Human Rights in Lithuania, December 2004

The purpose of the study: to analyze the Lithuanian system for the protection of human rights, identify how people protect violated (abused) rights and how they assess effectiveness of various institutions assuring the human rights. Major investigated questions: respondents were asked what determines whether a person is guilty for doing a crime and to identify which certain actions violate human rights. They were also asked how the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was to be ratified and why the Seimas urgent ratified the Treaty. Respondents evaluated the importance of functions performed by police. It was also examined what social group is discriminated in Lithuania the most, and where and how should live mentally handicapped persons. Respondents were asked what human rights are mostly violated and what institutions mostly violate the human rights. Socio-demographic characteristics: gender, age, education, occupation, nationality, monthly family income per one family member, place of residence, region.