Lithuanian child welfare agrees not to remove children from family after baby's death

Child welfare authorities in Lithuania have reached an agreement not to remove six children from a family in the Ukmergė district, following a controversial plan to take the children away after the death of a baby.

The family's legal representative, Dalia Jasevičienė, announced that the decision was made after discussions with the Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service (VTAĮT) and intermediaries. She stated that the authorities will not offer case management for the family, provided no violations of the children's rights are identified.

"There was an agreement with the help of a mobile team and the mediation of two other individuals," Jasevičienė told ELTA. "And they will not offer case management. But in order for you not to offer case management, you must not establish violations of children's rights. So, the question then is about these violations of children's rights – what she (L. Baranauskienė) will write there, what that letter will look like, and what kind of document it might be. I, you know, can't imagine. But there is an agreement that L. Baranauskienė will prepare the documents on Monday, which will clearly state that neither now nor due to any other circumstances, given the current situation, will the children be taken away."

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There was an agreement with the help of a mobile team and the mediation of two other individuals. And they will not offer case management. But in order for you not to offer case management, you must not establish violations of children's rights.

ELTA previously reported that the VTAĮT had decided to remove the children, including the deceased infant, from the family. The service later explained that this was an error, as they were only informed of the baby's death days later. The baby, born in May with Patau syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, died at Kaunas Clinics. While the infant's critical condition was a factor, child welfare officials stated that other circumstances necessitated ensuring the children's safety. The VTAĮT had not yet sought court permission to remove the children, and officials indicated they might change their decision if the parents cooperated.

The family has been known to VTAĮT specialists since 2018. Separately, the Prosecutor's Office has launched a pre-trial investigation into the baby's death, examining potential abuse of parental rights or duties.

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But there is an agreement that L. Baranauskienė will prepare the documents on Monday, which will clearly state that neither now nor due to any other circumstances, given the current situation, will the children be taken away.