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REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LAW ON VOLUNTEERING
22 June 2011 – No XI-1500
Vilnius
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1. Purpose of the Law
This Law shall establish the peculiarities and principles of volunteering, the rights and duties of volunteers and volunteer organisers, the procedure for organising voluntary activities, insurance for volunteers and cases of reimbursement of expenses related to volunteering.
Article 2. Definitions
1. “Volunteering” means socially useful activities carried out by a volunteer free of charge, the conditions whereof are set by an agreement between the volunteer and volunteer organiser.
Article 3. Peculiarities of Volunteering
Article 4. Principles of Volunteering
Voluntary activities shall be carried out in accordance with the following principles:
1) benefit to society and the individual – participation in voluntary activities offers persons a possibility to actively contribute to the creation of well-being of society and promotes self-expression and growth of volunteers;
2) cooperation – volunteering is based on cooperation between volunteers and volunteer organisers with a view to coordinating the needs and possibilities of the volunteers and volunteer organisers;
Article 5. Requirements for a Volunteer
1. Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and aliens lawfully staying in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania who are over 14 years of age may be volunteers.
2. Persons who are under 18 years of age may engage in volunteering provided the child’s statutory representative has no objections thereto.
3. A volunteer shall not be required to possess qualifications, except for such types of volunteering where special qualifications are required under other legal acts or under the requirements of volunteer organisers.
Article 6. Volunteer Organisers
The following entities registered in the Republic of Lithuania may be volunteer organisers:
Article 7. Rights and Duties of a Volunteer
1. A volunteer shall have the right:
1) to be informed of the extent and scope of volunteering, the existing and possible health and safety risk factors which may arise in the course of volunteering and the use of protection measures against them;
2) to receive the means necessary for carrying out voluntary activities, information, training, consultancy and technical assistance;
3) to receive a document attesting to the voluntary activities carried out by the volunteer and the competence acquired;
2. A volunteer shall have the duties:
1) to keep to the procedure for carrying out voluntary activities as discussed with the volunteer organiser;
2) to attend volunteer preparation courses, where these are provided for by the volunteer organiser;
3) not to violate the legitimate interests of the volunteer organiser and persons for the benefit whereof voluntary activities are carried out;
Article 8. Rights and Duties of a Volunteer Organiser
1. The rights of a volunteer organiser shall be as follows:
2. The duties of a volunteer organiser shall be as follows:
1) to inform a volunteer of the extent and scope of volunteering, its procedure, the existing and possible health and safety risk factors which may arise in the course of volunteering and the use of protection measures against them;
2) to provide to a volunteer the information necessary for carrying out voluntary activities, arrange training, provide consultancy and technical assistance and, at the request of the volunteer, provide him with the means necessary for carrying out voluntary activities;
3) to conclude a volunteering agreement with a volunteer in the cases specified in paragraph 1 of Article 9 of this Law;
CHAPTER THREE
ORGANISATION OF VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES,
INSURANCE FOR A VOLUNTEER AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES
Article 9. Organisation of Voluntary Activities
1. A volunteer organiser shall conclude with a volunteer a written volunteering agreement, if:
2. The agreement may stipulate the duration and time of volunteering, reimbursement of the expenses specified in paragraph 1 of Article 11 of this Law, and other terms and conditions.
3. Taking into consideration the character of volunteering and requirements set out by legal acts, a volunteer organiser may require from individuals wishing to carry out voluntary activities to submit documents necessary to carry out such activities (a medical certificate, a criminal record certificate, etc.).
Article 10. Insurance for a Volunteer
1. Taking into consideration the duration and character of volunteering, a volunteer organiser may insure a volunteer at insurance companies or reimburse to the volunteer the insurance premiums in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts.
Article 11. Reimbursement of Expenses Related to Volunteering
1. A volunteer organiser may reimburse to a volunteer for the following expenses related to volunteering:
2. The conditions and procedure of the reimbursement of expenses related to volunteering shall be laid down by the Minister of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 12. Recognition of Volunteering
1. Taking into consideration the purpose and type of and participation in volunteering may be recognised as practical work and/or learning experience of a volunteer.
Article 13. Entry into Force and Implementation of the Law