Submitted by Denitsa on
This report is part of CRIN's access to justice for children project, looking at the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in national law, the status of children involved in legal proceedings, the legal means to challenge violations of children’s rights and the practical considerations involved in challenging violations.
The CRC has the force of law in Lithuania and takes precedence over conflicting provisions of national legislation. The Convention can be directly enforced and has been cited by national courts. In general, children under the age of 18 must be represented by their parent and only children aged 14 or above can apply independently to the court for protection of their rights in cases where the child considers that his or her parents abuse his or her rights. Children are eligible for legal aid, but there are no provisions for waiving court costs in relation to children’s rights cases and no legal regulation of pro bono practice.
