Although EU Directives have been transposed into national legislation, relatively few are the complaints brought to the Equality Body. Sanctions are not foreseen against public servants reported as perpetrators, although many relevant cases have been reported. Discriminations are reported regarding payments, housing, education, access to health, media and freedom of association (particularly for ethnic minorities not recognised as such by the State).  

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
    • Does nationality, citizenship serve as a ground for discrimination in access to public goods and services, employment and/or deprivation of economic and social rights?

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      According to Art. 4 of the Law 3304/05, the provisions of the Law "do not cover cases of difference of treatment based on nationality and is without prejudice to provisions and conditions relating to the entry into and residence of third-country nationals and stateless persons on the territory of Member States, and to any treatment which arises from the legal status of the third-country nationals and stateless persons concerned".

      The "citizenship exception" is considered to be the main reason that very few members approach the trade unions with racial/ethnic related complaints: 'partly because of the low levels of awareness and inadequate cover, but also because the majority of their members are from the public sector that employs only Greek citizens.

      The Greek Ombudsman also considers that it is not possible to deal with a number of discrimination cases regarding discriminatory treatment on grounds of citizenship which do not fall within the regulatory scope of law n.3034/2005: The Greek Ombudsman has received relevant complaints which, despite their exclusion from the protective scope of legal statutes prohibiting discrimination on grounds of citizenship, raise suspicions of a latent discriminatory treatment on grounds of racial or ethnic origin'. According to the Ombudsman, this general citizenship exception clause excluding such cases ‘seems to be favouring discriminatory practices against foreigners on grounds of racial or ethnic origin.'The Ombudsman points out that 'it is rather imperative to reassess the regulatory framework that pertains to the exclusion of citizenship from statutory regulation, especially in what regards third-country nationals who have been residing in Greece for a long period of time [1 & 2].


      Sources:

      1. The Greek Ombudsman, Equality Body Annual Report 2008, p.13. http://www.synigoros.gr/diakriseis/pdfs_01/8293_1_2008_Annual_Report_on_Discrimination_Law_3304.2005.pdf
      2. Hellenic Official Gazette, FEK 16-2205, 27.01.2005, Law 3304/2005, http://nomoi.info/Ν-3304-2005.html, Accessed on 24.2.2013.

       

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Asylum seekers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Employment - labour market
      • Housing
      • Health and social protection
      • Education
      • Political participation

      External Url http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/RED_Greece.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Does statelessness serve as a ground for discrimination in access to public goods and services and/or deprivation of economic and social rights?

      No

      Qualitative Info

      Law 3304/2005 does not apply to cases of differential treatment on the basis of the legal status as citizens of third countries, or stateless persons.


      Source:

      Groups affected/interested

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

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • Religious intolerance

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-discrimination
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnic origin and/or religion is prohibited in all the areas provided for by the EU Directives?

      Yes, but the only operational Equality Body considers that there is a need of broadening the law's field of application and areas of protection

      Qualitative Info

      According to the HLHR-KEMO/i-RED RAXEN Complementary Data Collection National report 2010:

      "The Ombudsman considers that ‘the majority of cases of illegal discrimination investigated falls beyond the limited application scope of Statute 3304/2005 either because they regard areas of administrative activity beyond the limited ambit of employment and the relevant sectors of social protection, education and vocational training, or because they pertain to the authoritative rather than the public service jurisdiction of the State.'[1] This the reason for which discrimination is found but not established under the anti-discrimination law for the overwhelming majority of ethnic and racial discrimination cases (43 out of 49: 87,76% in 2008).

      The Ombudsman encourages a broadening of the law's field of application and areas of protection. The legislation in force leaves out 'the majority of cases of illegal discrimination investigated by (the Ombudsman).' Such individual or ex officio cases 'fall beyond the limited application scope of Statute 3304/2005 either because they regard areas of administrative activity beyond the limited ambit of employment and the relevant sectors of social protection, education and vocational training, or because they pertain to the authoritative rather than the public service jurisdiction of the State'. It is therefore 'necessary to proceed with a drastic statutory extension of its application scope beyond the employment sector, the social protection sector, in the narrow sense as well as the educational / vocational training and service sector’.[1]"

       

      Groups affected/interested

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

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-semitism
      • Islamophobia
      • Afrophobia
      • Arabophobia
      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
      • 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
      • Integration - social cohesion
      • Daily life
      • Religion
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Are there specialised bodies/agencies/mechanisms which receive, handle/investigate complaints in discrimination cases?

      Yes. There are 3 Equality Bodies, but only one is indpendent and fully operational.

      Qualitative Info

      There are three Equality Bodies established or mandated by the Law 3304/2005:

      The Greek Ombudsman that ensures and monitors the implementation of the abovementioned anti-discrimination law (Law 3304/2005) as concerns: 1) the public sector; b) local and regional authorities; 3) other public bodies, private law corporate entities, enterprises and organizations which are controlled by the state, or by public law entities. It is the only independent (enshrined by the constitution as Parliamentary Ombudsman) and fully operational.

