A neonazi party, Golden Dawn, has been elected in the Greek Parliament in two consecutive elections od spring and summer 2012. Hate motivated violence by extremist groups, most often identified as Golden Dawn supporters, against migrants has escalated in 2012 even further. The Gree Police introduced regional and central Directorates specialised in combating racist violence, data collection and reporting and in providing support to victims. Anti-racist legislation is rarely  applied by courts. Anti-racist organisations providing support to victims are numerous and relatively effective. A new NGO network for recording racist violence coordinated by the UNHCR Greece and the National Commission for Human Rights has been active in reporting data on hate crime victimisation and promoting proper data collection and combating hate crime by the authorities.

Clear
  • Anti-discrimination Legislation & Implementation

    Greece was one of the last countries to transpose the Racial Equality and the Employment Framework Directives into the national legislation in 2005. Even if legislation can now be considered adequate, relatively few are the cases/inquiries brought to the Equality Bodies, and no court cases have been reported.   

    • Is racial discrimination defined in national law?

      Partially.

      Qualitative Info

      The ICERD was ratified by the Legislative Decree 494/1970; it was transposed in Greek legislation with the Law 927/1979. In the Article 1 of the Law 927/1979, it is stipulated that "Whoever publicly, either orally or through the press or through written texts or illustrations or all other means, encourages acts or activities that can provoke discriminations, hatred or violence against persons or groups of persons solely because of his racial or ethnic origin or his religion, is punished with two years imprisonment or fine or both" [«Όστις δημοσίως, είτε προφορικώς είτε διά του τύπου ή διά γραπτών κειμένων ή εικονογραφήσεων ή παντός ετέρου μέσου εκ προθέσεως προτρέπει εις πράξεις ή ενεργείας δυναμένας να προκαλέσουν διακρίσεις, μίσος ή βίαν κατά προσώπων ή ομάδες προσώπων εκ μόνου του λόγου της φυλετικής ή εθνικής καταγωγής του ή του θρησκεύματος, τιμωρείται με φυλάκισιν μέχρι δύο ετών ή με χρηματικήν ποινήν ή και δι’ αμφοτέρων των ποινών τούτων»].

      The Law 927/1979 is currently to be abolished through a new law draft against racist hatred, which is implementing the Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA combating racism and xenophobia.

      If we compare this definition with the definition provided by the Art. 1. of the ICERD ("In this Convention, the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life"), we see a partial conformity of Greek legislation.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Homophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Media
      • Internet
      • Political discourse -parties - orgs
      • Anti-discrimination
      • Anti-racism
      • Daily life

      External Url http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/c8827c35-4399-4fbb-8ea6-aebdc768f4f7/snrats.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there a definition of discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnic origin and/or religion in national law in conformity with the EU Directives?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      Law 3304/2005, art. 3 defines direct and indirect discrimination, according to the 2000/43/EC Directive, and in art. 2.2 harassment is included and defined as discrimination.


      Source:

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability

      Type (R/D)

      • Religious intolerance
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Employment - labour market

      External Url http://www.synigoros.gr/diakriseis/docs/Nomos3304.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Does the national law cover all grounds of discrimination as in the International Conventions and EU law or additional discrimination grounds?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      Law 3304/2005 covers all grounds of discrimination as in EU Directives, but it does not cover additional discrimination grounds.

      In its 4th report for Greece, ECRI notes that: While recognizing that the adoption of Law 3304/2005 is a positive step in the fight against, inter alia, racial discrimination, ECRI recommends extending its scope to discrimination based on colour, language and nationality as recommended in its General Policy Recommendation No.7 on national legislation to combat racism and racial discrimination.


      Source:

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Employment - labour market
      • Housing
      • Health and social protection
      • Education
      • Anti-discrimination

      External Url http://www.synigoros.gr/diakriseis/docs/Nomos3304.pdf; http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_04/04_CbC_eng/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
  • Anti-racist Crime Legislation & Implementation

    The Ministry of Public Order has established 60 Police directorates combating hate crime throughout Greece in late 2012 along with a hotline and data collection mechanism. The main legal tool for dealing racist crime still remains the Law 927/1979, since the new draft law on racism approved by the cabinet of ministers in October 2011 was blocked by the far-right party (LAOS) that participated in the government. All reports from independent resources agree on the insufficient impact of existing anti-racist legislation and its implementation in dealing with racially motivated crime. There are very few cases brought to justice by NGOs.   

    • Is there a legal definition of racist-hate crime?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      According to Law 927/1979 “on punishing acts or activities aiming at racial discrimination” hate crime is defined as incitement to hatred or violence against individuals or groups on grounds of racial or ethnic origin:

      (a) to willfully and publicly, either orally or by the press or by written texts or through pictures or any other means, incite to acts or activities which may result in discrimination, hatred or violence against individuals or groups of individuals on the sole grounds of the latter’s racial or ethnic origin or [by virtue of article 24 of Law 1419/1984] religion;

      (b) to form or participate in organizations with intent to organize propaganda or any kind of activities tending to racial discrimination;

      (c) to express publicly, either orally or by the press or by written texts or through pictures or any other means offensive ideas against any individual or group of individuals on the grounds of the latter’s racial or national origin or religion.

      (d) to refuse, in the exercise of one’s occupation, to provide goods or supply services on the sole grounds of racial or national origin or religion or to subject the aforementioned activities to conditions related to racial or national origin or religion.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities
      • Majority
      • Asylum seekers
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability
      • Africans/black people
      • National minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Inter-ethnic
      • Intra-ethnic
      • Nationalism
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia
      • Xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there a legal definition of hate speech?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      Hste speech is defined as:

      1. incitement to acts or activities which may result in discrimination, hatred or violence against individuals or groups of individuals on the sole grounds of the latter’s racial or ethnic origin or religion.

      2. public expression of offensive ideas against any individual or group of individuals on the grounds of the latter’s racial or ethnic origin or religion.

      3. propaganda or any kind of activities tending to racial discrimination

      In particular, Law 927/1979 “on punishing acts or activities aiming at racial discrimination” penalizes:

      (a) to willfully and publicly, either orally or by the press or by written texts or through pictures or any other means, incite to acts or activities which may result in discrimination, hatred or violence against individuals or groups of individuals on the sole grounds of the latter’s racial or national origin or [by virtue of article 24 of Law 1419/1984] religion;

      (c) to express publicly, either orally or by the press or by written texts or through pictures or any other means offensive ideas against any individual or group of individuals on the grounds of the latter’s racial or national origin or religion.

      (b) to form or participate in organizations with intent to organize propaganda or any kind of activities tending to racial discrimination;

      (c) to express publicly, either orally or by the press or by written texts or through pictures or any other means offensive ideas against any individual or group of individuals on the grounds of the latter’s racial or national origin or religion.

