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H Συντονίστρια του Επιστημονικού Προσωπικού της ΕΕΔΑ, κ. Εύα Τζαβαλά έλαβε μέρος στην πρώτη συνάντηση των Εθνικών Θεσμών Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων και Διαμεσολαβητών με το Συμβούλιο της Ευρώπης κατόπιν πρόσκλησης της Προεδρίας του Λουξεμβούργου (27-28 Μαρτίου 2025, Στρασβούργο Γαλλίας). Στη διήμερη συνάντηση συζητήθηκαν ζητήματα σύγχρονων προκλήσεων στο κράτος δικαίου, εκτέλεσης αποφάσεων του Δικαστηρίου του Στρασβούργου και εργαλείων για την εκτίμηση του αντικτύπου στα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα από τη χρήση εφαρμογών τεχνητής νοημοσύνης. Η κ. Τζαβαλά, σε παρέμβασή της εστίασε στις καλές πρακτικές της ΕΕΔΑ στην παρακολούθηση της συμμόρφωσης της Ελλάδας με τις αποφάσεις του Ευρωπαϊκού Δικαστηρίου Δικαιωμάτων του Ανθρώπου, προτείνοντας ευρύτερες συνέργειες μεταξύ του Τμήματος Εκτέλεσης Αποφάσεων του Δικαστηρίου, εθνικών θεσμών ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων και εθνικών κοινοβουλίων.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) organized a training course for National Human Rights Institutions in Central-Eastern-Northern Europe, South-Eastern Europe and the Northern-Mediterranean Region on 24 and 25 March 2025 in Warsaw.

The two-day training course helps National Human Rights Institutions in Central-Eastern-Northern Europe, South-Eastern Europe and the Northern-Mediterranean Region to assess the human rights implications of border technologies and to enhance their capacity to monitor human rights at borders.

Topics addressed during the training include: What new technologies are used in border control and migration management? How can the human rights implications of using these technologies at borders be assessed and monitored? How can National Human Rights Institutions effectively monitor and report on harmful border practices such as so called “pushbacks”? What methods can National Human Rights Institutions use to collect and verify information at borders, including with the use of new technologies?

The GNCHR was represented by the Supervisor of the Mechanism for Recording Incidents of Informal Forced Returns, Ilias Tsampardoukas, and the GNCHR Human Rights Advisor, Dr. Christos Tsevas.

For more information please see here: https://www.osce.org/odihr/584968

PRESS RELEASE

WALK AGAINST DISCRIMINATION - WAD 2025

Friday, 21st of March 2025 WORLD DAY AGAINST RACISM

The press release in pdf 

In a moment of social and value turmoil both in Greece and the rest of the world, this year`s World Day Against Racism is perhaps more important than ever. In defiance of the times, this year, the Walk has "grown up" and will take place in Athens, Lesvos, Thessaloniki and Larisa, simultaneously!

On the World Day against Racism (International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination), on Thursday, 21st of March, the Greek Forum of Migrants, for the 11th year, is calling all groups that are currently being discriminated and affected by racism to raise their voices and to declare their determination to fight all kind of racism and humiliation of human dignity

We unite our voices, the co-signed Civil Society’s Organizations, NGOs, human rights defenders bodies, and representatives from wider groups affected by discrimination and racism (PWD, LGBTQI, Roma, migrants, refugees, HIV positive, elderly, drug addicts, people with mental illness, prisoners, religious minorities, etc.). Together -united, we will gather at Syntagma sq. in Athens where we will pass the Award of Antiracism - Tzanetos Antypas trophy* to an organization or a person for their contribution in  anti-racism and human rights, and march for the WAD2025.

WAD2025 in ATHENS:

• Meeting point: on Friday 21st of March, at 16:00 at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma sq.
• United we cross the road opposite the Parliament (upper level of Syntagma sq.) where the ceremony for the Award of Antiracism - Tzanetos Antypas trophy will take place. This year, five women`s migrant and refugee organizations are receiving the award for their contribution to the defense of human rights. These organizations are:
  • ELAHE PENHAN Γυναίκες από Ιράν και Αφγανιστάν - ELAHE PENHAN Women from Iran and Afghanistan
  • Σύλλογος Νιγηριανών Γυναικών Ελλάδας - Nigerian Women`s Association Of Greece
  • Σύνδεσμος Αλβανίδων Γυναικών στην Ελλάδα - Association of Albanian women in Greece
  • Οργάνωση Ενωμένων Γυναικών της Αφρικής - United Women`s Organization of Africa
  • Ουκρανές Γυναίκες στην Ελλάδα / Українки в Греції - Ukrainian Women in Greece
• After the ceremony, united we march together around Syntagma square

