After meeting with representatives from NGOs “Sienos grupė” and “Centre for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Exploitation” Mantautas Šulskis, Emilija Švobaite, and Kristina Mišiniene, Seimas Ombudsperson Erika Leonaitė expressed concern over the actions of State Border Guard Service officers in safeguarding the human rights of those illegally crossing the Lithuanian border.
Ms Leonaitė stated that it is a violation of human rights when foreigners, including minors, are de facto detained in facilities without being informed of the reasons for their detention, without access to their relatives, and sometimes without a lawyer. “Transparent procedures, adequate information, and the provision of translation are the minimum standards that must be respected even in the context of complex geopolitical challenges,“ said Ms Leonaitė.
The Seimas Ombudsperson responded to concerns raised by representatives of the “Siena Group” about the lack of information regarding implementing the bilateral agreement with Latvia and the procedures for returning foreigners who cross the Latvian-Lithuanian border to Latvia. The Ombudsperson emphasised that state procedures should be clear, transparent, and easy to understand.
Kristina Mišinienė, Head of the Centre for Combating Trafficking and Exploitation of Human Beings, pointed out that there is still no effective and transparent procedure for identifying victims of trafficking at the border. Mišinienė notes that while State Border Guard Service officers have received training on human trafficking for ten years, the recent attendees have been individuals performing administrative tasks rather than officers directly interacting with potential victims at the border.
E. Leonaitė emphasised the urgent need to identify potential human trafficking victims at the border effectively. “We have hope that the issue of human trafficking and sexual exploitation will be addressed promptly and constructively with the help of the experienced experts at the Centre for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. We can work towards a solution through ongoing collaboration with specialists providing aid to victims, the Ministry of the Interior, and the State Border Guard Service.”, said Ms Leonaitė.
At the end of the meeting, the Seimas Ombudsperson stressed the importance of the dialogue between civil society representatives, the Ministry of the Interior, and the State Border Guard Service to ensure vulnerable persons’ rights. “In a democracy, involving civil society in decision-making is essential. State institutions should not distance themselves from human rights defenders due to fear of criticism,” Leonaitė said.
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