlighting concerns about repeat offenses and the effectiveness of existing safeguards.
The ombudsmen identified the absence of a legal definition of systemic violence, a lack of long-term protection mechanisms for victims facing repeat abuse and the growing prevalence of cyber and sexual violence as key challenges.