We are very happy that they responded to our call and are co-organizing for the first time the WALK AGAINST DISCRIMINATION in other cities in Greece:

WAD2025 in LESVOS:

The Walk Against Discrimination in Lesvos is co-organised by:
- Lesvos Solidarity,
- Greek Council for Refugees,
- Refugee Support in the Aegean,
- HIAS - Greece

• Meeting point: on Friday 21st of March, at 17:30 st the statue of Statue of the Asia Minor Mother, Epano Skala, Mytilene (Lesvos)
• The walk will conclude with an open discussion at the Nan Social Kitchen, at 30 Komninaki Street in Mytilene.

WAD2025 in THESSALONIKI:

The Walk Against Discrimination in Thessaloniki will be held with the support of the Select Respect network of organizations and thess network:

• Meeting point: on Friday 21st of March, at 13:00 at the statue of Aristotle (Aristotelous Square) and then
• Walk along the coastal road with a stop at the White Tower and one at the Tree of Remembrance for the Tempi Victims

WAD2025 in LARISA:

The Walk Against Discrimination in Larisa is co-organised by:
- ΑΛΛΗΛΕΓΓΥΗ SOLIDARITYNOW,
- ΕΡΓΑΣΤΗΡΙ ΖΩΗΣ ΚΕΝΤΡΟΥ ΠΡΟΛΗΨΗΣ ΠΕ ΛΑΡΙΣΑΣ ΣΕ ΣΥΝΕΡΓΑΣΙΑ ΜΕ ΤΟ ΕΟΠΑΕ,
- ΘΕΡΑΠΕΥΤΙΚΟ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΕΞΟΔΟΣ,
- ΚΔΑΠ ΜΕΑ ΠΡΟΣΒΑΣΗ ΛΑΡΙΣΑΣ,
- ΚΕΑΝ,
- ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΟ ΕΚΑΒ,
- ΜΕΤΑΔΡΑΣΗ,
- ΞΕΝΩΝΑΣ ΦΙΛΟΞΕΝΙΑΣ ΓΥΝΑΙΚΩΝ ΘΥΜΑΤΩΝ ΒΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΛΑΠΛΩΝ ΔΙΑΚΡΙΣΕΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΔΗΜΟΥ ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΩΝ,
- ΠΟΚΕΛ (ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΤΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΤΙΚΩΝ N. ΛΑΡΙΣΑΣ)

The location and exact meeting time of the action in Larissa will be announced soon.

The Organizing Committee of the WAD2025 is consisted by:
Greek Forum of Migrants (GFM)
PRAKSIS
Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR)
Greek Council for Refugees (GCR)
Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN)
Transgender Association in Greece (SYD)
Golden Dawn Watch
Athens Pride

Finally, this year, on March 21, 2025 at 11:00, an OPEN LETTER - Joint Statement will be published against racism and discrimination signed by dozens of Civil Society organizations.

So far, the organizations and bodies that are participating and support the WAD2025 are:

Antiracist European networks
Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice,
ENAR European Network Against Discrimination,
European LGBT Police Association (Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση ΛΟΑΔ Αστυνομικών),
International Women* Space
UNITED for Intercultural Action

the independent body to the state
Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR),