      (d) to refuse, in the exercise of one’s occupation, to provide goods or supply services on the sole grounds of racial or national origin or religion or to subject the aforementioned activities to conditions related to racial or national origin or religion.

      Soft law tools against racist and hate speech (Source: HLHR-KEMO/i-RED RAXEN Thematic Study: Racist and related hate crimes in the EU - Greece)

      Soft law is the Code of Conduct (“Kodikas Deontologhias”) for radio and television. Article 23 of the above Code (dated 07.03.2000), entitled “vulnerable population groups”, proscribes the transmission of, among others, racist or xenophobic messages and characterisations as well as of intolerant statements. It is also prescribed that special effort should be made by Greek radio and television so that no ethnic or religious minorities, or other “vulnerable or weak population groups”, are offended.
      The Code of Conduct of the Athens Journalists’ Association contains a provision (article 1) which enjoins journalists to impart information without any prejudice related to their racial or cultural ideas or opinions. The same provision provides for the journalists’ obligation to provide redress in cases where there has been transmitted information offending an individual’s honour or personality.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities
      • Majority
      • Asylum seekers
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability
      • Africans/black people
      • National minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Inter-ethnic
      • Intra-ethnic
      • Nationalism
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia
      • Xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Media
      • Internet
      • Anti-discrimination
      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Are there legal definitions of racist incident and racist violence?

      No distinct definition of racist incident, although racist motivation is an aggravating circumstance in sentencing

      Qualitative Info

      There is no distinct definition of racist incident, although racist motivation is an aggravating circumstance in sentencing.

      Lack of a clear definition of 'racist incident', 'racist violence' or 'racist motive' lead to no police case ever initiated on these grounds, although NGOs, international and civil society racist violence reporting mechanisms, report a plethora of racist attacks and incidents occured in Greece.


      Source:

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities
      • Majority
      • Asylum seekers
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability
      • Africans/black people
      • National minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Inter-ethnic
      • Intra-ethnic
      • Nationalism
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia
      • Xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Media
      • Internet
      • Anti-discrimination
      • Anti-racism

      External Url http://www.red-network.eu/?i=red-network.en.library.195

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there a legislation penalising, or prohibiting the establishment of, organisations which promote, incite, propagate or organize racial discrimination against an individual or group of individuals? Is membership of such organisations treated as an offence under the law?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      Establishing or participating in organisations that aim at organising propaganda or activities of any form whatsoever, leading to racial discrimination ise penalised according Law 927/1979.

      The Law 927/1979, stipulates in its art.1 that:

      "1.Whoever publicly, either orally or through the press or through written texts or illustrations or all other means, encourages acts or activities that can provoke discriminations, hatred or violence against persons or groups of persons solely because of his racial or ethnic origin or his religion, is punished with two.

      2. The above-mentioned penalties are dealt with by the same provision in cases where someone establishes or participates in organisations that aim at organising propaganda or activities of any form whatsoever, leading to racial discrimination.

      In the new law draft which abolishes law n.927/1979 and amends the law framework combating racism and hate speech - approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 12 october 2011 and introduced in the Parliament in early 2012 - the scope of antiracist legislation covers race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, and sexual orientation (Art. 3.1).

      However, unlike the law n.927/1979 the law draft under palriament discussion does not punish propaganda, promotion and incitement to racial discrimination as such, but only when such actions incite or lead to violence or hatred against groups of individuals or an individual, defined on the basis of race, skin color, religion, genetic descent, ethnic or national origin or sexual orientation.

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities
      • Majority
      • Asylum seekers
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Inter-ethnic
      • Intra-ethnic
      • Nationalism
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Media
      • Internet
      • Political discourse -parties - orgs
      • Anti-discrimination
      • Anti-racism
      • Daily life

      External Url http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/c8827c35-4399-4fbb-8ea6-aebdc768f4f7/snrats.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there an estimate or evidence that hate crime cases/incidents are under-reported disproportionately in relation to other crimes?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      As reported by NGOs and organisation providing support to victims, racially motivated crime is rarely reported to the authorities.

      This is no surprise given that it is reported that public officials, police officers, coast guards, are among the most frequently reported alleged perpetrator groups throughout the years 2007-2010. Almost for half of the unofficially reported hate crimes perpetrators are allegedly public officers [1].

      Additionally, according to EU MIDIS Roma Greek Roma top the table regarding underreporting and ignorance of the right to appeal to an equality body against discrimination [2].


      Source:

      1. Pavlou M & Prearis K, 2010, RAXEN Thematic Study: Racist and related hate crimes in the EU - Greece, ?i=red-network.en.library.195, Accessed on 24.2.2013.
      2. FRA, 2009, EU-MIDIS - Data in Focus Romahttp://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/EU-MIDIS_ROMA_EN.pdf, Accessed o 24.2.2013.

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities
      • Majority
      • Asylum seekers
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability
      • Africans/black people
      • National minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Inter-ethnic
      • Intra-ethnic
      • Nationalism
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia
      • Xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-discrimination
      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is policing reported to be adequate in terms of combating racist violence/hate crime effectively?

      No

      Qualitative Info

      Instead it is reported that public officials, police officers, coast guards, are among the most frequently reported alleged perpetrator groups throughout the years 2007-2010. Almost for half of the unofficially reported hate crimes perpetrators are allegedly public officers [1].

      Additionally, according to EU MIDIS Roma Greek Roma top the table regarding ethnic profiling and police stops' experiences among other ethnic and targeted groups in all European countries [2].

      In its 4th report on Greece ECRI and recommendation 84, ECRI recommended that the Greek authorities combat racist crimes more actively and draw inspiration from the provisions of its General Policy Recommendation No. 11 on combating racism and racial discrimination in policing to that end, including the ones addressing the issue of arrests and prosecutions


      Source:

       

      1. Pavlou M & Prearis K, 2010, RAXEN Thematic Study: Racist and related hate crimes in the EU - Greece?i=red-network.en.library.195, Accessed on 24.2.2013.
      2. FRA, 2009, EU-MIDIS - Data in Focus Romahttp://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/EU-MIDIS_ROMA_EN.pdf, Accessed o 24.2.2013.

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities
      • Majority
      • Persons with disability
      • National minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Inter-ethnic
      • Intra-ethnic
      • Nationalism
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia
      • Xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Anti-discrimination
      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is the judiciary reported to be adequately and effectively combating racist violence/hate crime?

