2022 m. October 3 d.

Relevant border and migration issues were discussed with Frontex at the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office

On 29 September, Erika Leonaitė, Head of the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office, received a delegation from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex consisting of officers from 15 different countries. The delegation was interested in the activities of the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office and experience in solving human rights issues related to migration.

When introducing the members of the delegation and the objectives of the visit, Mr. Jonas Grimheden, Frontex Fundamental Rights Officer (FRO), drew attention to the delegation’s desire to gain practical knowledge in the areas of monitoring violations at the border and investigation of migrants’ asylum complaints.

During the meeting, the Head of the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office, Erika Leonaitė, presented the activities of the Office and the mandates of the Seimas Ombudspersons, paying particular attention to the application of these mandates when solving human rights problems in the field of migration. In addition, E Leonaitė presented the legal acts governing performance of the functions of the national prevention of torture, explained the procedure of making recommendations, as well as their implementation and monitoring.

Head of the Human Rights Division of the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office, Vytautas Valentinavičius, when talking about the activities of the Division, briefly presented the reports on the prevention of torture in the field of migration, and in reply to the guests’ questions, delved into the essence of the NPM visits and detailed how such visits differ from the verification of actual circumstances in on-site visits in the field of investigation of complaints.

The guests were interested in the fact whether the representatives of the institution actively participate in solving the problems caused by the migration crisis, how they try to find dialogue with the authorities in order to comply with international standards in the field of migration, what measures do they take when human rights violations are observed at border check points and other places where migrants’ freedom is restricted.

Speaking about the dialogue with the interested administrative authorities, the Head of the Seimas Ombudspersons’ Office emphasized that the representatives of the Office are constantly communicating with the Ministries of the Interior and Social Security and Labour, the State Border Guard Service and other institutions in order to achieve greater efficiency in the implementation of the presented recommendations and in an effort to draw attention to extremely urgent and major issues as well as find solutions based on the protection of human rights.

 

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