      The Labour Inspectorate, which according to the Art. 19 of Law 3304/2005 empowers to ensure equal treatment in employment.

      The Committee for Equal Treatment, which is chaired by the Secretary General of the Minister of Justice has been empowered to monitor the implementation of Law 3304/2005 in areas which fall outside the competence of the Ombudsman and the Labour Inspectorate. The Committe has never published any report on its operation, with a large mandate on the private sector, and is considered not to be operational.


      Source:

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • 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

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-discrimination

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

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Are there mechanisms in place to collect data on racial discrimination in line with data protection legislation as an effective means of, monitoring and reviewing policies and practices to combat racial discrimination and promote racial equality?

      Yes. Police Directorates and specially assigned Prosecutor in addition to civil society data collection mechanisms.

       

      Qualitative Info

      Since December 2012 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.

      Furthermore, the Ombudsman, as Equality Body, collects data on complaints received and issues assessments in its Annual Report. In addition, the RAXEN NFP HLHR-KEMO begun collecting and producing data on racist violence and discrimination in 2007 and i-RED established the first online tool for reporting istances and incidents of racism and discrimination (i-RED Racist Violence & Crime Database) and together with the RAXEN NFP reported data on racist and hate crime in 2011.


      Sources:

       

      Groups affected/interested

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

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Media
      • Internet
      • Anti-discrimination
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Does legislation provide for the possibility of adopting special/positive measures prevent or compensate for disadvantages linked to racial or ethnic origin in order to ensure full equality in practice?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      Law 3304/2005 provides for positive measures for preventing or counterbalancing disadvantages on grounds of racial or ethnic origin, of religious or other beliefs, disability, age or sexual orientation.


      Source:

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic 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
      • Integration - social cohesion
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Are special/positive measures for securing advancement and protection of certain racial or ethnic groups widely adopted and implemented?

      Not widely adopted, although there are some cases of positive measures for specific groups (Muslim nationals, Roma)

      Qualitative Info

      Some positive measures have been adopted for Greek Muslims and Roma in the last years, concerning housing (loan program for Roma) and employment in the public sector (quota for Muslim minority nationals). However, legal provisions have not been implemented efficiently or successfully in most of cases.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Employment - labour market
      • Housing
      • Anti-discrimination
      • Integration - social cohesion
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is the State or are state representatives reported to engage in discriminatory acts or practices by independent authoritative sources?

      Yes, mostly regarding Roma

      Qualitative Info

      According to the ECRI and according to judgements by the European Court of Human Rights,  the Greek administration and public servants are reported to engage in discriminatory practices, especially concerning refusal of enrolment of Roma children at schools and segregated school facilities (such as the Psari-Asproyrgos case, and the relevant ECtHR case of Sampanis and others vs Greece).

      ECRI 4th Report on Greece, 2009

      Greek Helsinki Monitor Press Release: http://cm.greekhelsinki.gr/index.php?sec=194&cid=3304

      Additionally, according to the the EU MIDIS victimisation report on experiences of discrimination has indicated that its was the Greek Roma minority members who most 69%) than any other migrant or minority group of the survey in Europe "thought they were stopped by the police because of their minority background (‘ethnic profiling’)".

       

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/zinghanophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Policing - law enforcement
      • Education
      • Anti-discrimination

      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
    • Is legal support for victims available from public agencies/bodies? Is there access for victims to assistance and justice?

      No

      Qualitative Info

      Discrimination victims may refer to competent Equality Bodies but they do not enjoy any assistance in court by any public body

      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

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-discrimination
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Does the law foresee the shift of the burden of proof in civil / administrative procedures? Are there problems of implementation reported by independent authoritative sources?

      Yes, but is hardly implemented

      Qualitative Info

      According to the HLHR-KEMO/i-RED RAXEN Reports:

      As the Ombudsman explains: ‘In many cases, however, despite the fact that there had been confirmation of direct or indirect discrimination, enforcing the relevant provision was possible only by means of analogy. The problem stems from the fact that the crucial act or omission on the part of the public agency involved fell within the scope of its authoritative(‘κυριαρχική διοίκηση’) rather than its public service (‘παροχική διοίκηση’) jurisdiction and/or was beyond the regulatory scope of Statute No 3304/2005. Therefore, it was impossible in many cases to utilize the newly revised provision regarding the shift of burden of proof.’ [1 &2]/


      Source:

      1. The Greek Ombudsman, Equality Body Annual Report 2008, p.2. http://www.synigoros.gr/diakriseis/pdfs_01/8293_1_2008_Annual_Report_on_Discrimination_Law_3304.2005.pdf  Cfr.  also The Greek Ombudsman, Equality Body Annual Report 2009, p.2. http://www.synigoros.gr/diakriseis/pdfs_01/8654_1_Ekthesi_Diakrisewn_2009_final.pdf.
      2. Hellenic Official Gazette, FEK 16-2205, 27.01.2005, Law 3304/2005, http://nomoi.info/Ν-3304-2005.html, Accessed on 24.2.2013.

