“Between Justice and Personal Experiences” – an event to discuss the situation of defendants with disabilities in criminal proceedings

Yesterday, on the initiative of Mental Health Perspectives, an important event was held to discuss the situation of defendants with disabilities in criminal proceedings and to present the national research report “Enhancing the Rights of Defendants and Detainees with Intellectual and/or Psychosocial Disabilities: EU Cross-Border Transfers, Detention, and Alternatives”.

Despite the existing legal framework, the situation of defendants with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities and experiencing mental health conditions in Lithuania is a matter of concern as they often face significant difficulties in accessing justice and receiving appropriate support.

We invite you to read the results of the study and its recommendations.

National research report in Lithuanian: https://bit.ly/479CR4c
National research report in English: https://bit.ly/40hChyW

We would like to thank Erika Leonaitė, Head of the Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania, for her meaningful participation, Kristjan Grdan, Vice President of Mental Health Europe, Ignas Rubikas, Head of the Mental Health Division of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania, and Monika Guliakaite-Danisevičienė, a legal expert working in the project. As well as the moderator of the discussion, Roberta Salyne, and all the participants and attendees.

The event is part of the EU funded project “JUSTICE FOR ALL: Enhancing the Rights of Defendants and Detainees with Intellectual and/or Psychosocial Disabilities. EU Cross-Border Transfers, Detention and Alternatives”, implemented by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (Austria) in cooperation with partners across the European Union, including Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (Bulgaria), Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Germany), Antigone (Italy), Peace Institute (Slovenia) and us, Mental Health Perspectives (Lithuania).