Our House Could Become a Platform for Alternative Service in Lithuania
Human rights defenders ask the Ministry of Defence to allow alternative service at “Our House”.
Olga Karach, Director of the human rights organisation VšĮ “Our House Centre for Human Rights and Relief”, has sent an official request to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence asking for clarification of the rules and procedures for alternative service and for the inclusion of organisations in the list of institutions where such service can be carried out.
In the letter, the organisation emphasises its recognised expertise in defending the right to conscientious objection. Our House is a member of the National Council of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) and cooperates with War Resisters’ International and other international human rights networks.
The request to the Ministry of Defence seeks clear answers to several practical questions:
- where the official list of organisations and institutions authorised to host alternative service is published;
- what the procedure is for adding a new organisation (including Our House) to this list;
- how young people can choose a specific organisation for performing their alternative service;
- what documents and actions are required from both the organisation and the individual to start the procedure.
Including human rights and social organisations that support conscientious objectors in Lithuania’s alternative service system would create a legal and transparent mechanism for such individuals and would also encourage international exchange of experience with conscientious objectors from other countries.
The letter was sent to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence with a copy addressed to the Minister.
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