       

       

      Groups affected/interested

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

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-discrimination
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Can associations, organisations or other legal entities, who have a legitimate interest, engage, either on behalf or in support of the complainant, with his or her approval, in any judicial and/or administrative procedure concerning discrimination?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      Legal entities may engage in administrative or judicial proceedings on behalf of discrimination victims only when respect of the equal treatment principle is include in the organisations satute scopes. (art.13 of law n.3304/2005).


      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

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-discrimination
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is class action or actio popularis possible? (court claims or action in the name of a group)

      No

      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

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-discrimination
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Are sanctions foreseen/provided by anti-discrimination legislation?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      Sanctions for violating the anti-discrimination law provide for imprisonment of 6 months up to 3 years and for fines of 1000 to 5000 Euros. (art.16 of the law n.3304/2005)


      Source:

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-discrimination
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there provision within anti-discrimination legislation/practice forfinancial compensation/restitution of rights and are these applied in practice?

      No

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-discrimination
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Are there any problems concerning the implementation of national legislation prohibiting discrimination?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      Various independent and authoritative sources report that the anti-discrimination legislation faces problems of implementation in Greece, which may be summarised as follows:

      - lack of independence or not operational status of all Equality Bodies.

      - low number of cases submitted to the only operational and independent Equality Body: The Greek Ombudsman, most of which are pending for many years.

      - no court cases reported.

      Source: Greek RAXEN NFP reports, 2006-2010.

      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

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Employment - labour market
      • Housing
      • Health and social protection
      • Education
      • Anti-discrimination
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Has there been a thorough evaluation/assessment of the effectiveness of the national implementation of EU Anti-discrimination Directives?

      No

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Anti-discrimination
      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. 

    • 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 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
    • 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.  

  • 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

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • 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 majority driven segregation ("white flight" phenomenon)?

      Yes

      Qualitative Info

      As it can be seen below, population of municipality of Athens has been decreasing over decades in favour of suburbs.

      Distribution of population (%) in the Athenian metropolitan area after WW2

       

      1951

      1961

      1971

      1981

      1991

      2001

      Municipality of Athens

      40,3%

      33,9%

      34,1%

      29,3%

      25,1%

      24,9%

      Municipality of Piraeus

      14,0%

      10,2%

      7,4%

      6,5%

      5,9%

      5,7%

      Other municipalities

      45,7%

      55,9%

      58,5%

      64,2%

      69,0%

      69,4%

      Source: Censuses 1951-2001
       
      On the other hand, within the Municipality of Athens lives the largest part of migrant population (according to 2001 census, 17% of the total population)
      In certain areas, signs of phenomena such as 'white flight', and even 'blockbusting' and 'gentrification' exist, though some suggest that these terms and notions should be used with certain conceptual precaution (see for example Maloutas T. 2012, "Contextual Diversity in Gentrification Research", Critical Sociology, 38(1), 33-48.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Majority

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing
      • Integration - social cohesion
      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
    • Is there evidence that migrant/minority groups face especially serious problems in accessing housing of an acceptable quality?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      Regarding the Roma housing issue, the ECRI in its fourth report on Greece noted that the living conditions of some Roma continue to fall unacceptably below international standards’, while ‘some Roma settlements are in complete isolation from the rest of the population, without running water or electricity and without a sewage system or access to public transport’. As ECRI emphasizes ‘Roma living in those settlements also face at best indifference and at worst hostility (as noted in Aspropyrgos) on the part of some local authorities and non-Roma’.

      Many migrants also live in deplorable conditions, especially in the centre of Athens in certain areas, such as around Omonia square, Metaxourghio and Aghios Panteleimonas.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Asylum seekers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing

      External Url http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Migrant or minority group which faces especially serious problems in accessing housing of an acceptable quality?

      Roma

      Groups Roma

      Qualitative Info

      Regarding the Roma housing issue, the ECRI in its fourth report on Greece noted that the living conditions of some Roma continue to fall unacceptably below international standards’, while ‘some Roma settlements are in complete isolation from the rest of the population, without running water or electricity and without a sewage system or access to public transport’. As ECRI emphasizes ‘Roma living in those settlements also face at best indifference and at worst hostility (as noted in Aspropyrgos) on the part of some local authorities and non-Roma’.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Roma & Travelers

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing

      External Url http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of particular difficulties faced by migrant/minority groups in purchasing or renting property of their choice?

      Yes; difficulties exist at the social, not legal level.

      Qualitative Info

      According to studies, difficulties in purchasing or renting property still exist among migrants.

