Lithuania Proposes Stricter Protection Orders Amid Domestic Abuse Surge

The Lithuanian Parliament’s Commission on Suicide and Violence Prevention has launched a critical review of the nation’s domestic violence laws, warning that a dramatic rise in reported cases is exposing significant gaps in institutional response. While officials view the surge in reporting as a sign of increased public trust and better recognition of abuse, the infrastructure designed to protect victims—particularly in rural areas and for those with disabilities—is struggling to keep pace.

Data presented by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour reveals a sharp upward trajectory in domestic violence reports. In 2022, police received approximately 19,000 reports; by 2024, this figure climbed to 33,200. Although 2025 saw a slight stabilization at 28,300 reports, the demand for specialized complex assistance remains at historic highs. This trend has forced a parliamentary reckoning over whether the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence is functioning as intended or merely existing as a “paper reality.”

Institutional Strain and the Data Gap

One of the primary challenges identified by the Commission is the inadequacy of current data collection methods. At present, statistics are gathered only twice a year and lack the granular detail necessary to track long-term outcomes. Modesta Petrauskaitė, Chair of the Commission, emphasized that without a system to monitor individual cases over time, it is impossible to assess whether the assistance provided was effective or if victims are falling back into cycles of abuse.

To address this, the Ministry is developing a new information system for Specialized Help Centers (SKPC). This digital infrastructure will allow authorities to track the history of assistance provided to individuals via unique identification codes. The goal is to move toward a more proactive, rather than reactive, support model that can identify high-risk patterns before they escalate into life-threatening situations.

Disparities in Regional Support and Accessibility

The Commission highlighted a troubling “postcode lottery” regarding the quality of protection. While national awareness campaigns have been successful in major urban centers, the reach of preventive measures and specialized help remains inconsistent across Lithuania’s 60 municipalities. In remote regions, victims often face geographic isolation and a lack of specialized staff capable of handling complex cases.

This accessibility gap is most pronounced for persons with disabilities. The number of disabled individuals seeking specialized assistance has skyrocketed from 363 in 2020 to 1,679 in 2025. This nearly five-fold increase has caught many institutions off guard, revealing a lack of communication materials in accessible formats and a shortage of staff trained to meet the specific physical and psychological needs of this demographic.

Reforming the Protection Order System

A central focus of the legislative review is the effectiveness of the current protection order. Under existing rules, police can issue a 15-day order requiring a perpetrator to vacate the shared residence and cease all contact with the victim. However, institutional representatives admit that this short-term measure is frequently ignored by repeat offenders.

Recidivism remains a significant hurdle. Many perpetrators who are issued multiple protection orders refuse to participate in mandatory behavior-change programs and continue to harass their victims. In response, the Commission is backing a proposal to overhaul the system by introducing long-term protection orders that could last several months.

Furthermore, there is a growing consensus on the need to tighten criminal liability for breaching these orders. The Commission argues that without stricter penalties and longer separation periods, the state cannot guarantee the safety of those living under the constant threat of violence. As the Seimas moves toward these legislative adjustments, the focus remains on ensuring that the 23 Specialized Help Centers across the country receive the necessary funding—currently approximately €3.26 million annually—to sustain their operations and upgrade their staff competencies for increasingly complex cases.

Source: ELTA

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Modesta Petrauskaitė

#Domestic Violence#Institutional Reform#Lithuania Policy#Public Safety#Social Justice

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