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Statement
Greece: the Ombudsman institution opening an independent investigation into the Pylos shipwreck is a welcome step
I welcome the opening by the Greek Ombudsman institution, in its capacity as National Mechanism for the Investigation of Arbitrary Incidents by members of the security forces, of an independent investigation into the acts and potential omissions of members of the Greek Coast Guard in relation to...
Letter
Pylos shipwreck: the Greek authorities must ensure that effective investigations are conducted
In a letter to the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, stresses that Greece has the legal obligation to conduct effective investigations into the Pylos shipwreck, which resulted in the death of more...
Statement
Greek authorities should reverse the trend undermining the work of human rights defenders and journalists
The hostile environment in which human rights defenders, civil society and journalists work in Greece has been an issue of concern for several years. Smear campaigns targeting individuals defending human rights, cumbersome NGO registration procedures and undue pressure on journalists have...
Statement
Greece's Parliament should align the deportations and return bill with human rights standards
“The Greek parliament should reconsider a legislative proposal currently being discussed, which would seriously hinder the life-saving work carried out at sea by NGOs, and their human rights monitoring capacities in the Aegean”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja...
Letter
Greek authorities should investigate allegations of pushbacks and ill-treatment of migrants, ensure an enabling environment for NGOs and improve reception conditions
In a letter addressed to the Minister for Citizens’ Protection, the Minister of Migration and Asylum, and the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy of Greece, made public today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, urges the Greek authorities to put an end to...
Statement
Commissioner calls on the Greek authorities to provide adequate support to all those affected by the fire in Moria
“The fire that destroyed most of the Registration and Identification Centre of Moria and the informal settlements surrounding it, on the Greek island of Lesvos on Tuesday night has dramatically worsened the living conditions of more than 12 000 asylum seekers and migrants, including more than...
Statement
Time to immediately act and to address humanitarian and protection needs of people trapped between Turkey and Greece
The human rights situation at the border between Turkey and Greece where thousands of vulnerable men, women and children are trapped between borders without access to assistance or the possibility to seek international protection is an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Urgent action is now...
Letter
Commissioner seeks information from the Greek government on its plans to set-up closed reception centres on the Aegean islands
Today the Commissioner published an exchange of letters with the Minister of Citizen Protection of Greece, Michalis Chrysochoidis, and the Alternate Minister for Migration Policy of Greece, Giorgos Koumoutsakos, concerning the plans to transfer migrants from the Aegean islands to the mainland and...
Country visit
Greece must urgently transfer asylum seekers from the Aegean islands and improve living conditions in reception facilities
“The situation of migrants, including asylum seekers, in the Greek Aegean islands has dramatically worsened over the past 12 months. Urgent measures are needed to address the desperate conditions in which thousands of human beings are living,” said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for...
Country visit report
Greece should safeguard social rights for all and improve the reception and integration of migrants
“Greece should take urgent steps and adopt long-term policies to improve the reception and integration of migrants and to reverse the adverse effects of austerity measures on access to health care and education”, says Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, publishing...
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* On 16 March 2022, the Committee of Ministers adopted a decision by which the Russian Federation ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe, after 26 years of membership.
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