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      ECRI in its April 2009 4th cycle report on Greece regreted that Law 927/1979[1] continues to be rarely applied although information indicates cases of incitement to racial hatred in Greece.[1]


      [1] ECRI Report on Greece, fourth monitoring cycle, September 2009. http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf

      The law has been never applied by Greek courts after an ex officio prosecution. Greek judges apply the anti-racist legilation, in very few court cases brought to justice after petition by human rights NGOs (mainly the Greek Helsinki Monitor, and alos the group of lawyers to the support of migrants and refugees, KIS, antinazi initiative):

      In an anti-semitic hate speech case (the Plevris case), which received much public attention, his acquittal was based on the court judgement, validated by the Supreme Court, that racial origin was not the sole ground for hate speech through an anti-Semitic book.The court decision could be easily recorded as an incident of anti-Semitic hate speech: “the defendant does not revile the Jews solely because of their racial and ethnic origin, but mainly because of their aspirations to world power, the methods they use to achieve these aims, and their conspiratorial activities.” [1] After the acquittal the Public prosecutor pressed charges against members of Antinazi Initiative for "dissemination of false news that may provoke unrest to citizens" after they stated that two specific public prosecutors and one judge defended K. Plevris by expressing unprecedented anti-Semitic and pro-nazi positions


      [1] Greek Helsinki Monitor, Greek Supreme Court dismisses appeal in cassation against neo-Nazi Plevris’ acquittal!, Press Release (20.4.2010) http://cm.greekhelsinki.gr/index.php?sec=194&cid=3639


      Source: HLHR-KEMO/i-RED RAXEN Thematic Study: Racist and related hate crimes in the EU - Greece

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities
      • Majority
      • Asylum seekers
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability
      • Africans/black people
      • National minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Inter-ethnic
      • Intra-ethnic
      • Nationalism
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia
      • Xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Anti-discrimination
      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • In the context of hate crime, is racist motivation treated as an aggravating circumstance?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      "The motives of the crime are taken into account when determining the sentence so racist motives can be considered as aggravating circumstances. According to the article 23 of Law 3719/2008, amending article 79 of the Criminal Code (Presidential Decree n.283/1985), committing an offence on the basis of, inter alia, ethnic, racial or religious hatred is considered an aggravating circumstance.[1]


      Source:

       

      • Pavlou M & Prearis K, 2010 (HLHL-KEMO), RAXEN Thematic Study: Racist and related hate crimes in the EU - Greece?i=red-network.en.library.195, Accessed on 24.2.2013.

       

       

      [1] In its 4th report on Greece, ECRI noted with satisfaction that, according to Article 23 of Law 3719/2008, amending Article 79 of the Criminal Code, committing an offence on the basis of, inter alia, ethnic, racial or religious hatred is considered an aggravating circumstance, as recommended in its  General Policy Recommendation No. 7 on national legislation to combat racism and racial discrimination. ECRI Report on Greece, fourth monitoring cycle, September 2009. http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities
      • Majority
      • Asylum seekers
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability
      • Africans/black people
      • National minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Inter-ethnic
      • Intra-ethnic
      • Nationalism
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Anti-discrimination
      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • If there is a legal provision on racist motivation as an aggravating factor, how often is it applied? What kind of sanctions/penalties are issued?

      Yes, but rarely applied

      Qualitative Info

      As ECRI notes in its 4th Report on Greece: In October 2008, the Greek legislation was amended to provide for the racist motivation of a crime to be considered as an aggravating circumstance, as recommended in ECRI’s General Policy Recommendation No. 7 on national legislation to combat racism and racial discrimination.Aggravating cicumstances is provide by Greek law.

      ECRI recommends to the Greek authorities that the initial and on-going training provided to judges and prosecutors emphasise the legislation against racism in general, and in particular the new ones which provide for the racist motivation of a crime to be considered an aggravating circumstance at sentencing.


      Source:

      ECRI Report on Greece, fourth monitoring cycle, September 2009, http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf, Accessed on 24.2.2013.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities
      • Majority
      • Asylum seekers
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability
      • Africans/black people
      • National minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Inter-ethnic
      • Intra-ethnic
      • Nationalism
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia
      • Xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Anti-discrimination
      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Does national legislation provide specific sanctions against public servants reported as perpetrators of racist violence/hate crime?

      No

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Anti-discrimination
      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Have public servants been reported as being perpetrators of racist violence/hate crime?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      it is reported that public officials, police officers, coast guards, are among the most frequently reported alleged perpetrator groups throughout the years 2007-2010. Almost for half of the unofficially reported hate crimes perpetrators are allegedly public officers.


      Source: HLHR-KEMO RAXEN Thematic Study: Racist and related hate crimes in the EU - Greece

      In a number of ECHR cases, Greece was found in violation of the Charter, for ill-treatment against mgirants and refugees and in many cases beatings, rape and racial violence by police or port guard officers were reported. Exemplary cases: CASE OF M.S.S. v. Belgium & Greece, Zontul vs Greece

      In its 4th report on Greece ECRI and recommendation 84, ECRI recommended that the Greek authorities combat racist crimes more actively and draw inspiration from the provisions of its General Policy Recommendation No. 11 on combating racism and racial discrimination in policing to that end, including the ones addressing the issue of arrests and prosecutions.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities
      • Majority
      • Asylum seekers
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability
      • Africans/black people
      • National minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia
      • Xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
  • Political Parties-organisations - Racist & Xenophobic Discourse

    For the first time in Europe after World War II a nazi party, Golden Dawn, has been elected in the Parliament through 6,9% while polls in late 2012 indicate that it may well be strengthened as third political party of the country. GD members have been involved in violent incidents against migrants in various Greek cities.

  • Anti-racist Policies & Organisations

    There are no coherent and specific anti-racist policies, except from particular campains and actions funded by mainly EU programmes. No National Action Plan against racism has been adopted yet. There are several NGOs working on the field of anti-racism, some of which offer substantial aid to visctims of racist/hatred crimes.

    • Has the national government developed policies/programmes aimed at combating racism and related ideologies? Have these policies/programmes been implemented and in whatway?

      Only partial projects in the framework of EU-funded programmes have been developed and implemented.

      Qualitative Info

      Greek state has not adopted yet a National Action Plan against Racism (following The Durban Conference as well as its follow-up Conference), neither a National Human Rights Action Plan (following the recommendation by the UN World Conference on Human Rights that took place in Vienna in 1993).

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-racism

      External Url http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session11/GR/NCHR_NationalCommissionforHumanRights-eng.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Has regional/local governance made a significant attempt at combating racism and related ideologies?

