In 1918 an independent, democratically governed Lithuania was established. That same year, they became one of the first European countries to grant women suffrage, and implement gender equality laws that ensured the rights of women across all sectors of society. In 1990, Kazimira Prunskienė became the first female Prime Minister of Lithuania, and in 2009 Dalia Grybauskaitė became the first woman to be elected president. Three women have served as head of government with Ingrida Šimonytė currently in office. The 2021 Global Gender Gap Report, which measures economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment ranked Lithuania an impressive 8th out of 156 countries. However, work still remains as the country’s patriarchal structures have maintained traditional gender norms and stereotypes. On average men earn roughly 14 percent more than women, and domestic violence is the second most reported crime in the country. Fortunately, the feminist movement runs deep in Lithuania, and a number of non-governmental organizations such as the Lithuanian Women‘s Lobby Organisation and the Women’s Issues Information Centre are working to establish equal opportunities for women and girls.
Women’s sports have a long- standing tradition in Lithuania with basketball, soccer, and ice hockey ranking among the most popular. Women first started playing competitive basketball in 1919, three years before men, and became vice-champions in the first European women’s basketball championship in 1938. The national team won gold at the EuroBasket championship in 1997 and is currently ranked 31st in the FIBA World Rankings. Diana Gudzinevičiūtė leads the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee, which is one of only four national committees led by a woman. An Olympic gold medal trap shooter in the 2000 Sydney Games, Gudzinevičiūtė established the Gender Equality in Sport Commission to help promote equal opportunities for women and girls. In 2021, FIFA provided a Women’s Football Grant allocated to the Lithuanian senior national team as well as youth programs in a strategy to develop and advance the game.
Meet and support global leaders creating change in Lithuania:
Asta Zukaite
How does Lithuania compare to other countries?
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Women in Leadership
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT AS OF 2020
21%
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN MINISTRY POSITIONS AS OF 2020
10%
Has a Woman Ever Been Head of State or Head of Government?
Kazimira Prunskienė, 1990-1991
Irena Degutienė, 1999
Dalia Grybauskaitė, 2009-2019
Ingrida Šimonytė, 2020- Present
HAS A WOMAN EVER BEEN SPORTS MINISTER?
Jurgita Petrauskienė, 2016-2018
Jurgita Šiugždinienė, 2020- Present
Title IX Timeline
1918
The Council of Lithuania proclaimed the independence of Lithuania from Russia and women gained the right to vote (full suffrage).
1928
Marija Pakarklytė, a track and field athlete, became the first woman to represent Lithuania in the Olympics.
1990
Kazimira Danutė Prunskienė became the first female Prime Minister of Lithuania.
1992
Sigita Kriauciuniene, Danute Smidek, and Malda Baumgarte became the first women to represent Lithuania in the Paralympics and win Paralympic medals.
1994
Accession the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
2000
Diana Žiliūtė, Birutė Šakickienė & Kristina Poplavskaja, and Daina Gudzinevičiūtė became the first women from Lithuania to win Olympic medals. Lithuania signed the Optional Protocol to CEDAW.
2004
Lithuania ratified the Optional Protocol to CEDAW.
2011
Lithuania signed the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, affirming that peace and security efforts are more sustainable when women are equal partners in the prevention of violent conflict, the delivery of relief and recovery efforts and in the forging of lasting peace.
Women in the olympics
participation through the years
-
1
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
35
-
66
-
53
-
16
Women in the Paralympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
7
-
21
-
3
-
1
Elite Sports Participation
First Year Women Participated In The Olympics
1928
Year Women’s Participation In Olympics Was Equal To Men’s
1992
First Time A Woman Won An Olympic Medal
Daina Gudzinevičiūtė: 2000, Shooting (Gold) Diana Žiliūtė: 2000, Cycling Road (Bronze) Birutė Šakickienė & Kristina Poplavskaja: 2000, Rowing (Bronze)
First Year Women Participated In The Paralympics
1992
Year Women’s Participation In Paralympics Was Equal To Men’s
1994
First Time A Woman Won A Paralympic Medal
Sigita Kriauciuniene: 1992, Athletics (Silver & Bronze) Danute Smidek: 1992, Athletics (Bronze) Malda Baumgarte: 1992, Pentathlon (Bronze)
FIFA
Fédération Internationale de Football Association
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
1993
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
FIFA is committed to the growth and development of women’s football around the globe.
For More Information
FIBA
Fédération Internationale de Basketball
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
1919
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
Increasing the participation of women in basketball at all levels was named as one of FIBA’s eight strategic objectives (2019- 2027) and one of FIBA’s three strategic priorities (2019-2023).
For More Information
LOCAL
Sports
Initiatives
Community Organizations That Have Signed The Brighton + Helsinki Declaration
Lithuanian Sport Congress
Athletic Federation of Lithuania
Lithuania Baseball Federation
Lithuanian Women in Sport Association
PE and Sport Department (Lithuania)