As well as Civil Society’s organizations and communities:
Αιθιοπικό Κοινωνικό - Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο "Αιθίοψ" - Cultural Centre Ethiops
Αλβανική Κοινότητα Ελλάδας - Albanian Community in Greece
Αλληλεγγύη Λέσβου - Lesvos Solidarity
ΑΝΕΜΟΣ ΑΝΑΝΕΩΣΗΣ - WIND of RENEWAL (social cooperative for social - green economy)
Αποστολή Άνθρωπος
Αφγανική κοινότητα Μεταναστών και Προσφύγων στην Ελλάδα - Afghan Migrants and Refugees Community in Greece
Αφρικανικό Δίκτυο Ελλάδος
ΒΑΒΕΛ - Κέντρο Ημέρας Βαβέλ/Συν-ειρμός ΑμΚΕ Κοιν. Αλληλεγγύης - Babel DC Mental Health Unit for Migrants Day Care
Γεωργιανό Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο Καύκασος - Georgian Cultural Centre CAUCASUS
Γιατροί Χωρίς Σύνορα - MSF Ελληνικό γραφείο
Διεθνής Αμνηστία Ελληνικό Τμήμα - Δίκτυο Μεταναστευτικού / Προσφυγικού
Δίκτυο για τα δικαιώματα του παιδιού - DDP / Network for children’s rights
Δίκτυο Καταγραφής Περιστατικών Ρατσιστικής Βίας - RVRN
Δίκτυο Μέλισσα
Δίκτυο Χάρτα της Ειδομένης - Charter of Idomeni Network
ΔΙΟΤΙΜΑ Κέντρο για τα έμφυλα δικαιώματα και την ισότητα - DIOTIMA Centre for gender rights and equality
Δράση Αστυνομικών για τα Δικαιώματα του Ανθρώπου
ΕΛΙΞ- Προγράμματα Εθελοντικής Εργασίας/ ELIX- Conservation Volunteers Greece
Ελληνική Ένωση για τα Δικαιώματα του Ανθρώπου-ΕλΕΔΑ - Hellenic League for Human Rights HLHR
Ελληνικό Δίκτυο για την Καταπολέμηση της Φτώχειας - Hellenic Antipoverty Network
Ελληνικό Συμβούλιο για τους Πρόσφυγες - Greek Council for Refugees
Ελληνικό Φόρουμ Μεταναστών - Greek Forum of Migrants
Ελληνικό Φόρουμ Προσφύγων - Greek Forum of Refugees
Ελληνο-Σουδανικός Σύνδεσμος Φιλίας - GreekSudanese Friendship League
Ένωση Αιγυπτίων Εργαζομένων στην Ελλάδα El Rapta - Egyptian Community in Greece El Rapta
Ένωση εργαζομένων Αιθιόπων στην Ελλάδα - Ethiopian Worker
Ένωση Ουκρανικής Διασποράς - Ukrainian Diaspora Union
Ένωση φιλιπέζων μεταναστών KASAPI HELLAS
 ΕΡΓΑΣΤΗΡΙ ΖΩΗΣ ΚΕΝΤΡΟΥ ΠΡΟΛΗΨΗΣ ΠΕ ΛΑΡΙΣΑΣ ΣΕ ΣΥΝΕΡΓΑΣΙΑ ΜΕ ΤΟ ΕΟΠΑΕ,
ΘΕΡΑΠΕΥΤΙΚΟ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΕΞΟΔΟΣ
Ιβοριανή Κοινότητα Ελλάδας - Communauté Ivoirienne de la Grèce
Ίριδα-Κέντρο Γυναικών - Irida Women`s Center
ΚΔΑΠ ΜΕΑ ΠΡΟΣΒΑΣΗ ΛΑΡΙΣΑΣ
ΚΕΑΝ
Κοινότητα Καμερούν στην Ελλάδα - Community of Cameroonians in Greece
Κοινότητα της Γκάνας - Ghanian Community in Greece
ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΟ ΕΚΑΒ
Κονγκολέζικη Κοινότητα της ΜΠΡΑΖΑΒΙΛ στην Ελλάδα - Congolese Community Brazzaville in Greece
ΜΕΤΑδραση
Μηχανισμός Καταγραφής Άτυπων Επιστροφών / GNCHR - Recording Mechanism
Νιγηριανή κοινότητα Ελλάδας - Nigerian Community in Greece
ΞΕΝΩΝΑΣ ΦΙΛΟΞΕΝΙΑΣ ΓΥΝΑΙΚΩΝ ΘΥΜΑΤΩΝ ΒΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΛΑΠΛΩΝ ΔΙΑΚΡΙΣΕΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΔΗΜΟΥ ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΩΝ
ΟΡΙΖΟΝΤΕΣ Δίκτυο Νέων Μεταναστευτικής Καταγωγής - HORIZONS Youth Migrants Network
Ουκρανική κοινότητα `Η γη του Πελαργου"
ΠΗΓΗ ΚΟΙΝΣΕΠ
ΠΟΚΕΛ (ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΤΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΤΙΚΩΝ N. ΛΑΡΙΣΑΣ)
Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο Αφρικανικής Τέχνης και Πολιτισμών ΑΝΑΣΑ
Σενεγαλέζικη Κοινότητα Ελλάδας - Senegalese Association of Athens
ΣΗΜΕΙΟ για τη μελέτη και την αντιμετώπιση της ακροδεξιάς - SIMEIO researching and confronting the far right
Σουδανική Κοινότητα Ελλάδας
Στέγη Σύρων - Syrian Home Greece
Σύλλογος Νιγηριανών Γυναικών - Nigerian Women Organization of Greece
Σύλλογος Οροθετικών Ελλάδος «Θετική Φωνή» - POSITIVE VOICE
Σύνδεσμος Αλβανίδων Γυναικών στην Ελλάδα - Albanian Women in Greece Association
Σύνδεσμος Κοινωνικών Λειτουργών Ελλάδος (ΣΚΛΕ)
Σωματείο Υποστήριξης Διεμφυλικών ΣΥΔ - Transgender Association in Greece SYD
Τεχνοδρομώ - Texnodromo
Τμήμα Αντιμετώπισης Ρατσιστικής Βίας Αττικής
Υποστήριξη προσφύγων στο Αιγαίο - Refugee Support Aegean RSAEGEAN
AMKE SYMPLEXIS
ART AND ACTION NETWORK GREECE - Δίκτυο Τέχνης και Δράσης
Athens Pride - Φεστιβάλ Υπερηφάνειας Αθήνας
Change Makers lab
Community Rights in Greece
Cosmos of Culture
Defence for children - Greece DCI
Documatism
EQUAL SOCIETY - ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ ΙΣΩΝ ΕΥΚΑΙΡΙΩΝ
Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality & Diversity
Golden Dawn Watch
Greek Helsinki Monitor - Ελληνικό Παρατηρητήριο των Συμφωνιών του Ελσίνκι (ΕΠΣΕ)
HIAS Greece
Hidden Goddess - ELAHE PENHAN
HIGGS
INTER ALIA
International Rescue Committee - IRC Hellas
INTERSOS Hellas
Kypseli Mundial
PRAKSIS
Project Armonia
Proud Seniors Greece ομάδα υποστήριξης λοατκι+ ατόμων 50 και ανω
Red Umbrella Athens
Select Respect Network
SolidarityNow
SolidarityNow ΑΛΛΗΛΕΓΓΥΗ Κέντρο Πυξίδα Λάρισας
Terre des hommes Hellas - TdH
The AfroGreeks
Thessδίκτυο - ThessDiktio
Ukrainian Women in Greece / Українки в Греції
United African Women Organization - Ένωση Αφρικανών Γυναικών
Vana Ba Afrika