      See among others: Drydakis, N. (2011), "Ethnic Discrimination in the Greek Housing Market", Journal of Population Economics, 24(4), 1235-1255.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Affected group with particular difficulties in purchasing or renting property of own choice

      Migrants and refugees.

      Groups Migrants and refugees

      Qualitative Info

      According to studies, difficulties in purchasing or renting property still exist among migrants.

      See among others: Drydakis, N. (2011), "Ethnic Discrimination in the Greek Housing Market", Journal of Population Economics, 24(4), 1235-1255.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Housing
      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.

    • Practical obstacles and evidence of problems and differential enrollment rates for certain minorities?

      Yes

      Data No data available

      Qualitative Info

      As noted in the ECRI report the main problem remains the access of Roma children to education: ‘Roma remain at a great disadvantage with regard to education. There are still cases of schools refusing to register Roma children for attendance, in some instances due to pressure by some non-Roma parents.'

      The UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed in its 2009 report its concern about the alleged limited access to quality minority education for the Turkish speaking minority in Western Thrace. The CERD recommended that ‘the State party improve the quality of education for the vulnerable ethnic groups and the Muslim minority, including through the training of teachers belonging to these groups, to ensure that there is a sufficient number of secondary schools, and to create pre-schools that teach in the mother tongue of their students’

      Groups affected/interested

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

      Type (R/D)

      • Nationalism
      • Anti-roma/ romaphobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      External Url http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf; http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/docs/CERD.C.GRC.19EN.doc

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Practical obstacles and evidence of problems and differential enrollment rates for migrants?

      No.

      Data No data available

      Qualitative Info

      In general, education is one of the fields where access for migrant children is not restricted. Problems, such as language and higher drop-out rate, exist but enrollment rates are not significantly differentiated from those of Greek
      parents' children.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      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
    • Poorer educational performance by certain groups?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      Roma children and children of Muslim minority in Western Thrace demonstrate a significantly poorer educational performance.

      As far as migrant children are concerned, unequal performance is less significant. As the following table shows, differences in grades between secondary education students from Albania and from Greece, were not significantly large.

      Country of birth

      2nd junior high-school

      3rd junior high-school

      1st high school

      2nd high school

      3rd high school

      Albania

      14

      13,9

      15,3

      13,6

      12,2

      Greece

      14,6

      15,2

      15,5

      12,6

      11,1

      Source: Gotovos, A. & Marcou, G. (2004),  Repatriated and foreign students in Greek education, Athens: IPODE.

      Groups affected/interested

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

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      External Url http://estia.hua.gr:8080/dspace/bitstream/123456789/1050/1/Haliapa_Anastasia_Phd.pdf ; http://estia.hua.gr:8080/dspace/bitstream/123456789/1050/1/Haliapa_Anastasia_Phd.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Problems with educational attainement by certain groups (drop out - fragmentation of educational experience)?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      According to the 4th ECRI report on Greece, "as the Greek authorities have pointed out themselves, and the Ombudsman has confirmed, there is a very high drop-out rate among Roma pupils."

      ECRI also notes with concern, as acknowledged by the authorities themselves, that there is a 12% drop-out rate among Pomak (part of the Muslim minority of Western Thrace) children.

      Groups affected/interested

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

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      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
    • Are there positive initiatives to improve/support poor educational provision for migrant and minority groups?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      The Integrated Action Programme for the social integration of Roma launched in 2002 includes education as one of its goals. However, more measures appear to be necessary, inter alia, within the framework of this programme to address the problems faced by Roma in education. An Inter-Ministerial Committee within the Ministry of Interior coordinates the activities of all relevant ministries in the implementation of the Integrated Action Programme for the social integration of Roma.

      The Greek authorities continue to implement the four-phase project entitled “Education of Muslim Children”, the last phase being implemented from 2010 to 2013. Within this project books for students and for teachers used in the Greek-speaking programme in minority primary schools have been produced. In addition, in the 2007-2008 school year, the Greek authorities introduced Turkish as a second language, as an optional subject, in high schools.

      As far as initiatives for the support of migrant students, reception classes and support classes  in primary and secondary education have been established since 1999 (Ministerial Decision 10/20/Γ1/708/7-9-1999). From 1996 (Law 2413/1996) a legislative framework for intercultural education has been established. So far, there are in Greece only 26 Intercultural schools, of which 13 are primary schools, 9 junior high schools and 4 are senior high schools, and the curriculum is not substantially different from the mainstream one (see Halkias, A., Parsanoglou D. and Golfinopoulos, Y. (2011) "Girls of Migrant Background in Greece: Conflicting Loyalties and Troubling Hierarchies", in The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS), Young Nigrant Women in Secondary Education: Promoting Integration and Mutual Understanding through Dialogue and Exchange, University of Nicosia Press).

      Groups affected/interested

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

      Type (R/D)

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

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

      External Url http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_04/04_CbC_eng/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf; http://www.museduc.gr/index.php; http://www.medinstgenderstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/Integration_of_young_migrant_women_2011.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Victimisation in schools (bullying/harassment/racist violence) ?

