VILNIUS 's Lithuania's parliament is looking for ways to ensure protection of the nation's refugees. The parliamentary committee on human rights, in cooperation with representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, held a conference on refugee protection on June 10.
UNHCR Representative Machiko Kondo said that a dialogue between governmental institutions, the public and refugees was needed to solve asylum policy problems.
"Only a dialogue between the government, Parliament, non-governmental organizations, scientists and refugees themselves can ensure the protection of refugees in this changing political, economic, social environment," Kondo stated
Last year, Parliament amended the law on the status of foreign nationals, toughening refugee status requirements and leaving fewer possibilities for them to abuse the asylum system.