WAD2025 is under the auspices of the City of Athens and has the support of the Council for the Integration of Migrants and Refugees of the City of Athens. Also, the Migrant Integration Center (KEM) of the City of Athens and the Athens Coordination Center for Migrant and Refugee issues (ACCMR) are participating.

Follow our social media event page on: FACEBOOK event

* The trophy was established in 2017 in the memory of the activist and founder of PRAKSIS organization, Tzanetos Antypas, where each year an organization or a person working on issues of anti-racism and human rights is awarded.

More about the Walk Against Discrimination - WAD:

Every year, on the International Day against Racism and Discrimination on March 21, the Greek Migrants Forum organizes the Walk Against Discrimination (WAD) calling on organizations, groups and all people affected by racism and discrimination in our country, like PWD, LGBTQI, Roma, migrants, refugees, HIV positive, elderly, drug addicts, people with mental illness, prisoners, religious minorities, etc.

The Walk Against Discrimination initiative was launched in 2015 by the Greek Forum of Migrants with approximately 30 organizations and hundreds of people marching together in a peaceful rally-walk in Athens. Since then, nine events have taken place, coordinated each year by the “March Against Discrimination” Organizing Committee

The Greek National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) released a Reference Report titled “Human Rights Due Diligence. Responsible State and Business Conduct under Directive (EU) 2024/1760”. The Report, along with the two-day conference “Business and Human Rights under the European Directive 2024/1760” (November 21-22, 2024), is part of the program “Strengthening Corporate Responsibility and Human Rights Compliance under the CSDDD in Greece” implemented by the Greek Commission in collaboration with the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

The Report provides a detailed analysis of the new European framework for corporate due diligence, examining the protection of fundamental rights in the Greek legal order, with a particular focus on critical areas such as gender equality, the environment, labor rights, and access to legal remedies and support for victims of violations. Special emphasis is given on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In light of these considerations, the GNCHR formulates Recommendations to the state and businesses, highlighting the necessary institutional interventions for the effective protection of human rights.

