This book analyses the current legal situation and protection of vulnerable groups in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland. In recent decades, national legislation in many European states has especially focused on vulnerable groups with the aim of securing their enhanced protection and social inclusion. This trend is also noticeable in North-Eastern Europe, where the legal frameworks are constantly being revised to address the needs of vulnerable parts of society, including women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and minorities, as well as prisoners and victims of crime. But despite these positive changes, many challenges persist.
In this book, the authors provide a comprehensive, comparative analysis of legal regulations and practices intended to protect vulnerable groups in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, and in the process, share insights into the current situation and trends in this often-overlooked region. Part I introduces readers to the topic by defining the concept of vulnerable groups and elaborating on its understanding in the European and national contexts. Part II analyses the legal protection of groups characterised by inherent and/or circumstantial vulnerability, while Part III addresses specific crime-related vulnerability issues in the target region. In closing, Part IV puts the spotlight on three specific vulnerable groups in the discussed countries.
Introduction.- Part I. Vulnerable groups: defining the ever-changing
concept.- Definition of vulnerable groups.- Vulnerable groups in the case-law
of the European Court of Human Rights.- The role of constitutional justice
institutions in the protection of vulnerable groups.- Part II. Legal
protection of groups with inherent vulnerability.- Protection of children
rights in North-Eastern Europe in family cases.- Protection of womens
rights: in search of balance between work and family life.- Protection of
elderly employees in the ageing society: experience of Lithuania and
Estonia.- Improving the financial situation of the elderly? Towards better
pension regulation in the Baltic States.- Protecting persons with
disabilities: empowering by law.- Provision of services in long-term mental
health and social care institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic: meeting and
overcoming the challenges.- Part III. Circumstantial vulnerability.-
Developing a child-friendly juvenile justice system inLithuania.- The dignity
of punishment: vulnerable prisoners rights in Lithuania.- Domestic violence
against women in Lithuania and Poland Seeking adequate protection of
victims.- Implementation of the Victims Rights Directive in the Baltic
States: challenges and achievements.- Chasing the high: drug users as a
vulnerable group.- Minorities in North-Eastern Europe.- Legal protection of
national minorities in North-Eastern Europe: current issues. Religious
minorities and their rights in Latvia.- Between injustice and legal change:
the situation of LGBTQ+ people in Latvia and Lithuania
Dr. Agn Limant is a chief researcher at the Law Institute of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences. She has received an MA in EU law from Kings College London and a PhD degree from Vilnius University, Lithuania. Her particular research interests include human rights, family law and private international family law. Overall, after defending her PhD thesis, dr. Limant has published over 30 scientific papers in national and international journals or as chapters of books.
Dr. Dovil Prait-Andrikien is a researcher and the Head of Legal System Research Department of the Law Institute of the Centre for Social Sciences of Lithuania. She has received a PhD degree from Vilnius University, Lithuania. Dr Prait-Andrikien is an expert of Lithuanian and comparative constitutional law, constitutional justice procedure, human rights. She also teaches at the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University and is a postdoctoral fellow of this faculty.
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