Documents

    raxen_thematic_study2010-asylum-greece

 

Executive summary
 
During the last years a heated discussion emerged on the historical centre of Athens as a ¡¥ghetto¡¦ inhabited mainly by irregular immigrants and presumably degraded by criminality linked to ethnic groups. This widely diffused discourse, often built around stereotypes and misrepresentation of migrants and refugees, challenged the RAXEN NFP in surveying the perspective of the asylum seekers (a/s) living independently in the centre of Athens.
 
The most striking finding of the survey is that the asylum system in Greece as described by the asylum seekers appears to be almost inexistent, or at least far less than what is provided by national and EU law provisions.
 
Results were an eye-opener in revealing stories of disrespect and violation of rights, but also of resilience and of a very shaky, insecure, nevertheless enduring hope for asylum and fundamental rights protection.
 
The main patterns emerging from focus group discussions irrespective of gender, age or nationality are as follows:
  • 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.
  • None of the 49 persons interviewed for this survey have never had an interview by the authorities on their asylum claim. Only one of the interviewed asylum seekers whose application have been rejected in the first instance did participate to a non-completed hearing once.

 

Research Team
Head of Research – Report Editor
Miltos Pavlou
 
Report Authoring
Miltos Pavlou (author of Executive Summary, Chapter 2)
Eleni Dourou-Ktistaki (note taker, author of chapter 1)
 
Interviewers - Moderators
Klio Papapantoleontos
Olivera Djordjevic
 
Interpreters
Hafizuddin Qiamy
Farah Ghani
Jama Ali
Æerai Yebio
 
GCR (Greek Council for Refugees) Lawyers Team
Melia Pouri (team coordinator)
Panos Christodoulou
Leda Lakka
Despina Spanoudi
 
Assisting-attending UNHCR-Greece officer
Daphne Kapetanaki
 
Assisting-attending FRA officer
Michael Beis
 
Reporting Researcher i-RED expert
Maria Nakasian
 
With the support of the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR) for providing its lawyers’ and interpreters’ team for identifying and contacting asylum seekers and its premises to hold some of the focus groups www.gcr.gr
With the support of Athens Yoga for providing culturally adequate and neutral premises to hold focus groups www.athensyoga.gr