Read the Summary and Recommendations here

A meeting between the Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR) and the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Michael O'Flaherty took place on Wednesday 5 February 2025 at the GNCHR premises, in Athens.

 The Commissioner's visit to Greece was conducted within the framework of the monitoring and evaluation of the human rights situation in the Member States of the Council of Europe. The discussion focused particularly on the rights of Roma as well as on issues relating to human rights protection of migrants and asylum seekers in the context of border control operations. Concerning the rights of Roma, the GNCHR has once more highlighted the need to safeguard the right to access to education and expressed its concern about reports of incidents of arbitrariness against Roma citizens. Furthermore, it referred to the lack of social inclusion policies and the plight of Roma women and girls, who, although they have great potential for driving change in their communities, bear the brunt of discrimination and social exclusion on a daily basis. As regards issues relating to the field of asylum and migration, emphasis was placed on ensuring the accountability of authorities for human rights violations at the borders and assessing the impact of such violations on the rule of law. The Commissioner was informed about the challenges facing the Recording Mechanism of Informal Forced Returns during its first years of operation, while, finally, special reference was made to the issue of continuous violations of the rights of refugees and migrants belonging to the LGBTQ+ community.

From the GNCHR the meeting was attended by Maria Gavouneli (President), Giannis Ioannidis (First Vice - President), Ellie Varhalama (Second Vice - President), Alexandros Konstantinou (Chair of the Sub-Commission for the Application of Human Rights to Aliens), Anna Apergi - Konstantinidi, (Chair of the Sub-Commission for the Promotion of Human Rights), Eleni Spathana, (Member, designated by the Greek Council for Refugees), Eva Tzavala (Head of the Scientific Unit) , Katerina Charokopou (Legal Officer), Christos Tsevas (Human Rights Officer, Legal Advisor), Garyfallia Anastasopoulou (Assistant Coordinator of the Racist Violence Recording Network) and Ilias Tsampardoukas (Supervisor of the Recording Mechanism of Informal Forced Returns).

In addition to the Commissioner, the Council of Europe delegation included Özgür Derman (Head of Department, Deputy Director of the Commissioner's Office) and the Commissioner's Advisers Matteo de Bellis, and Matthieu Birker.

On Tuesday 07/01/2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) published two judgements against Greece on complaints by third-country nationals that they had suffered informal forced returns (IFRs), i.e. pushbacks, from Greece to Turkey, despite the fact that they entered the country with a view to filing applications for international protection.

In these cases, the Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR)made an intervention as a third party, at the request of the Strasbourg Court for an answer to the general question whether there is a systematic practice of pushbacks of third country nationals from Greece to Turkey at the land and sea borders, in recognition of its independence and the effective exercise of its powers.

These are the cases of A.R.E. v. Greece (Application No. 15783/21)  and  G.R.J. v. Greece (Application No. 15067/21).

In the case of A.R.E. v. Greece (15783/21), the Strasbourg Court, based on official reports of international organisations and national human rights institutions, like the GNCHR, describing a rather stable and uniform modus operandi, held that at the time of the events relied on by the applicant, there was a systematic practice of pushbacks by the Greek authorities. The Court acknowledged that the applicant suffered an IFR incident, found an infringement of Article 3 of the ECHR and pointed out that the applicant had been irregularly deported to Turkey, without any assessment of the risk she was running in Turkey, in breach of the principle of non-refoulement. Moreover, the Court found an infringement of Article 5 of the ECHR, with regard to the right to liberty and security, as the applicant was subjected to arbitrary detention without legal justification or access to remedies to challenge its lawfulness. In addition, the Court found infringements of Article 13, as the applicant had no access to an effective remedy to protect her rights.

In the same case, the Court, taking into account the cases of IRF incidents already investigated by the competent authorities and the fact that the proceedings regarding the applicant’s complaint were closed without an effective investigation, found that the domestic remedies alleged by the Greek Government to be available to the applicant, were not effective in complaints concerning “pushbacks” or other violations that occur during “pushbacks”.

