Robert Spano, President of the European Court of Human Rights, Makes an Official Visit to Vilnius University

President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), Robert Spano, will visit Vilnius University (VU) on 29 April. There, he will meet with representatives of the University and the Rector, Professor Rimvydas Petrauskas, and will take part in a discussion on the European Convention on Human Rights.

The following guests from the ECtHR will attend the discussion: President Robert Spano, Lithuanian Judge Egidijus Kūris, and Deputy Registrar Abel Campos. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to the Council of Europe, Andrius Namavičius, and the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Vilnius University, Tomas Davulis, will also participate in the event. The discussion will be moderated by Karolina Bubnytė-Širmenė, representative of the Government of Lithuania to the ECtHR.

During the discussion, the participants will seek answers to questions about freedom of expression and hatred and will explore the content, meaning and future of the rule of law, as one of the fundamental values underpinning the system of the ECJ and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The discussion will be held from 2.00 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. at Aula Parva, the Small Hall of Vilnius University (Universiteto g. 3, Vilnius), and will be streamed live on the VU YouTube channel. A simultaneous translation into both languages is scheduled to take place.

After the discussion, at 4.00 p.m., the delegation will hold a meeting with the Rector of Vilnius University and the Dean of the Faculty of Law, while a Guest Book signing ceremony will take place. At 4.30 p.m. the guests will continue their visit to the White Hall, P. Smuglevičius Hall and Lelevel’s Hall of the VU Library, where they will have an opportunity to see the exhibits that include manuscripts and rare prints.

The ECtHR, based in Strasbourg, France, was founded on the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted in 1950. The Court hears complaints from individuals, groups of individuals and non-governmental organisations, concerning alleged violations of their rights or freedoms under the European Convention on Human Rights and its Additional Protocols.

Robert Spano is an Icelandic lawyer, judge and President of the ECtHR. He took up this role on 18 May 2020. Prior to taking office, he served as interim Ombudsman of the Icelandic Parliament and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Iceland.

Robert Spanos’ visit is organised by the Ministry of Justice in cooperation with the Constitutional Court and the Judicial Council.