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Lithuania has already been under international scrutiny since the revelation of its involvement in aiding the United States to set up secret prisons and detention centres in the country. The arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of persons suspected of terrorism is a major cause of concern.
Reports of human rights violations against refugees and migrants, poor detention conditions, and improper investigations of the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials are rampant. Conditions of detention, particularly inter-prisoner violence, drug trafficking, lack of healthcare and medical treatment and lack of training of prison staff, violate international standards set by the UN Convention against Torture.
The OMCT is particularly concerned about the torture and other ill-treatment of refugees, asylum-seekers, and undocumented migrants at the border. According to reports, the military police use tear gas and military dogs to attack refugee children. Moreover, refugee camps are overcrowded, unsanitary, and lack basic provisions such as drinking water, heat and food. Gender-based violence and the lack of access to legal assistance have also been reported.