In the case of G.R.J. v. Greece (15067/21), the Court reiterated its findings in the previous case as regards the serious indications of systematic pushbacks at the Greek border. It acknowledged that the applicant’s submissions are to be seen within this context, however, the Court held that the applicant cannot claim to be a victim within the meaning of Article 34 of the Convention, because he failed to present convincing evidence of his presence in Greece and his pushback to Turkey from the island of Samos on the claimed dates.

It is recalled that the GNCHR has repeatedly issued relevant recommendations, calling, inter alia, on the competent authorities to ensure that all the institutions of the Greek State strictly observe the principle of non-refoulement and the Greek judiciary to effectively investigate the relevant complaints.

Taking into account the recent judgements of the European Court of Human Rights, the National Commission for Human Rights underlines that its repeated recommendations to the competent bodies of the Greek state are currently highly topical.

The consolidation of the IFR operations characteristics and their repeated methodology (modus operandi) have already been recorded and highlighted in the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the Recording Mechanism of Informal Forced Returns which operates under the auspices of the GNCHR since January 2022.

The Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR), following the invitation of Dr. Christos Tsevas, Adjunct Lecturer, in the context of the course “International Refugee Law” of the Master Program “Advanced International and European Studies” of the Faculty of Law (Department of International Studies) of the Democritus University of Thrace, held an online training on Thursday, January 30, 2025, with Mr. Ilias Tsampardoukas, Supervisor of the GNCHR Recording Mechanism of Incidents of Informal Forced Returns.

The Recording Mechanism aims to monitor, record and report informal forced return incidents of third country nationals from Greece to other countries. It seeks to promote and consolidate respect of the principle of non-refoulement as well as to safeguard guarantees and compliance with legal procedures. Moreover, the aim of the Recording Mechanism is to boost accountability for reported human rights violations alleged to have occurred during informal forced returns of third country nationals from Greece to other countries.

Through the adoption of a standardized, transparent, and scientific recording methodology, the Recording Mechanism attempts to contribute to increasing the credibility of reported incidents.

The Recording Mechanism operates under common rules applicable by all its members and sets out common goals and objectives reflected in its Founding Act. All members of the Recording Mechanism have adopted its Founding Act, which stipulates their rights and obligations. Each member’s recording officers, whether social, legal, or other scientists, professionals, or volunteers, are designated by the Member and then trained by the Supervisor of the Recording Mechanism.

For more information please see here

The latest reports of the Mechanism are available here

The Human Rights Advisor of the GNCHR, Dr. Christos Tsevas participated on 27 and 28 January 2025 in the EXODUS project Workshop in Thessaloniki with a presentation in the first session on antisemitic behavior, symbolism and indicators of antisemitic prejudice and with coordination of the second session on the European dimension of antisemitism. The role of National Human Rights Institutions and in particular the GNCHR, as a partner in this project, was emphasized, as well as the importance of recording relevant incidents through the Racist Violence Recording Network.

This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and contribute to the formulation of effective policies to combat antisemitic hate crimes. Discussions will be framed within the following sessions:

• Antisemitic behavior, symbolism, and indicators of antisemitic bias.
• The European dimension of antisemitism.
• Roles and operational needs of involved agencies.
• Educational needs for addressing hate crimes.

The workshop hosted representatives from the project’s main target groups, including law enforcement officers, judicial authorities, members of the Jewish community, and civil society organizations. In addition, distinguished European experts participated in the project’s research activities, enriching the findings of field and desk research. The input of the experts, combined with findings from the focus groups and interviews, will inform the development of cognitive and operational tools designed to provide policy recommendations for combating antisemitic hate crimes, tailored to the needs of the EU.

The EXODUS project is funded by the European Commission under Grant Agreement No. 101144655 under the Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values (CERV) Programme of the European Union, is implemented over two years, from June 2024 to May 2026. It addresses the gap in the criminal justice system by developing a comprehensive, country-specific system that enhances the response to criminal justice issues and supports victims, all while promoting human rights. The CERV Programme aims to promote the EU’s fundamental values, including democracy, equality, tolerance, inclusiveness and human rights by supporting actions that strengthen social cohesion and combat hate and discrimination.