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      Several projects, such as antiracist festivals, are held in different cities, but they are based on local initiatives, mostly stemming from civil society agents.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-racism

      External Url http://www.antiracistfestival.gr/

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • In your country are there any non governmental organisations whose principal objectives relate to opposing/undermining racism and racist activity?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      There are many NGOs whose principal objective and activity is to combat racism and xenophobia. Among them, the most prominent are:

      Network of Social Support for Refugees and Migrants
      Greek Council for Refugees
      Hellenic League for Human Rights
      Greek Helsinki Monitor
      ARSIS
      PRAKSIS
      “Deport Racism” movement
      Youth against Racism in Europe (Greek section)
      Thessaloniki Antiracist initiative

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-racism

      External Url http://galaxy.hua.gr/~metanastes/MKO_Metanaston.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Non governmental organisations whose principal objectives relate to opposing/undermining racism and racist activity

      There are several NGOs whose principal objectives relate to opposing racism.

      Organisations Hellenic League for Human Rights, Greek Helsinki Monitor, Network of Social Support for Refugees and Migrants, “Deport Racism” M

      Qualitative Info

      The Hellenic League for Human Rights is the oldest Non Governmental Organization for human rights protection and promotion in Greece. The League was founded in 1953, in the aftermath of the Greek civil war including in its board eminent personalities from the political and academic field. The League, since its foundation, is the affiliated member of the International Federation for Human Rights (Fédération Internationale des Droits de l’Homme) and represents the Federation’s human rights network in the country. The dictatorship of 1967 banned the functioning of the Greek League for Human Rights and its members were persecuted until the end of the regime. The president of the League, Professor Phaedon Vegleris, was the basic witness before the European Court of Human Rights at the notorious Greek case against the military regime, which culminated in the expulsion of Greece from the Council of Europe. The League recommenced its activities in 1974.
      Since 2007 HLHR with the Research Centre for Minority Groups (KEMO) is the Greek National Focal Point on Racism and Xenophobia (RAXEN network), in cooperation with the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA). HLHR-KEMO cooperates with the Greek Ombudsman and the Greek Forum of Migrants as subcontracting partners. http://www.hlhr.gr/hlhr-kemo/hlhr-kemo.htm

      The Greek Helsinki Monitor, founded in 1993, monitors, publishes, lobbies, and litigates on human and minority rights and anti-discrimination issues in Greece and, occasionally, in the Balkans. It monitors Greek and, when opportunity arises, Balkan media for stereotypes and hate speech. It issues press releases and prepares (usually jointly with other NGOs) detailed annual reports; parallel reports to UN Treaty Bodies; and specialised reports on ill-treatment and on ethno-national, ethno-linguistic, religious and immigrant communities, in Greece and in other Balkan countries.

      The Network of Social Support for Refugees and Migrants was founded in 1995, with the aim of taking coordinated action against racism and nationalism and standing up for the rights of migrants and refugees. Through structures of hands-on solidarity (support bureau, greek classes, etc.) as well as through interventions, both political and social, we stand up for better living and working conditions for migrants in Greece. We meet every Monday at 9:00 in the Migrants’ Place where, along with migrants and refugees, we organize our activities.

      “Deport Racism” Movement was established in 2007. It is a common organization of immigrants and Greeks against xenophobia, racism and fascism. For equal rights to all immigrants and refugees.
      Activities include:
       denunciation and publication of racist attitude and discrimination practices by authorities
       participation in the antiracist and immigrants movement, for legalization and equal rights, against racist attacks, for the marginalization of racist and fascist organizations
       legal assistance for victims of racist violence
       antiracist campaigns
       communication with authorities for immigrants’ and refugees’ issues
       social support for immigrants: including legal assistance, greek language lessons and health issues
       cultural events organization, participation in antiracist festivals
       cooperation with labor unions, antiracist organizations, immigrant communities and local authorities

      The Greek section of Youth against Racism in Europe is a youth organization, with immigrants-asylum seekers and second generation of immigrants’ branches. Its members are concentrated in 12 Greek cities (amongst them Athens and Thessalonica). The majority of the members are school and universities students and of course immigrants. Some of their campaigns were: 1) after a 4 years campaign for the rehabilitation of the victims of the worst ever racist murderous attack in Greece, both victims (Tomy Koffi Marcus and Timothy Abdul) were granted with humanitarian residence permits and welfare benefits for disables. 2) Release of more than 70 undocumented immigrants who started a hunger strike because they were “forgotten” for months in detention, after our solidarity campaign 3) The cancellation of the European Fascist camping that 5 European neo-fascist organizations were planning to have in Greece (September 2005). The same for many other public activities that Greek fascists were organizing just to apply their propaganda of hate, etc. Annually they organize an Antiracist camping during summer with 4-500 participants. They participate in the Greek Social Forum and the Coordinating Committee of Antiracist and Immigrants' Organizations, which were at the forefront for the establishment of the Antiracist festivals that are now taking place in several Greek cities. Their most important campaign for the next period is for the rights of the second generation of immigrants. The title of the campaign is “we have a dream…” and second generation of immigrants themselves run this campaign.

      Thessaloniki Antiracist Initiative is a grass root organisation active in political support and manifestations in favour of immigrants and minorities and towards the protection of their rights. The range of such voluntary 7activities includes protests, festivals, press releases and conferences, visits and manifestations in detention camps and other sites.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-racism

      External Url www.hlhr.gr; http://cm.greekhelsinki.gr/; http://tsamadou13-15.espivblogs.net/; www.ksm.gr; www.yregreece.blogspot.com; www.socialcenter.gr

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Are there examples of anti-racist anti-discrimination organisations' activity having a positive impact on anti-racist policies?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      The most notable example, among many, is the Law 3838/2010 on the revision of Greek Nationality Code. The Hellenic League for Human Rights had proposed in the framework of a campaign as early as 2009 a draft law for the revision of Nationality Code towards a more inclusive regulation. Many of the provisions were included in the initial draft adopted by the government in early 2010.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-racism

      External Url http://hlhr.gr/list.php?ct=22

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there a direct participation of anti-racist, anti-discrimination and victim group organisations in consultation and development, promotion, implementation of anti-racist and anti-discrimination law and/or policies?

      Only partially.

      Qualitative Info

      The National Committee for the Social Integration of Migrants (introduced by the Law 3536/2007) is comprised by General Secretaries of eight ministries, the President of the Hellenic Migration Policy Institute (shut down in May 2010 after a decision of the Minister of Interior), representatives of local authorities, of the Greek-orthodox Church, University Professors, and representatives of parliamentary political parties, trade unions, associations of employers, of the International Organisation for Migration and of the Athens Bar Association. No migrant organisations neither NGOs supporting migrants are entitled to participate.

      Anti-racist, anti-discrimination and victim group organisations are called for consulting at the Parliament (see for example, http://www.africanwomen.gr/?p=686) or in the case of preparation of specific legislation, e.g. the revision of asylum regulation (2010-2011).

