Lithuanian parliament to hold extraordinary session to pass law on children's rights protection

VILNIUS - The Seimas will next month hold an extraordinary session to pass a framework law on children's rights protection, Rima Baskiene, the deputy speaker of the Lithuanian parliament.

The decision comes after a four-year-old boy was severely beaten and died in hospital on Friday morning.

Lawmakers have already started to collect signatures for an extraordinary session, but a simpler way would be for the Seimas Board to convene it, the deputy speaker said.

"I do appreciate the initiative by the members of the Seimas, but 47 signatures need to be collected. I believe the board will approve the proposal to convene an extraordinary session during its meeting on Wednesday," she said.

According to the deputy speaker, the parliament would debate a whole package of amendments drafted by the Social Security and Labor Ministry during the extraordinary session, which is tentatively planned for Feb. 14.

Lawmakers will use the time before the start of the session to discuss the draft legislation, she added.

The four-year-old boy on Wednesday evening was rushed from his home in Kedainiai, in central Lithuania, to hospital in a critical condition.

Prosecutors on Friday will ask a court to warrant the arrest of the boy's mother and stepfather, who are suspected of causing serious injuries to the child.