For more information please see here

At the end of February, the European Commission plans to present a so-called “Omnibus” proposal revisiting certain aspects of new EU regulations encouraging responsible business conduct and sustainable development. According to EU President Ursula von der Leyen, the aim of the new proposal is to reduce administrative burdens by addressing redundant or overlapping reporting requirements. The Omnibus proposal will focus on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Taxonomy Regulation, and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

In an open letter to the European Commission, the Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR), together with nine other National Human Rights Insitutions (NHRIs) from across Europe, recognizes the need to enhance policy coherence, consistency, and clarity in sustainability-related legal requirements for companies. However, they stress that the announcement of the Omnibus proposal has created uncertainty for a broad range of stakeholders:

“We are concerned that this process could jeopardize the broader contents of these laws, the momentum around corporate sustainability and sustainable finance in the EU, and unintentionally disadvantage companies that have already invested significantly in anticipation of legal requirements,” the letter states.

NHRIs should be consulted

As National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs)—independent and impartial state bodies with expertise in human rights in their respective jurisdictions—the signatories of the letter have been actively engaged in the development of the CSRD, CSDDD, and the EU taxonomy. They have welcomed the EU’s leadership in addressing the existential challenges of climate change and in investing in an economy that works for people:

“The EU’s policy and regulatory actions to address pressing sustainability issues are a long-awaited response to the legitimate expectations of rightsholders and other stakeholders for enhanced respect for human rights and the environment in business activities. These actions reflect the results of public consultations with all stakeholders.”

These laws are already an agreed political compromise that has passed through the legal process in the EU. Most EU Member States have already transposed the requirements of the CSRD into their national laws, and processes for the transposition of the CSDDD are ongoing. Meanwhile, companies subject to the CSRD have already invested considerable resources into meeting the new reporting requirements.

“We call for the integrity of the instruments to be respected and for the European Commission to focus its efforts on facilitating effective implementation. Priority should now be given to developing guidance and other accompanying measures and guidelines by the European Commission,” the signatories write, calling for NHRIs to be actively consulted in this process. 

Read the open letter of the 10 NHRIs here

Signatories:

The Belgian Federal Institute for Human Rights

The Consultative Commission for Human Rights of Luxembourg

The Danish Institute for Human Rights

The Finnish Human Rights Centre

The French National Consultative Commission for Human Rights

The German Institute for Human Rights

The Greek National Commission for Human Rights

The Norwegian Institute for Human Rights

The Office of the Ombudswoman of Croatia

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia
 

GNCHR input to the OHCHR study on human rights monitoring in the context of migration, including at international borders.

Read the text here

Today, the European Court of Human Rights published its Judgments in the cases of A.R.E. v. Greece (Application No. 15783/21) and G.R.J. v. Greece (Application No. 15067/21).

The cases concerned applications by a Turkish citizen in the first case and a minor Afghan citizen in the second, both against Greece, alleging that they had suffered informal forced returns (IFRs) to Turkey, the first from the land border in Evros and the second from the sea border in the Aegean, resulting in a violation of Article 3 of the ECHR. They also alleged that during the IFRs they were subjected to irregular detention in violation of Article 5 of the ECHR, and that during the IFR they were subjected to life threatening situations and treatment amounting to inhuman and degrading treatment, in violation of Articles 2 and 3 of the ECHR.

For these cases, the Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR) was invited by the Strasbourg Court to intervene as a Third Party, in accordance with Articles 36 § 2 of the ECHR and 44 § 3 (a) of the Court's Rules of Procedure, and to respond in writing to the Court's question of whether there is a systematic practice of pushbacks of third country nationals from Greece to Turkey at the land and sea borders.

The written intervention of the GNCHR is available here.

In the Judgments issued today, significant reference is made to the Third-Party intervention submitted by the ECHR on 28 March 2024, as well as to the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports of the Recording Mechanism of Incidents of Informal Forced Returns, which operates under the auspices of the GNCHR.

In the judgments, the Court highlighted the independent role of the GNCHR as a National Human Rights Institution in Greece with A status, which is accredited by a specialized UN body, and relied, inter alia, on the authority arising from this independence in reaching its findings.

For example, in paragraph 227 of the judgment in the case of A.R.E. v. Greece (Application No. 15783/21), “227. The Court considers that, in determining whether there is a systematic practice of pushbacks, particular importance must be attached first and foremost to reports from competent national institutions whose independence is beyond doubt, including, where applicable, their written observations as third-party interveners, such as, in this case, the Greek Ombudsman and the National Human Rights Commission. It notes in particular that the Greek Ombudsman is an independent authority within the meaning of the Greek Constitution and that the National Commission, which has been accredited with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions since 2001, presents the guarantees of independence established by the United Nations (Paris Principles of 1993) […]”.

