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VILNIUS, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian government on Thursday approved amendments to the country's legislation that legalizes registered partnership between man and woman.
According to the country's government, the approved amendments regulate rights and duties of different gender persons who live together but have not registered their marriage. The cabinet's approved amendments need to be adopted at the Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament.
Lithuania's minister of justice Juozas Bernatonis emphasizes that the country is one of a few European Union member countries that have not legally established partnership between the man and the woman.
"Today the government made a very important step that will ensure appropriate protection of the rights and interests of tens of thousands of couples and their children," Bernatonis was quoted as saying by ELTA news agency.
He expressed his hope that the country's parliament "will follow the government's example".
The amendments are aimed at protecting the rights of non-married persons living together and their children, according to an announcement from the government.
According to the Lithuanian government, the legalization of partnership between the man and the woman is important for around 200,000 persons living together without a registered marriage.
Recent surveys show 84 percent of the country's population support the registered partnership between the man and the woman. Enditem