      Bullying and harassment are wide-spread phenomena; only partially vistims concern migrants and minorities.

      Qualitative Info

      Although epidemiological studies in Greece have shown that 1 in 10 school-age children have been exposed systematically to bullying acts (Deligianni-Kouimtzi, 2005, Gender identities, national identities and school violence-investigating the violence and victimization in the school setting. Intermediate report of the Pythagras Program, Period 1/3/2004-31/3/2005), ethnic or religious background does not seem to be a significant factor of victimisation in schools.

      Nevertheless, local and national media reported a low number of cases of discrimination and intolerance of Greek pupils’ parents against school children of migrant parents. One case regarded the refusal of Greek parents to accept that an Albanian pupil carried the Greek flag at the school parade in the occasion of the national festivity of March 2009.[1] Another case concerned a violent incident against migrant children in the classroom of the 1st Elementary chool of Agios Stefanos (Attica, wider Athens area). According to the Association of Teachers of Eastern Attica ‘Socrates’ on 6.2.2009 Greek parents have assaulted and beaten migrant children threatining and insulting teachers who tried to intervene defending them. The aggressors returned to the school in the afternoon of the same day accompanied by self-identified police officer demanding from the school director access to personal data of the victims. The teacher’s association filed a lawsuit.[2]

      For more, see Pavlou M. - Prearis K. (2010), RAXEN Thematic Study: Racist and related hate crimes in the EU - Greece



      [1] Eleftherotipia, Παρέλαση, Λάβαρα και τερτίπια, (11.03.2009), http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=24835 , respentza blogspot (04.03.2009), http://respentza.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-post_9528.html

      [2] Rizospastis, Γονείς ξυλοκόπησαν παιδιά μεταναστών! (11.03.2009), http://www1.rizospastis.gr/story.do?id=4988837&text

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

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

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Provision of option to learn mother language other than the majority's

      In the case of children with migrant background, only outside the curriculum thanks to initiative of teachers.

      In the case of the oficially recognised Muslim minority in Western Thrace, yes.

      Qualitative Info

      According to the migration legislation in force, optional teaching of mother tongue and culture may be provided to a specific school upon the condition of a high number of interested pupils and after a decision of the Minister of National Education & Religions.[1] Nevertheless, despite the provision for intercultural education, special lessons of mother tongue, culture and religion for immigrant pupils have not been put to practice, although the migrant associations have raised such claims through formal applications.[2] A good practice performed by the teachers of the 132 elementary School of Athens on their own initiative was de facto paused by the new director appointed by the Ministry of Education causing tensions and the Greek Ombudsman unsuccassful and unresponded intervention.[3]

      In the case of Muslim minority in Western Thrace, textbooks and courses are also held in Turkish language.



      [1] Law n.3386/2005, art.72.4.

      [2] As provided by art.35 of law n.2413/1996 and art.72.4 of law n.3386/2005 and noted by the Greek National Commission for Human Rights in its observations on the Report of the Foreign Affairs Ministry about the application of the International Convention for the Elimination of any Form of Racial Discrimination. (14.2.2008)

      [3] More information is found on the school’s site created by pupils and teachers of the 132 elementary school of Athens: http://www.132grava.net

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Ethnic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Education

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

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • 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.   

    • Is there evidence of increased morbidity rates for minority and migrant groups?

      Yes, for some diseases, such as tuberculosis and AIDS.

      Qualitative Info

      For some diseases, such as tuberculosis, "although the total number of newly detected cases of TB has declined, cases among immigrants are increasing."

      See among others, Papaventsis D, Nikolaou S, Karabela S, Ioannidis P, Konstantinidou E, Marinou I, Sainti A, Kanavaki S. (2010), "Tuberculosis in Greece: bacteriologically confirmed cases and anti-tuberculosis drug resistance, 1995-2009", Eurosurveillance, 15(28).

      For the case of AIDS/HIV, see: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) (2010), Migrant health: Epidemiology of HIV and AIDS in migrant communities and ethnic minorities in EU/EEA countries, Stockholm, revised edition.

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Health and social protection

      External Url http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19614; http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/0907_TER_Migrant_health_HIV_Epidemiology_review.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of increased mortality rates for minority and migrant groups?

      There is no data available.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Ethnic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Health and social protection
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence of forced heatlhcare/intervention practices to minorities?

      There is no data available nor such evidence.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Ethnic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Health and social protection
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Specific health issues such as diseases specific to particular groups

      No data available, apart from some diseases more recurrent among migrant population, such as tuberculosis.

      Qualitative Info

      No data available, apart from some diseases more recurrent among migrant population, such as tuberculosis.

      Papaventsis D, Nikolaou S, Karabela S, Ioannidis P, Konstantinidou E, Marinou I, Sainti A, Kanavaki S. Tuberculosis in Greece: bacteriologically confirmed cases and anti-tuberculosis drug resistance, 1995-2009. Euro Surveill. 2010;15(28):pii=19614. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19614

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Health and social protection

      External Url http://www.eurosurveillance.org/images/dynamic/EE/V15N28/art19614.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Differential access to social protection system and benefits - Do some or more categories of migrants minorities or stateless/non-citizens face limitations and restrictions?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      As the ECRI noted in its most recent 2009 report, public hospital staff are obliged by law to refuse medical treatment to irregular immigrants except in emergencies and to minor children. In practice medical staff and their associations refuse to implement such provision as being against the rights of the patient and the Hippocratic Oath. Nevertheless, the NCHR and ECRI have urged the authorities to repeal this provision and to avoid any discriminatory practices.  In particular the ECRI noted with concern the ‘reports indicating lacunae in the imparting of information on their rights and in the availability of translation services, as well as reports of stereotypes and discrimination against immigrants in the health services’.


      Lack of relevant information or of access to information, due to language difficulties, limits immigrants' knowledge of procedures and excludes them from the use of certain benefits and rights to which they might be entitled. A 2007 survey by the Medecins du Monde European Observatory on Access to Health Care No papers? No Health?  also demonstrated that obstacles to health care access are widespread in Greece. Data from Greece was collected for 112 undocumented migrants visiting two reception and treatment polyclinics of Medecins du Monde in Athens and Thessaloniki. In a question concerning the awareness of HIV screening services, 83.7% of the people questioned answered that they are not aware of their right to access such services. This is by far the highest proportion of uninformed migrants compared to the other 8 European countries surveyed.

      Legally residing and employed migrants with regular social security status are entitled to access to health services and provisions under equal status with Greek citizens. However, migrants that are not covered by a social security program (e.g. unemployed, unsecured, with a low income) are not entitled to the social protection provisions which grant free health care and medical coverage, preserved exclusively to Greeks and ethnic Greek immigrants (‘repatriated’ and ‘homogenis’).  As the MIGHEALTHNET notes 'given the spread of informal employment arrangements many legally residing immigrants are deprived of social security and hence access to healthcare. Moreover, access to health care services is gravelly hindered by long delays (up to 6 months) in the renewal of residence and work permits, depriving them from social insurance and consequently from free access to the health care system.'

      Undocumented migrants in Greece are only entitled to access to hospital emergency rooms for the treatment of life-threatening conditions. The only exception is for foreign patients with HIV or other infectious diseases, who can benefit from free medical care and hospital admission, provided that the appropriate treatment is not available in their country of origin. Asylum seekers are also entitled to the same access to health care as Greeks. However, prior to obtaining an asylum seeker's status they are only entitled to emergency care under life-threatening conditions, like undocumented migrants.

      Sources:

      ECRI Report on Greece, Fourth Monitoring Cycle, (15.09.2009), http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf:

      European survey on undocumented migrant's access to health care http://www.medecinsdumonde.org/gb/content/download/4518/36169/file/rapport_observatoire_english.pdf

      MIGHEALTHNET, National Capodistrian University of Athens, Έκθεση για την υγεία των μεταναστών στην Ελλάδα, (03.2009), http://www.mighealth.net/el/index.php/, english summary: http://www.mighealth.net/el/images/f/f7/Greek_State_of_the_Art_Report_-_English_Summary.pdf  Data collected by the MIGHEALTHNET, information network on good practice in health care for migrants and minorities in Europe, Greek wiki, http://www.mighealth.net/el/index.php/

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Health and social protection
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Do migrants have a higher risk of poverty than the rest of the population?

      Yes.

      Qualitative Info

      Taking inot account that migrants show higher rates in unemployment, lower payment rates and higher rates in non declared and unsecured employment, the risk of poverty for them is higher than for the rest of population.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Asylum seekers

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Employment - labour market
      • Health and social protection
      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Is there evidence that migrant or minority women are particularly vulnerable in accessing and receiving effective health care services?

      No data available nor such evidence.

      Qualitative Info

      There are no additional obstacles or limitations in migrant or minority women's access to health care services, than the general obstacles migrants and minorities face.

      In the case of Roma women, according to the project "Information network on good practice in health care for migrants and minorities in Europe" (MIGHEALTHNET), coordinated by the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, "only a small proportion of Roma women undergoes prenatal health check. Moreover, only 60% of the interrogated women knew what PAP test is and only 10% have had a mammography at least once."

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Roma & Travelers
      • Ethnic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Health and social protection

      External Url http://www.mighealth.net/el/index.php/Roma

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Are there policies and/or good practices accomodating culture/ traditions' respect in health care

      Only partially.

      Qualitative Info

      Socio-Medical Centres provide basic health care services such as preventive medicine, primary health and social care, vaccination, support services and vocational counselling in Roma settlements. A total of 32 such centres have been established in as many municipalities and are co-financed by the European Union Social Fund and the state budget.

      As the MIGHEALTHNET report points out  in Greece the examples of best practice in health care services addressing migrants are very few: ‘In the National Health System no intercultural services, information in other languages, except Greek, and interpretation services are available. Isolated examples of best practice mainly refer to practices and projects of NGOs offering health care services and psychosocial support to undocumented migrants, refugees and minorities.’ 


      There are a number of NGO and EU-funded initiatives by the Doctors of the World, PRAKSIS, Greek Council for Refugees, Hellenic Red Cross and Medécins Sans Frontières active in providing health care services, counseling and information on welfare, and psychosocial support to undocumented migrants, refugees and minorities. Two of the NGOs (Hellenic Red Cross and Medécins Sans Frontières) run health units (polyclinics) in Athens, Thessaloniki and Crete providing free primary health care services, medication and psychosocial support to people who do not have access to the National Health System, primarily undocumented migrants and rejected asylum seekers. The Greek Council for Refugees and the Hellenic Red Cross provide councelling services and psychosocial support at refugee camps. Some of the organisations use interpretation services however this is not a universal practice.

      Sources:

      Pavlou M. - Prearis K. (2010), RAXEN Thematic Study: Racist and related hate crimes in the EU - Greece, HLHR-KEMO/i-RED. available on http://www.i-red.eu/?i=institute.en.publications.210

      MIGHEALTHNET, National Capodistrian University of Athens, Έκθεση για την υγεία των μεταναστών στην Ελλάδα, (03.2009), http://www.mighealth.net/el/index.php/, english summary: http://www.mighealth.net/el/images/f/f7/Greek_State_of_the_Art_Report_-_English_Summary.pdf

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Refugees
      • Roma & Travelers

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Health and social protection
      See other countriesSee indicator history
  • Political & Civic Participation

    Greece until recently had a very poor record in the promotion of political and civic participation of migrants. With the Law 3838/2010, holders of long-term and indefinite duration residence permits are entitled to participate in the local elections (having the right to be elected as councelors, but not as mayors).

  • 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.

    • Is self-identification of individuals/groups a criterion for recognition and respect of minority or ethnic cultural linguistic religious groups' rights by the state/government?

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      ECRI recommended in its 4th report on Greece that the Greek authorities investigate allegations of discrimination against members of the Macedonian and Turkish communities and take adequate measures to address them, including by ensuring the implementation of the relevant legislation where necessary. ECRI also strongly recommended that the Greek authorities take steps to recognize the right to selfidentification of these groups.

      In addition, ECRI recommended that the Greek authorities ensure the respect and enforcement of the right to self-identification of everyone living in Western Thrace and that measures be taken to ensure that none suffer any form of pressure or discrimination in this regard, and that steps be taken to foster dialogue and mutual acceptance among these groups.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Nationalism

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Culture

      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
    • Association: are there restrictions of the freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association for migrants

      No.

      Qualitative Info

      The right to peaceful assembly is protected by art. 11 and the right to association by the art. 12 of the Constitution.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Political participation
      • Daily life

      External Url http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/8c3e9046-78fb-48f4-bd82-bbba28ca1ef5/SYNTAGMA.pdf

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Association: are there restrictions of the of the freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association for minorities

      Officially no, but in practice yes.

      Qualitative Info

      The right to peaceful assembly is protected by art. 11 and the right to association by the art. 12 of the Constitution.

      Nevertheless, the ECRI fourth report on Greece, noted that there serious shortcomings and obstacles by the state towards the recognition of identity and setting the conditions for the exercise of the freedom of association by minority groups in Greece. In particular, the ECRI reported that ‘representatives of the Macedonian community have expressed their feelings of discrimination, inter alia, as concerns the use of their names in their own language and failure to bring cases of hate speech in the media against Macedonians to court. Representatives of the Turkish community in Western Thrace have also stated that recognition of their identity is among the most important problems they face along with education and the right to religious freedom.

      In addition, the UN CERD expressed its concern about the obstacles encountered by some ethnic groups in exercising the freedom of association and noted the forced dissolution and refusal to register some associations including words such as “minority”, “Turkish” or “Macedonian”. The CERD in its 2009 report on Greece recommended that the State party ‘adopt measures to ensure the effective enjoyment by persons belonging to every community or group of their right to freedom of association and of their cultural rights, including the use of mother languages’.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Culture
      • Political participation
      • Daily life

      External Url http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/8c3e9046-78fb-48f4-bd82-bbba28ca1ef5/SYNTAGMA.pdf; http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_04/04_CbC_eng/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf; http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/docs/CERD.C.GRC.19EN.doc

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Religion: Persons belonging to minorities face legal and practical obstacles in exercising or manifesting their religion or belief?

       Legal no, but practical yes.