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Political participation
      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Are there NGOs - other civil society organisations supporting victims of discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnic origin and religion in court?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      Greek Helsinki Monitor

      50 cases led to formal judicial and court procedures (no breakdown by year available).
      Cases leading to sanctions:
      2003 1 court case
      2004 2 court cases (1 ECHR case included)
      2005 4 court cases (1 ECHR case included)
      2006 5 court cases
      2007 7 court cases (5 ECHR cases included)
      2008 1 court case (1 ECHR case included)

      The Hellenic League for Human Rights in the past has chosen cases to bring before the court as a form of strategic litigation or to defend. Most cases brought before the court concern the period prior to 2000. HLHR is known as the basic witness before the European Court of Human Rights at the Greek case against the dictatorship, which resulted to the expulsion of Greece from the Council of Europe. There is no statistical breakdown of cases from 2000 onwards, while in such cases HLHR has intervened during court proceeding as a witness but not representing them victims or defendants.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Anti-discrimination
      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
  • Policing - Law Enforcement - Justice

    Even though the official training of the police force and the professional association of police officers have incorporated courses and seminars on anti-racist sensitivity, ethnic profiling and even violence against migrants and minorities seem to be very frequent. 

    • Does the training of the police force incorporate anti-racism or cultural sensitivity?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      As indicated in the Fourth report of ECRI, "at Police Academies, in the context of teaching Constitutional Law, human rights in general and the issues of racism and xenophobia in particular are examined. They have also indicated that in 2008, they invited lecturers to discuss the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the European Court on Human Rights at Police Academies. The National Security and Training Academies also assign projects to students on subjects such as “Roma: Social Behaviour, Permanent Establishment, Protection” and “Prohibition of Racist Discourse as a Constitutional Problem”. It does not appear, however, that issues pertaining to racism and racial discrimination are included in fixed teaching modules at these establishments."

      In addition, seminars are organised within specific projects, such as the Vocational training and awareness to  police officers about trafficking held in several cities (http://www.antigone.gr/en/projects/files/ydas.pdf)

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement

      External Url http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf; http://www.astynomia.gr/images/stories/DOCS/photo22330_odhgos_spoudwn.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Are there police professional associations thatpromote and endorse anti-migrant/anti-minority agendas and discourse?

      No

      Qualitative Info

      The Greek Confederation of Police Officers (POASY) is trying to promote an antiracist discourse through articles in their monthly newspaper Nea astynomia (New Police) or through seminars adressed to its members.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Asylum seekers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Anti-racism

      External Url http://www.poasy.gr/web/

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there a legal definition / sanctioning of ethnic profiling?

      No

      Qualitative Info

      There is no legal definition / sanctioning of ethnic profiling.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Ethnic minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence or indication that the police force engages in ethnic profiling?

      Yes

      Data No data available

      Qualitative Info

      According to 2009-2010 ENAR Shadow Report on Greece, "Policing and ethnic profiling is a frequent occurrence in Greece, especially on people who appear to be immigrants or refugees and those belonging to the Roma community. Most often this is done without a particular reason, such as a crime was committed and the police are searching for the suspects in the area. The Greek Roma community are the most heavily policed group."

      According to 2010 EU-MIDIS research by FRA (Data in Focus Report: Police Stops and Minorities), "Roma respondents in Greece are also heavily policed – 56% of all respondents from this group were stopped in the last 12 months; 39% of all Roma interviewed in Greece said  they were stopped specifically because of their ethnicity, and only 17% indicated that their experiences of police stops were not connected with their ethnicity."

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Ethnic minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement

      External Url http://cms.horus.be/files/99935/MediaArchive/Greece.pdf; http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/EU-MIDIS-police.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence that the immigration services engage in ethnic profiling?

      No data available for this issue

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Asylum seekers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of significant disparities between the number of racist incidents and crimes reported and the numbers of racist incidents and crimes recorded by police authorities?

      Racist incidents and crimes were not recorded by the police authorities until December 2012, when a network of 68 competent Police directorates throughout the country and 2 central Departments are assigned the task of collecting data and reporting on racist violence.

      Qualitative Info

       

      Racist incidents and crimes were not recorded by the police authorities until December 2012, when a network of 68 competent Police directorates throughout the country and 2 central Departments are assigned the task of collecting data and reporting on racist violence.

      The 70 new local/regional Police offices against racist violence announced by the Greek Public order minister started to operate on January 2013. They are staffed by 200 police officers in 68 offices throughout the country + 2 central departments in Athens.
      There is also a new countrywide hotline (11414) and an online form for reporting racist crime.
      These police offices have been set up on the basis of the PD 132/2012 and they provide a number of services to victims with the clear mandate to combat hate motivate crimes (or incitement to) or actions which may cause discrimination, hate or violence against persons or groups of persons because of their race, colour, religion, ethnic or national origin. Moreover the mandate of these offices is:
      - intervene also on own initiative in investigating and persecuting crimes concerning public incitement, provoking or stimulation to the commission of offenses or event acts or actions that can lead to discrimination, hatred or violence against persons or group of persons because of race, skin colour, religion, descent and national or ethnic origin. 
      - aim at cooperating with civil society and victim organisations and to prevention of RV undertaking or supporting positive initiatives.
      - keep a record of incidents investigated.
      - inform victims and services who are competent for victims’ support and provides for interpreter if necessary.
      - publish an annual report every January.
      - provide surveillance of particular areas, with increased risk of racist attacks.


      Source:

      • Presidential Degree 132/2012 about the creation of departments and offices combating racist violence (11.12.2012), Download pdf

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities
      • Majority
      • Asylum seekers
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
      • Persons with disability
      • Africans/black people
      • National minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance
      • Inter-ethnic
      • Intra-ethnic
      • Nationalism
      • Homophobia
      • On grounds of disability
      • On grounds of other belief
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia
      • Xenophobia
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence that areas containing significant numbers migrants and minorities are policed in different ways than others?

      There is no official data or evidence on this issue, although in certain areas with high concentration of migrants Police operates in a differentiated way than in others.

      Qualitative Info

      As it is reported in Pavlou M., Prearis K. (2010), RAXEN Thematic Study: Racist and related hate crimes in the EU - Greece, HLHR-KEMO/i-RED, "in the occasion of anti-racist protests and marches they attacked protesters under the tolerance of the riot police (MAT). Video and photos published showed armed ‘Golden Dawn’ members throwing Molotov bombs and attacking protesters side by side with police officers."[1]

      See also RED Early Warning system for updated relevant info in Greece.

