Forty five (45) NGOs and civil society groups have today released a report urging the European Union and Greek government to abandon plans to dramatically restrict the movement of people in refugee camps in Greece. With financial and technical support from the European Commission, authorities in Greece are constructing fences and concrete walls around dozens […]
PR | Greece deems Turkey “safe”, but refugees are not
The substantive examination of asylum applications is the only safe solution for refugees. Athens, 14 June 2021: With a new Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) issued on 7 June, the Greek State designates Turkey as a “safe third country” for families, men, women and children of five nationalities2 seeking international protection in Greece. It is noted […]
For a Europe that truly protects: Joint NGO policy brief on the screening regulation proposal
In September 2020, the European Commission presented its proposal on a new Pact on Migration and Asylum, promising a ‘fresh start’ to Europe’s approach to migration. The Pact introduced a number of legislative proposals that are currently being examined in the European Parliament and the Council, including the Regulation introducing a screening of third country […]
Greece launches national tracing and protection mechanism for unaccompanied children in precarious conditions
Tuesday, 6th April 2021 Joint Press Release The Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Arsis, METAdrasi and the Network for Children’s Rights, have today launched a Mechanism to rapidly identify unaccompanied children […]
Children’s Homes: Three organizations ask, three experts explain
A child in Greece is called to testify up to 14 times to the appropriate state bodies about a traumatic experience of abuse, either it is physical or sexual, in the context of a report and its subsequent judicial investigation. As a result of this practice, children endure immense hardship trying to report their traumatic […]
Open letter about the Greek Recovery and Resilience Plan
To Deputy Minister of Finance, Theodoros Skylakakis CC: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Minister of Finance, Christos Staikouras The European Commission Recovery and Resilience Task Force (RECOVER) Athens, Tuesday 23rd March 2021 Open letter about the Greek Recovery and Resilience Plan: opacity and lack of participation Dear Mr. Minister, The signatory Civil Society Organisations would like […]
Open Letter: “All children have the right to go to school. Do not take that away from them”
OPEN LETTER: “ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO TO SCHOOL. DO NOT TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THEM”. TO: The Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis The Minister of Education and Religious Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, Niki Kerameus The President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli The President of the European Commission, […]
Media interview for the Lyrics Competition “If we sing them to you”
Our rights become songs The media interview regarding the lyric composition competition for children and adolescents conducted by the Network for Children’s Rights (NCR). A different lyric competition was presented by NCR in an online media interview organized on Thursday the 28th of January 2021 and coordinated by the documentary film maker Giorgos Avgeropoulos. It […]
Press Release | Refugees in Greece: risk of homelessness and destitution for thousands during winter
As winter closes in, thousands of refugees in Greece still face homelessness and destitution. While winter always poses a challenge, this year is likely to become one of the most challenging yet due to the ongoing pandemic, a deliberate decrease in the length of support for refugees, and the lack of a comprehensive integration strategy […]
Protect dignity and human rights!
Call for solidarity gathering in support of PIKPA on Wednesday, 14 October 2020 The Greek government is about to close a historic shelter for vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees, with no care for the future of its residents. The Secretary General of Social Solidarity and Poverty Alleviation of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs […]