Lithuania

The Law on Youth Policy Framework (2003) establishes the framework for coordination, implementation and development of youth policy. It enshrines four principle youth rights to guide youth policy:

1. Enjoyment of all youth rights and freedoms;

2. Equal rights and protection from discrimination;

3. Proper social environment;

4. All-round education

The National Youth Policy Action Plan (2022) identifies the main problems to be addressed regarding youth: social security, lack of interest in social activities, underdeveloped youth work and youth employment infrastructure, lack of participation in youth work organisations, and insufficient cooperation between the public, private, and non-governmental sectors. The plan further defines objectives for addressing each problem, criteria for evaluating implementation, and a proposed budget for each objective.

The Ministry of Social Security and Labour is tasked with developing a national youth policy, supervising the implementation of the Law on Youth Policy Framework (2003), and implementing youth policy measures established by the European Commission. The Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour develops and implements the national youth policy and analyses the situation of youth and youth organisations. The Commission for Youth and Sports Affairs is a parliamentary committee which analyses, scrutinises and provides advice for the implementation of the state youth policy.

The Lithuanian Youth Council (LiJOT) is the largest non-governmental youth organisation in Lithuania and serves as an umbrella organisation for national and regional youth organisations. LiJOT represents the interests of youth, contributes to the formation and implementation of youth policy, and provides information and training to youth work organisations. It is an active member of the European Youth Forum and is currently working on aiding the European Union Youth Dialogue and promoting knowledge and evidence-based youth representation at the European level.

The 2019 Amendment to the Law on Youth Policy Framework (2003), which aimed to establish basic principles of youth work in Lithuania, defines youth work as "an activity designed to create conditions for a young person to engage in personal, professional and social activities, to develop his or her competencies." The Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour provides certifications for youth workers and helps fund youth work organisations. A main concern pointed out in the National Youth Policy Action Plan (2022) has been the lack of interest of youth in participating in youth work, which causes an overall lack of involvement of youth in social activities that can strengthen citizenship. The Action Plan thus calls for further development of the youth work system and infrastructure.

According to the National Youth Policy Action Plan (2022), the implementation of the measures of the plan is to be financed from the Lithuanian state budget. Chapter IV of this plan details the expected funds needed for achieving its objectives. In total, this amounts to approximately EUR 2.7 million (USD 2.9 million) for 2022, with minimal increases in two areas planned for 2023 and 2024. The largest budget items go towards developing existing and creating new youth work organisations and providing funding for them.