Lithuania

Before 1998, Lithuania conducted the most trade with Russia among the Baltic states. Therefore, the year after the 1998 Russian financial crisis, Lithuania fell into its own financial and economic crisis in 1999 as a result of both inadequate response to the Russian financial crisis, as well as wrong footed government policies. In November 1999, unemployment rose to 12.6% from 5.5% the previous year.

Lithuania has recently rebounded and consistently strived to further lower the unemployment rate. Unemployment dropped from 11% in 2003 to 5.3% in 2005. Furthermore, Lithuania was found to have the highest economic growth rate at 8.8% 2003.

Despite all the economic progress that Lithuania has made, a relatively high percentage of the population lives in relative poverty. With the relative poverty line set at 50% of the median income, around 16% of the population is estimated to live below the poverty line. At least 30,000 or almost 1 % of the Lithuanian population live in extreme poverty.

Poverty is greatest in small towns as well as rural areas. The most vulnerable group are young families that have two or more children, the disabled, the long-term unemployed, as well as those who have lost all hope of finding work. It is suspected, however, that more people live in poverty that what is usually documented. When 4756 random people from different populations were surveyed, 77% designated themselves as being poor. Although the survey may have had it’s flaws, 77% is extremely higher than the reported 16%.

One of the main human rights issues in Lithuania is the poor prison conditions. Prison conditions continue to be poor and life threatening. There is overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and limited access to medical services. Additionally, prison authorities have been found to arbitrarily restrict rights of prisoners with good conduct records, separate prisoners with HIV, and did not ensure prisoners access to medical services. The lack of mental health treatment available to prisoners is thought to contribute to the increase in suicides within prison walls. Although the number of complaints have increased from 180 in 2004 to 283 in 2005, little has been done to better the prison conditions, explaining the increase in injuries inflicted by other prisoners as well as self-inflicted injuries.

In 2005, a rise in anti-Semitic incidents was also found. These incidents include acts of vandalism against Jewish graves and monuments as well as anti-Semitic statements made during public gatherings. The main gateway of spreading these anti-Semitic proclamations is through the Internet, making it now surprise that anti-Semitic remarks made by extremists also rose in 2005. Although politicians and most media outlets generally criticize anti-Semitic statements, little action has been taken to permanently stop them.

Lithuania is surrounded by countries where HIV is highly prevalent. The number of HIV infections among intravenous drug users (IDUs) is high in neighboring Belarus, Latvis, Estonia, Poland, and Russia. In the past 1-4 years, HIV infection among IDUs in neighboring has only increased. Although there is no doubt that Lithuania is affected by IDUs of neighboring countries as 64% of the HIV cases were likely infected through intravenous drug use, Lithuania is considered to have a low HIV prevalence. Studies showed that the most heavily affected area is the harbour Klaipėda where 157 of the approximate 1300 people in Lithuania are found. The capital Vilnius is the second most heavily affected location with 102 reported cases.

Because Lithuania’s low HIV prevalence rate, it is thought that the HIV/AIDS problem has been underestimated by social institutions and Lithuanian authorities.

Lithuania’s main environmental issue is air pollution. Like in most other countries, industry, transport, and energy are the main sources of air pollution. However, the biggest source of air pollution are transport emissions, accounting for 98%. The other main sources of contaminatedair emissions are in industrial centers and cities, such as Kaunas, Vilnius and Klaipeda. Because production has increased in several cities, increased pollution accompanies the country of Lithuania.

Furthermore, another main source of air pollution is within the actual household. Damp and mold within the household affects health, particularly released when heating systems release pollutants and from pollutants from construction materials, lifestyle, and furniture. For this reason, it was found that death as a result of respiratory disease accounts for 4% of child mortality.

In Lithuania, primary and basic education is compulsory for children under 16 years old. In 2003, 72.8% of basic education graduates continued their education at secondary schools. Out of the people that continued to secondary education only 68.8% entered higher education. That means that only 50% of people enter college.

One area, however that Lithuania is particularly lacking in, is information technology (IT). Because conditions for development of IT in rural areas is especially unfavorable, Lithuania is lagging far behind other European countries. Among other countries of Europe Lithuania is 3rd from the bottom of the list. Some of the many reasons why learning information technology is so low in Lithuania is because most people cannot afford the tools necessary, lack opportunities to learn how to apply them, and because there is no governmental institution with relevant authority to manage, regulate and coordinate activities of the development of information society. It was found that only 8% of the Lithuanian population constantly. Because information technology is such an important tool that allows global connection, Lithuania needs to produce better opportunities for people to apply and learn about it immediately, or they are bound to fall further and further behind technologically.

Council of Lithuanian Youth Organization - is a voluntary union of non-governmental youth organizations. It promotes youth initiative through mutual understanding and cooperation within and among different organizations. Because they believe that the youth is key to Lithuania’s future, they promote activities that are constructive and useful for the state and society.

Volunteer Centre of Lithuania is an organization that intends to establish a sense of voluntary traditions in Lithuania. It provides a link between non-profit organizations and potential volunteers. Because Lithuania has no long lasting traditions in the field of volunteering, the term volunteer is perceived in Lithuania in a narrow sense. The main objective, which is to establish a sense of voluntarism in the country, is therefore essential in order to attract volunteers in the community.

Women’s Activity Center of Marijampole District is the only organization in the region that provides services for women ages 18 year old and up. A majority of its members suffer from unemployment, disabilities, depression, domestic violence, poverty and/ or a lack of education. The organization offers assistance for women in spheres of social status, family matters, employment, health issues, and any other urgent problems facing women in society. However, they believe that promoting women’s self confidence is essential throughout the process and they open educational opportunities for women so they can actively participate in the legislation of laws affecting women.

Peace United is a project lead by Team Lithuania, that attempts to make its way all around the world. They target schools, non-profit, as well as international organizations to promote ideas of peace together, leaving no one behind. Peace United promotes a new global movement for education, reconciliation, peace, and culture worldwide for all people of good will regardless of citizenship, race, beliefs, origins, or financial status.

Lithuanian Red Cross is an organization dedicated to encouraging humanitarian initiatives in Lithuania. They bring assistance to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it is found, without discrimination. By respecting life and health, the Red Cross ensures respect for the entire human being, to promote mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation among people all over the world.

TRIALOG is an organization that promotes awareness about the north-south issue in relation to the expansion of the European Union by creating a network of partnership organizations within European countries to widen the exchange of information and ideas between the organizations in the European countries. Through the TRIALOG NGO databank, partner organizations find mutual development projects to expand existing networks and to enable the exchange of information.

Lithuanian Orphanage Fund, Inc. is a non-profit organization that supports 2 birthing hospitals, 5 children’s clinics, and 8 orphanages in Lithuania. Their goal is to ease some of the children’s suffering by providing them with surgical equipment, doctors, medicine, toys and clothing. The Lithuanian Orphanage Fund, Inc also sponsors fully paid two-week summer camps by the Baltic Sea for orphans. Their goal this year is to provide 6 camps for 1,000 children. LOF, Inc. is the only Lithuanian organization whose sole concern is the welfare of children.