      [1] TV Horis Sinora, Κρανοφόροι με ρόπαλα μαζί με τα ΜΑΤ στην αντιρατσιστική, (08.07.2009) http://www.tvxs.gr/v15958

      TV Horis Sinora, Η κυβέρνηση, η Χρυσή Αυγή και το παρακρατικό DNA, (08.07.2009)

      TV Horis Sinora, Εκκαθαριστική επιχείρηση της Χρυσής Αυγής στην πλατεία Αττικής, (15.07.2009) http://www.tvxs.gr/v16454, A relevant parliamentary question has been submitted by MPs of the left party Syriza:

      TV Horis Sinora, Ερώτηση στη Βουλή για τη μολότοφ των... ΜΑΤ (13.07.2009).              http://www.tvxs.gr/v16302

      TV Horis Sinora, Εθνικιστές και αστυνομικοί εναντίον αντιρατσιστικής διαδήλωσης (07.07.2009), http://www.tvxs.gr/v15908

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Ethnic minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Islamophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement

      External Url http://www.i-red.eu/resources/publications-files/raxen-ts-2010_racist-hate-crimes-in-greece.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of police violence against migrants/minorities in custody?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      it is reported that public officials, police officers, coast guards, are among the most frequently reported alleged perpetrator groups throughout the years 2007-2010. Almost for half of the unofficially reported hate crimes perpetrators are allegedly public officers [1].

      In a number of ECHR cases, Greece was found in violation of the Charter, for ill-treatment against mgirants and refugees and in many cases beatings, rape and racial violence by police or port guard officers were reported. Exemplary cases: CASE OF M.S.S. v. Belgium & GreeceZontul vs Greece


      Source:

      1. Pavlou M & Prearis K (HLHR-KEMO), 2010, RAXEN Thematic Study: Racist and related hate crimes in the EU - Greece, http://www.red-network.eu/?i=red-network.en.library.195, Accessed on 24.2.2013.

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Asylum seekers
      • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Islamophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia
      • Xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Anti-racism
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Do migrants/minorities face disproportionate problems in accessing justice?

      No official data/evidence for disproportionate problems in accessing justice faced by migrants/minorities exist; nevertheless, severe difficulties are reported by asylum seekers with regard to access to asylum procedures.

      Qualitative Info

      On the one hand, migrants/minorities face those difficulties that affect all, e.g. unreasonable time for the conclusion of procedures. Problems of language, restricted financial capacity, lack of knowledge and confidence of/on the judicial system can be reported as additional problems, but there is no official statistical evidence on that.

      Source: Fundamental Rights Agency, Access to justice in Europe: an overview of challenges and opportunities, Country report: Greece. Available online at: http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/access-to-justice-2011-country-EL.pdf

      On the other hand, in the case of asylum seekers, "there is a shocking absence of information either in early or later stages of an asylum application. As a result asylum seekers are not aware of their rights and obligations. Some asylum seekers ignored or misunderstood their status and time limits."

      For more see: Pavlou M., Dourou-Ktistaki E., Papapantoleontos K., Djordjevic O., Nakasian M. (2010), RAXEN Thematic Study: The asylum-seekers’ perspective - Greece: Access to information and to effective remedies, HLHR-KEMO/i-RED.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement

      External Url http://www.i-red.eu/resources/publications-files/raxen_thematic_study2010-asylum-greece.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of differential sentencing?

      No official data available; according to studies migrants are punished much more severely than Greeks.

      Qualitative Info

      According to the conclusions of a large-scale survey of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the University of Athens on 767 court cases related to narcotrafficking, foreigners are sentenced much more than Greeks: average years of sentence for Greeks, 5.21, while for foreigners, 9.18.

      Source: Vassilis Lambropoulos, "Court decisions on the basis of colour! Migrants are double-sentenced in relation to Greeks for the same crimes" [Σε διπλάσια χρόνια φυλάκισης καταδικάζονται οι μετανάστες σε σχέση με τους Ελληνες και μάλιστα για τα ίδια αδικήματα], To Vima, 04/07/2009.   

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Ethnic minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement

      External Url http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?aid=276769

      See other countriesSee indicator history
  • Employment

    Crisis seems to affect significantly migrants; unemployment among migrants has exceeded the unemployment rate of general workforce for the first time in 2009. In addition, migrants receive lower wages than native Greeks and they are excluded from public sector, since employment in the latter is limited to Greeks and EU nationals.  

    • Do the trade unions engage in specific activities recruiting or supporting/defending the rights of minority groups?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), which is the largest trade union in the country, has participated, particularly through its Institute of Labour (INE-GSEE), in several European projects, such as EQUAL, Inter-Tie and Progress.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Ethnic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Employment - labour market

      External Url http://www.inegsee.gr/eurwpaika-programmata.html

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Do the trade unions engage in specific activities recruiting or supporting/defending the rights of migrants groups?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), which is the largest trade union in the country, has participated, particularly through its Institute of Labour (INE-GSEE), in several European projects, such as EQUAL, Inter-Tie and Progress.

      In addition, in several Labour Centres throughout the country, there have been established Support Offices for Migrants and Refugees. Such structures have existed in almost all major cities: Athens, Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Patras and Volos. They provided services mainly with regards to working rights, but also on other issues:

      • Information on working rights, labour contracts, social insurance, relevant institutions etc.
      • Contact with relevant trade unions and migrant associations
      • Help with regards to issue and renewal of residence permit procedure
      • Escort to relevant institutions
      • Information on relevant stakeholders regarding legal, health and education issues

      Most of these initiatives were created within the context of European Union’s funded projects, such as the EQUAL initiative and stopped their functioning after the completion of the relevant projects.

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Employment - labour market

      External Url http://www.oss.inti.acidi.gov.pt/

      See other countriesSee indicator history
  • Housing & Segregation

    The most highly segregated social group are Roma, who face unresolved problems with their housing conditions. Tendencies of polarisation among ethnic groups and majority population in inner-cities, particularly in Athens, are observed combined with gentrification strategies and severe urban decay.

    • Is there evidence of significant levels of segregation between migrant groups and the majority population?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      Migrants tend to concentrate in urban areas where there is cheap housing available. Segregation patterns exist in specific areas of major cities, such as Athens inner-city amd certain central neighbourhoods of Thessaloniki.

      See among others: Vaiou, D. (2010) “Gender, migration and socio-spatial transformations in Southern European cities”, in A. Pike, A. Rodríguez-Pose, J. Tomaney (eds) Handbook of Local and Regional Development, London: Routledge (pp. 470-482)

      Maloutas T. (2010) Mobilité sociale et ségrégation à Athènes: Formes de séparatisme social dans un contexte de mobilité spatiale réduite, Actes de la Recherche en Sciences Sociales, 184 : 2-21

      Kokkali, I. (2010), "Spatial proximity and social distance: Alabanian migrants' invisble exclusions. Evidence from Greece", Paper prepared for presentation at the World Bank International Conference on Poverty and Social Inclusion in the Western Balkans (WBalkans 2010), Brussels, Belgium, December 14-15, 2010. Available on-line at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTECAREGTOPPOVRED/Resources/ikokkalipaperWBWesternBalkans.pdf

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing
      • Integration - social cohesion
      • Daily life
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • What is the ethnic origin of the highly segregated migrant group?