      Qualitative Info

      The most notable case is of the Muslims residing outside the Western Thrace region. The UN CERD expressed its concern about ‘information on certain specific difficulties encountered by Muslims belonging to different ethnic groups to practice their religion’. 
      In fact, there is a total lack of a mosque outside western Thrace despite the existence of a large Muslim, mostly migrant, community especially in Athens. Muslims exercise their religious duties at improvised informal mosques in appartments. These difficulties fomented also the reactions to an islamophobic incident reported in Athens in May 2009.

      Groups affected/interested

      • Muslims

      Type (R/D)

      • Islamophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Religion

      External Url http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/docs/CERD.C.GRC.19EN.doc

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Media: Are there positive measures for promoting or restrictions for Migrant and minority media?

      There are no positive measures for promoting migrant and minority media.

      Data Several newspapers based on migrant initiatives

      Qualitative Info

      On the contrary, there are legal restrictions for migrant and minority media.

      As Pavlou, M. (2010), Complementary Data Collection: Contribution to the FRA Annual Report 2010, i-red/HLHR-KEMO reports:

      [The use of specific languages in media] is rather penalized than encouraged. As the ECRI noted in its fourth report on Greece, Law 3592/2007 on the “Concentration and Licensing of Media Enterprises and Other Provisions” adopted on 16 July 2007 provides that the main broadcasting language for radio programmes should be Greek. A number of other requirements on the minimum human and financial resources required to obtain a licence risk endangering smaller regional and minority media.[1] According to the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Mr. Miklos Haraszti, who intervened in 2007, this law “endangers pluralism by putting a high threshold for minority, community or low-cost broadcasters”.[2]



      [1] ECRI Report on Greece, Fourth Monitoring Cycle, 15.09.2009, p.48  http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf.

      [2] OSCE Press release: New radio licensing law in Greece restricts minority media, says OSCE media freedom watchdog, available at: http://www.osce.org/fom/item_1_25793.html (27.07.2007). Similar reactions were observed from the Thrace Muslim minority representatives and the press.

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Ethnic minorities
      • Religious minorities
      • Linguistic minorities

      Type (R/D)

      • Nationalism

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Media

      External Url http://www.i-red.eu/?i=institute.en.publications.210

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Media: Are there positive measures for promoting or restrictions for minority and lesser used language in the media?

      Both restrictions and positive measures.

      Qualitative Info

      Restrictions are imposed by the Law 3592/2007, which provides that the main broadcasting language for radio programmes should be Greek.

      At the level of positive measures, there are some good practices:

      The Athens Muncipal Radio special frequency for foreign audience is a notable example. Air 104.4 FM was created in 2004 in the occasion of the Olympic games and in order to cover the needs of Olympic games visitors. However, it stayed after the games and soon became an information and entertaining network in English, Russian, Albanian, German, Spanish, Italian, Arab, French, Chinese, Bulgarian, Polish, Romanian and Phlippinos languages.

      Another example is the Radio Friendship (Filia), part of the national broadcasting ERT, has programmes in 12 languages.

       

      Groups affected/interested

      • Migrants
      • Linguistic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Media

      External Url http://www.athina984.gr/1044fm; http://tvradio.ert.gr/radio/index.asp?id=18

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Sport: Effective participation of migrants in sport

      Disproportionate under-representation of migrants in all sports.

      Qualitative Info

      "The extremely low participation of migrants in sport, both as athletes and fans and even lower as officials or administrative staff and media is due to:
      a) de jure limitation to participate on the basis of regulations in force restricting participation of non-Greek athletes.
      b) de facto limitation to participate on the basis of their administrative and residence status, related to a dysfunctional migration legislation and lack of a naturalisation/citizenship path for second and third generation of immigrants.
      c) de facto limitation to participate on the basis of racist attitudes and fear of victimisation. A striking example is the racist violence against migrants (Albanians, Africans, Asians) in summer 2004, when they tried to celebrate the Greek National Football team success in winning the Euro2004.
      d) a de jure and de facto limitation to participate in athletes’ unions resulting from their statutes’ clear orientation in representing and protecting interests of Greek athletes, according to the interviewed representatives of athletes."

      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

      Type (R/D)

      • Anti-migrant/xenophobia

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Sport

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

      See other countriesSee indicator history
    • Sport: Effective participation of minorities in sport

      Under-representation of minorities in all sports.

      Qualitative Info

      "All sports seem equally affected, particularly when it comes to representation of ethnic groups at leading positions, officials, unionists and also as fans. However, for all sports the most negative regulations are reported at amateur level.
      Roma seem to be the most affected group, mostly due to socio-economic reasons.
      The Muslim minority of Thrace is an exception, albeit only at local level. Members of the minority are elected in the local unions of the federation and participate as officials in local amateur clubs. However, their participation is notably confined to Western Thrace and apparently they do not participate proportionally as athletes, supporters, trainers or officials in leading positions on a national level."

      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

      • Roma & Travelers
      • Muslims
      • Ethnic minorities

      Key socio-economic / Institutional Areas

      • Sport

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

      See other countriesSee indicator history