Lithuanian crisis center violated residents' rights, ombudsman finds; rules updated

An investigation initiated by the Seimas ombudsman has uncovered human rights violations at the Trakaï Family and Child Support Crisis Center. The probe was launched after the Seimas Committee on Human Rights received information about potential infringements on the rights and freedoms of the center's residents.

Analysis of the center's internal regulations revealed that staff had the authority to enter residents' rooms at any time. These rooms were not lockable from the inside, and residents' personal belongings were subject to inspection. The center justified these measures by citing the need to ensure rapid response to threats to children's safety in cases of violence or parental substance abuse.

“

The desire to protect the child's interests is understandable and necessary, but each situation should be assessed individually, and in this case, all center clients were subject to the same rules. More control does not always mean more safety, and disproportionate restrictions often lead to the opposite result.

The ombudsman also reviewed the center's rules regarding departures. Residents with children were permitted to leave the center during the day on Thursdays for a maximum of three hours, with prior arrangement. Families identified as needing child protection could leave for up to 24 hours, but only if they had no prior rule violations. The ombudsman concluded that these rules, contrary to the center's explanations, did not adequately protect children's rights. They were deemed incompatible with the right to privacy and potentially violated residents' dignity.

“

It is important to consider that the purpose of any crisis center is to provide temporary shelter, strengthen social integration, and develop independent living skills. However, restricting the right to private life and the opportunity to participate in public life directly contradicts this goal.

While the center's administration emphasized it is not a closed institution, the ombudsman noted that the broad powers granted to staff could lead to disproportionate interference in private family life. "The desire to protect the child's interests is understandable and necessary, but each situation should be assessed individually, and in this case, all center clients were subject to the same rules," the ombudsman stated. "More control does not always mean more safety, and disproportionate restrictions often lead to the opposite result." The ombudsman also highlighted that crisis centers should provide temporary shelter and foster social integration, and restricting the right to privacy contradicts this purpose. Any limitations must stem from identified risks, not institutional convenience.

Additionally, the investigation addressed the absolute ban on keeping pets at the center. The ombudsman argued that pets often provide a sense of security and stability for families, especially children, and their removal could exacerbate the stress experienced by residents. In response to the ombudsman's recommendations, the Trakaï center has updated its rules, removing the identified human rights violations and the pet ban.

“

Each restriction must stem not from the convenience of the institution's internal order, but from the specific risk identified in a given case.