      Although there is no official data available, migrants and particularly asylum seekers of African and Asian origin are more segregated than other groups.

      Qualitative Info

      Although there is no official data providing specific information on specific areas, the ethnic origin of the most segragated areas differ according to period of time and other circumstances. As Pavlou and Christodoulou suggest, "Albanian nationals, who constitute the largest proportion of the total immigrant population, appear to share residential space with Greeks. (...) On the other hand, immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe and from less developed Asian and African countries tend to concentrate in smaller communities, especially in the historical centre and in the outer zone of peripheral Attica’s sprawling urban areas, where unskilled foreign workers settle."

      Pavlou M., Christopoulou N. (2008), Athens, City of Migrants, British Council – Living Together project.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing
      • Integration - social cohesion
      • Daily life

      External Url http://www.i-red.eu/resources/publications-files/athens-migrantcities-britishcouncil2008.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of significant levels of segregation between minority groups and the majority population?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      Roma face high segregation patterns. All reports and studies conclude that Roma settlements are isolated from the wider urban tissue and housing and living standards are far below the societal average.

      According to the National Committe for Human Rights (NCHR) 2009 report: ‘Roma usually settle, often for many years, on free real estate owned by the state, by municipalities and other public legal entities; and much more rarely on private land, tolerated or ignored by the owners or because of the latter’s inability to proceed to court measures’. According to the Greek Deputy Ombudsman for Quality of Life we interviewed: ‘the most important aspect of the situation […] is the indifference on behalf of the state, which simply tolerates the de facto existence of some populations on the periphery of some towns’.

      See among others:

      4th ECRI report on Greece (2009)

      Pavlou M., Lykovardi K., Hormovitis D., Prokopi I. (2009), Housing Conditions of Roma in Greece: Vicious Circles & Consolidated Myths, HLHR-KEMO/i-RED - Project Framework: RAXEN

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing
      • Integration - social cohesion

      External Url http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_04/04_CbC_eng/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf; http://www.i-red.eu/resources/publications-files/hlhr-kemo-i-red_romahousing_greece2009.pdf

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    • What is the ethnic origin of the highly segregated minority group?

      Roma.

      Group Roma

      Qualitative Info

      All reports and studies conclude that Roma settlements are isolated from the wider urban tissue and housing and living standards are far below the societal average.

      According to the National Committe for Human Rights (NCHR) 2009 report: ‘Roma usually settle, often for many years, on free real estate owned by the state, by municipalities and other public legal entities; and much more rarely on private land, tolerated or ignored by the owners or because of the latter’s inability to proceed to court measures’. According to the Greek Deputy Ombudsman for Quality of Life we interviewed: ‘the most important aspect of the situation […] is the indifference on behalf of the state, which simply tolerates the de facto existence of some populations on the periphery of some towns’.

      See among others:

      4th ECRI report on Greece (2009)

      Pavlou M., Lykovardi K., Hormovitis D., Prokopi I. (2009), Housing Conditions of Roma in Greece: Vicious Circles & Consolidated Myths, HLHR-KEMO/i-RED - Project Framework: RAXEN

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing
      • Integration - social cohesion

      External Url http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_04/04_CbC_eng/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf; http://www.i-red.eu/resources/publications-files/hlhr-kemo-i-red_romahousing_greece2009.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of denial of housing/housing rights for certain ethnic groups?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      The Roma case received the attention of the reports by various international human rights’institutions, as well as of the Greek Ombudsman, who in August 2009 published a special report after many years of investigations about the settlement of the civil, municipal status and registration of Roma as an underlying cause of their precarious housing conditions and the limited impact of housing policies.1 As the ombudsman noted individuals who cannot provide evidence of their municipal status and ‘permanent residence’ in a municipality are blocked from accessing the government housing program of state guaranteed low or non interest loans. ‘This illustrates the contradiction inherent in the system which it sets out to assist those in need of housing it pushes to the margins those people that actually need this assistance.’



      [1] The Greek Ombudsman, Δημοτολογική τακτοποίηση των Ελλήνων Τσιγγάνων, (08.2009), An English summary is included in the report http://www.synigoros.gr/diakriseis/pdfs_01/8289_3_Dimotologisi_Roma_Eidiki_Ekthesi.pdf

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing

      External Url http://www.synigoros.gr/diakriseis/pdfs_01/8289_3_Dimotologisi_Roma_Eidiki_Ekthesi.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
  • Education

    The ethnic group that encounters the most severe problems in th efield of education (segregation, poor performance, high drop-out rates) are Roma. Migrant children's participation is school is steadily increasing in relation to the total student population. Nevertheless, and despite numerous projects and significant production of educational material, curriculum remains essentially monocultural at all levels of education.

    • Evidence of school segregation and/or policies of separate/distinct schooling of migrants

      Yes, there is evidence of de facto segregation.

      Qualitative Info

      Children attend schools according to their residence. In areas with high concentration of migrant population, schools are considered by the majority to be degraded and those parents who have the possibility send their children to private schools.  

      According to Gregoriou, Z. (2010), Thematic Report “Intercultural Education” (WP5), GeMIC: Gender - Migration - Intercultural Interaction in South-East Europe, p. 59, "at the level of social practices, we observe the de facto segregation of public schools through the selective placement of Greek and migrant students in different school districts with a smaller or larger migrant population. In other words, Greek parents, as well as educational authorities, prefer to enroll Greek children in all-Greek rather than mixed schools, or, which amounts to the same effect, send them to private schools, which are, for socio-economic reasons, inaccessible to migrant families."

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      External Url http://www.gemic.eu/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WP5-Education-Synthesis-report.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Evidence of school segregation and/or policies of separate/distinct schooling of minorities

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      There are specific 'minority schools' for children of Muslim minority in western Thrace, which have been criticised for reproducing inequality for minority children.

      Roma children remain at a great disadvantage with regard to education. As the 4th ECRI report on Greece notes, "there are cases of Roma children being separated from other children within the same school or in the vicinity thereof. In one case, the European Court of Human Rights deemed Greece in violation of Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of discrimination in the enjoyment of the rights contained in the Convention) in combination with Article 2 of Protocol 1 (right to education). ECRI has been informed that in Spata, where there was an initial refusal to register Roma children for school attendance, these children are currently attending school in a separate class to enable them to gradually adapt to the school environment."

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance

      External Url http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_04/04_CbC_eng/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
  • Health And Social Protection

    Migrants and minorities, in particular Roma, demonstrate higher morbidity rates, especially when it comes to specific diseases, such as tuberculosis and AIDS. Difficulties noted with regard to access to health services concern legal restrictions imposed against undocumented migrants (not implemented by medical staff), language barriers, lack of information, high rates of lack of health insurance.   

