Vilnius University Was Awarded for Its Significant and Historically Meaningful Contribution to Advancing Equal Opportunities in Lithuanian Society

On November 22nd, a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Equal Opportunities Act took place in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. During the event, the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman, in collaboration with the Seimas Committee on Human Rights, presented an acknowledgement to Vilnius University (VU) for its significant and historically important contribution to promoting equal opportunities in Lithuanian society.

The event reflected on the behind-the-scenes developments during the adoption of the law in 2003 and discussed the evolution of two decades of equal opportunities protection, as well as deliberated on what lies ahead in the future. VU's Pro-Rector for Organizational Development and Community Affairs, Prof. Vilmantė Pakalniškienė, was also present at the commemoration and received the acknowledgement.

“It is very gratifying that the activities of VU employees in the field of equal opportunities have been recognised. We are certainly moving in the right direction. Nevertheless, we must continue to think about what we can do better to ensure equal opportunities in our community. During the conference, it was emphasized that we must ensure equal opportunities and find ways to practically implement them. VU's values declare openness and integrity, which are strongly linked to ensuring equal opportunities. So, we just have to work to ensure that these values live on and thrive,” shared Prof. V. Pakalniškienė.

VU was the first university in Lithuania to approve an Equal Opportunities Strategy. Additionally, VU has a longstanding partnership with the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman, involving collaboration in organising training and consulting on activities or specific cases of discrimination.