A New Norm on Stalking: Is this the New Normal in Lithuania?

Abstract

The criminalisation of stalking through a specific law is a clear tendency in the EU. At the end of 2021, a new relevant provision in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania was introduced (Art. 148-1). It incorporates the latest EU legal developments in this field. The new norm determines a wide scope of eligibility and an inclusive concept of stalking to work as an umbrella charge that tackles the whole tactics of stalking. However, the new provision has serious shortcomings that are related to more lenient outcomes for the perpetrator, systemic incompatibility, the generic nature of the law, and consequences-specific construction. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to make urgent amendments to achieve the primary goal of criminalising stalking, i.e., better responding to victims' experiences.