  • Public Life, Culture, Sport & Media

    Self-identification as well as freedom of association is not guranteed for Turkish and Macedonian minority members. Muslims outside Western Thrace have problems in exercising their religion. According to the Law 3592/2007, Greek language should be the main broadcasting language. In sports, participation of migrant and minority groups is lower than that of majority, while the existing regulations against hate speech are practically ineffective.

    • Media: Is there a visible presence (or absence) of members of target groups as media professionals?

      Media professionals from migrant or minority groups in mainstream media are almost nonexistent.

      Qualitative Info

      Some young actors with migrant background appear in TV series, but no journalists from migrant or minority groups appear in mainstream media.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Ethnic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Media
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Media: Frequency and relevance of hate speech incidents in public life (and media) and media representations against migrants and minorities?

      Quite frequent.

      Qualitative Info

      Several studies have shown that representations against migrant and minorities are quite often in press and electronic media.

      See among others:

      Triantafyllidou, A. (2001), "Migrants, minorities and Greek media", in Kontochristou M. (ed.), Identity and Media in Contemporary Greece, Athens: Papazissis.

      Pavlou, M (2001), "The 'smugglers' of fear: Racist discourse and Migrants in the press of a metropolitan candidate", in Marvakis, A., parsanoglou, D., Pavlou, M (eds.), Migrants in Greece, Athens: Ellinika Grammata.

      Vlassidis, V. (2005), "Migrants and Media in the end of 20th century Greece", in Frangonicolopoulos, Ch. (ed.), Media, Society and Politics: Role and Function in Contemporary Greece, Athens: I. Sideris.

      More recent data is provided by the 2010 RAXEN Thematic Study on Racist and related hate crimes in Greece, where the assessment of the situation is described as follows:

      "Data on hate speech concern far right political and media discourse on immigrants and Jewish believers. ECRI report highlights the leader of LAOS (a far right-wing party which acquired 3% of the votes in the 2007 parliamentary elections), who “often makes public antisemitic and racist statements, including blaming immigrants for a surge of drug-related crimes and violence”. With regard to media discourse, ECRI report includes concerns of Jewish community representatives, who indicate that “the exacerbation of the conflict in the Middle East [has also given] rise to antisemitism in some Greek media”. In addition, CERD mentions other reports “on the propagation by certain organizations and media outlets of racist stereotypes and hate comments against persons belonging to different ethnic and racial groups”. (...) ECRI and CERD in their reports urge the Greek authorities to ensure the enforcement of Law 927/1979 in the matters of media and political discourse. The ECRI report recommends the enforcement of anti-racist law against “journalists and media who incite racial hatred” and “public figures who engage in racist discourse”."

      ECRI Report on Greece, fourth monitoring cycle, September 2009. (http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf)
       
      CERD, Consideration of Reports submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention. Concluding observations of the Committed on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Greece. (http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G09/448/55/PDF/G0944855.pdf?OpenElement)

       

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Religious intolerance

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Media

      External Url http://www.i-red.eu/resources/publications-files/raxen-ts-2010_racist-hate-crimes-in-greece.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Sport: Racism, racist violence and hate speech in sporting venues (and reporting and policing thereof)?

      No type of reliable data is available either by official or unofficial sources.

      Qualitative Info

      Nevertheless, certain trends and incidents are undoubtful:

      The most frequent racist phenomena recorded in Greece are verbal insults or mocking and banners against athletes and/or fans on the basis of their ethnic or racial origin, as well as verbal and physical violent attacks on specific ethnic groups of fans in relation to sport events involving foreign athletes and/or teams, especially of neighbouring countries of Albania and Turkey.

      A considerable presence of far-right groups in major sports, especially football, targeting specific ethnic groups, such as the Albanians, who constitute the most numerous migrant group in Greece. This is most visible at matches where the Greek National football team participates. Over the past years there have been cases of extensive violence and killings. One of the most striking and shocking aspects is the tolerance of such violence and its generalisation - through a ‘spill-over’ effect – leading to the use of violence also by other, non-militant right-wing groups of indigenous population against migrants.

      There is no doubt that football as the major sport is where numerous and serious racist incidents occur. The violent incidents and killings reported in 2004 after the match between Albania and Greece is the tip of the iceberg of a long list of verbal and physical attacks, as well as of the proliferation of xenophobic, nationalist and even Nazi banners, salutations and slogans in football stadiums.


      What is striking is that, depending on the moment and opportunity, similar violent incidents may contaminate basketball. For instance, the lack of any major success of the Greek national football team or of any tensions in football, may turn the interest of organised violent groups to basketball. Indicative is the case of Basketball World Championship 2006, when migrants were beaten once Greece lost in the finals. The incident of the most recent verbal insulting of a well known Afro-Greek basketball player is yet another example.

      Source: Pavlou M.(ed.) authors: Pavlou M.-Parsanoglou D. - Djordjevic O. (2009), Racism in sport in Greece: Preventing racism, xenophobia & related intolerance in sport across the European Union, RAXEN: HLHR-KEMO/i-RED

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Africans/black people

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Sport

      External Url http://www.i-red.eu/?i=institute.en.publications.206

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    • Sport: Is hate speech ground for sanctions to sport clubs and applied/applicable in practice?

      Yes, but it has never been applied.

      Qualitative Info

      The only specific anti-racist rules and sanctions are provided by the Football Federation’s Disciplinary Code, amended in 2008 in order to comply with FIFA regulations. However, the Greek Federation chose not to fully harmonise its regulations as suggested by FIFA. It also included alleviating clauses allowing the effective non imposition of fines under exonerative circumstances.

      Despite a number of notably violent racist incidents, no such crime has been reported or investigated as such, brought to or processed in the court on the basis of racist motivation and in enforcement of the anti-racist law (n.927/1979).

      Sources:

      Hellenic Football Federation (2008), Disciplinary Code, available on: http://www.epo.gr/kanonismoi/pdf/08_09/PEI8ARXIKOS_KODIKAS_2008.pdf

      Pavlou M.(ed.) authors: Pavlou M.-Parsanoglou D. - Djordjevic O. (2009), Racism in sport in Greece: Preventing racism, xenophobia & related intolerance in sport across the European Union, RAXEN: HLHR-KEMO/i-RED

      Groups affected/interested

      • Ethnic minorities
      • Africans/black people

      Type (R/D)

      • Extremism - organised Racist Violence
      • Afrophobia
      • Nationalism

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Sport

      External Url http://www.epo.gr/kanonismoi/pdf/08_09/PEI8ARXIKOS_KODIKAS_2008.pdf; http://www.i-red.eu/?i=institute.en.publications.206

      See other countriesSee indicator history