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VILNIUS, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite plans to submit law amendments to the parliament (Seimas) to secure children's rights protection, the presidency said on Monday.
The president seeks to ensure that government and society do everything possible to stop multiple incidents when children face aggression or lack of adults'responsibility within their family environment, the presidency's statement read.
According to the President's Office, currently there are around 18,664 children being raised in about 10,000 families at risk in Lithuania. And more than 2,000 children became victims of domestic violence in 2016.
The president is seeking to expand the number of institutions which should take responsibility for monitoring children's rights. She also expects more engagement from the society such as neighbours and local communities, said the statement.
The law amendments also aim at more effective and prompt activities by the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service, and a legal framework to ensure activities of professional guardians who would immediately take care of children facing serious problems at home.
Domestic violence against children has been one of the most sensitive public issues recently in Lithuania, a small Baltic country facing serious demographic challenges such as rapid society ageing and shrinking population. Enditem
