ABOUT ME

I was born on July 9, 1983. I studied at Vilnius University and Mykolas Romeris University in Lithuania, as well as in Lucerne (Switzerland), earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Laws degree.

Since 2011, I have worked as an assistant to two Lithuanian Members of Parliament: Professor Marija Aušrinė Pavilionienė and Dr. Giedrė Purvaneckienė. While working in the Lithuanian Parliament, I have also served as a coordinator for four parliamentary groups: the Women's Parliamentary Group, the Development Cooperation Group, the Reproductive Health and Rights Group, and the Parliamentarians Group against Human Trafficking, and I have also supported the Group for Inter-parliamentary Relations with the Arab Republic of Egypt.

In the five years I have worked as an MP's assistant, I have prepared or participated in the preparation of twenty-three bills and twenty-nine draft legislation proposals. During this same period, I coordinated numerous international and national conferences as well as press briefings, and I also coordinated and participated in many diplomatic meetings with foreign officials (including meetings with the Queen of Sweden, EU ministers, European Members of Parliament, Speakers of the Council of Europe, and EU national parliamentarians).

I have extensive experience working and managing the activities of several NGOs, social movements and human rights advocacy groups. Since 2004, I have headed the Tolerant Youth Association (TYA), a leading human rights organization in Lithuania, of which I am also a co-founder. Over the years, I have contributed numerous articles to leading publications on human rights issues. I am extremely proud of the Tolerant Youth Association's efforts to help mobilize Lithuania's LGBT community. Our many accomplishments include assisting in organizing the first election campaigns for politicians advocating the defense and promotion of human rights. The TYA also spearheaded a campaign against public stigmatization and harassment and established the first Migrant Consultation and Information Centre in Vilnius, laying a foundation for progress in intercultural communication, understanding and education. The TYA has also made a significant contribution to efforts to stop bullying in schools and has invited the business community to join efforts to promote and implement change in the field of human rights.

In 2014, I was elected a Council member of the Lithuanian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association, accredited by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

In 2010–2011, I served as a volunteer assistant to the provisional Lithuanian parliamentary group "For Equality." I was Deputy Chairman of the Lithuanian Committee for the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All, and in 2004–2005 I served on the board of the Vilnius Round Table of Youth Organizations.


BEING HERE, AT THIS MOMENT

I enjoy living in Lithuania, and I don't think I'd be happier living anywhere else. Of course, I'm not happy about everything taking place in our country and I am not always succeed in my endeavors, but here I have friends, colleagues and people with whom I work to build a better future. Together, we seek to strengthen the basic principles of social democracy – freedom, equality and solidarity – here in Lithuania. I know there is a lot of injustice around us. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have been born with a silver spoon in his or her mouth, after all. But even if we can't change everything, we can at least become part of changing some things. I know that there are still people in our country who refuse to surrender to despair and anger. Working together with them, we can achieve significant change and progress in Lithuania.


POLITICAL ACTIVITY

I joined the Lithuanian Social Democratic Youth Union in 1998.
In 2003, I helped revive the work of the Vilnius chapter of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Youth Union and coordinated its activities for one year. In 2003–2004, I was an administrator of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Youth Union and coordinated the establishment of thirteen new chapters. I have helped publish two reports on human rights issues nearly every year for the members of Lithuanian Social Democratic Youth Union.
Since 2007, I have been a member of NK95 (New Left 95) and in 2008 I helped found the DEMOS Institute of Critical Thought.
From 2013 to 2015, I served as Deputy Chairman of the Gediminas Group of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party`s Vilnius Old Town Chapter.
I have been a member of the editorial board of the Socialdemokratas (The Social Democrat) newspaper since 2014.
In 2015, I became a member of the Social Democratic Party Central Election Headquarters.