The Cabinet also states that "Lithuania will apply the convention's provision in accordance with principles and norms enshrined in the Constitutions of the Republic of Lithuania."
"The international law provides such an opportunity to specify in a unilateral statement the contents of one of the other provision of the convention. So in this case, I would say that the government's statement guarantees that, if the convention is ratified, principles and concepts enshrined in the Constitution will be followed," Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius told BNS while commenting on the clause confirmed by the Cabinet.
In his words, such a statement should appease those concerned about certain concepts introduced in the document. Some organizations in Lithuania, notably the Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference, have raised alarm that the notion of "gender", defined in the convention as "socially constructed roles... that a given society considers appropriate for women and men", poses threat to the country's bublic morals and the family.
"One needs to understand those who have doubts as well, since we should not be in opposition with them. We need to take with respect the opinion of the Bishops' Conference - they are concerned about all these things. I guess we need additional explanations and with this statement, we are explaining that nobody will be revising the Constitution, nobody will amend it, and, let's say, the definition of the family concept, which is a concern for many, will remain as it is," Linkevičius said.
Signing the convention will be an important sign that Lithuania cares about the problem of violence against women and that Lithuania is determined to resolve this issue.
"We are adopting the convention for a very clear reason, and it is written in the headline, to prevent all forms of violence against women. We are among countries where, unfortunately, this problem exists. Therefore, to have doubts now or say that it is related with some other things is really unnecessary," the foreign minister said, expressing hope that all questions would be answered during the remaining period until the ratification of the convention.
"I believe the society is transparent, democratic, everyone can express their opinion. I personally always respect bishops' opinion," Linkevičius said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Environment Valentinas Mazuronis told BNS he opposes signing the convention, even though he did not express his disapproval at the Cabinet meeting as he did not attend it.
"I did not attend the meeting, therefore, I am against. And those who attended, so they seem to have a different opinion. I have a different position as a politician, as a member of the Cabinet on the decision if it was made today," he said, adding that the Seimas would still need to ratify the convention, if it's signed by the foreign minister.
"The gender issue, when we talk about five possible genders, is unacceptable for me. I was raised that way and know two genders. I had a mother, had a father, I have a sister, people have brothers. I don't know five genders and don't think it's the right attitude. Some social genders, it seems to me that renaming, reforming some things produced by the nature is unnecessary," Mazuronis told BNS.
The Lithuanian Bishops' Conference earlier called on Lithuanian leaders to not sign and ratify the convention which, in their opinion, proposes notions of gender that do not match human being's biological nature.
"Preventing violence against women and other persons is a noble and commendable goal. Unfortunately, by declaring legitimate objectives, the convention is based on an ideologized attitude to gender as a social construct, which is against a human being's biological nature. By signing and ratifying the convention, Lithuania would be forced to transpose this gender concept into our legal system," the clergy say.
Moreover, they are concerned about the document's provisions committing the signatory countries to update education programs of all levels of formal education with information on non-stereotypical gender roles.
"The latter, among other things, might also mean homosexuality and transsexuality. The attempt to link the noble goal of preventing violence with the introduction of provisions that are foreign to both the Lithuanian education system and also moral values of the majority of parents is raising legitimate concern," the letter reads.
Various public organizations have also expressed concern over the issue.
In March, Lithuanian MP Marija Aušrinė Pavilionienė turned to President Dalia Grybauskaitė asking her to take initiative for Lithuania to sign and ratify the convention. The MP then said she later received an answer from the Presidential Office, saying that the president supported the convention and would make sure it was signed soon.
The Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on May 11, 2011, in Istanbul. 25 countries have signed the convention and three have ratified it.