In the case of A.R.E. v. Greece (Application No. 15783/21), the Court found Greece responsible for most of the alleged violations, while in the case of G.R.J. v. Greece (Application No. 15067/21), it found that the applicant could not claim to be a victim within the meaning of Article 34 of the Convention, as he had not presented sufficient evidence to prove his presence in Greece and his return to Turkey from the island of Samos on the dates he alleged.

Find the judgment in the case of A.R.E. v. Greece (Application No. 15783/21) published in French here.

Find the judgment in the case of G.R.J. v. Greece (Application No. 15067/21) published in French here.

The Human Rights Advisor of the GNCHR, Dr. Christos Tsevas participated on December 5 and 6, 2024 in the conference organized by the University of Grenoble-Alpes and the University's Center for Legal Research (Centre de Recherches Juridiques) on the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe: “The Council of Europe: How to move forward after 75 years? The past, present and future of an international organization in its seventies”.

The title of the presentation was the following: “Human Rights and the Environment: Towards a new Instrument of the Council of Europe?”. The presentation focused on the right to a healthy environment, the work of the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee on Environment and Human Rights (CDDH-ENV), as well as the challenges of the findings of the Committee’s feasibility study on different scenarios, including a future Convention on Environment and Human Rights, a Protocol to the ECHR, other binding instruments or mechanisms. The role of the GNCHR and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENHHRI) in environmental protection issues was highlighted.

The Conference attempted to raise institutional and political issues, which appear as challenges for the Council of Europe, as well as to follow the thematic approach to issues such as environmental protection, migration, artificial intelligence, SLAPPs, disinformation, gender-based violence and the Istanbul Convention, social rights and the European Social Charter, etc.

For more information please see here

Greece is currently being examined before the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Yesterday, Monday 2 December 2024, the GNCHR informed the members of the Committee, in a closed bilateral meeting, on the progress made with implementing the commitments undertaken by the country as a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and complying with the most recent relevant recommendations of the Committee. The GNCHR was represented by Mr. Giannis Ioannidis, Vice President, Ms. Eva Tzavala, Coordinator of the Scientific Organisation Unit and Ms. Garyfallia Anastasopoulou, Assistant Coordinator of the Racist Violence Recording Network.

The intervention of the GNCHR focused on issues related to the poor implementation of the anti-discrimination legislative framework, the work of the National Council against Racism and Intolerance and the low degree of access of Roma and third country nationals to the rights granted to them under the national, EU and international framework. The lack of systematic implementation of the institutional framework on racist crime, support and protection of victims of racist violence, along with the main patterns of racist violence as revealed by the Network's data, such as the high rate of under-reporting, police racist violence and violence at the country's borders against refugees and migrants, were highlighted during the intervention of the Racist Violence Recording Network. 

Subsequently, a fruitful discussion was held with the members of the UN Committee who were highly interested in the methodology and findings of the Racist Violence Recording Network and the Recording Mechanism of Informal Forced Returns.

It is noted that Tina Stavrinaki, Assistant Professor of International Law at Utrecht University, is participating in the Committee as an elected member from the 182 States Parties to the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (for a second consecutive term). The member representing Greece is not involved in the country's evaluation work.

GNCHR Additional Information (September 2024) on the List of Themes prior to Greece’s review of its combined 23rd and 24th periodic report by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in its 114th Session (25.11.2024 - 13.12.2024).

Read here the GNCHR Written Contribution (August 2024) as submitted to CERD.

Athens, 26 November 2024

With the participation of 36 speakers representing the Greek State, the European Union, the corporate sector, civil society, employers' organisations, transnational institutes as well as European and international agencies with the necessary expertise, such as the Danish Institute for Human Rights and the UN Global Compact Network Greece, a two-day conference entitled: “Business and Human Rights under the European Directive 2024/1760 on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence”, was carried out by the Greek National Commission for Human Rights, on 21 and 22 November 2024. 

The two-day conference, together with the special report to be published on business and human rights in Greece, is part of the project carried out by the GNCHR in collaboration with the Danish Institute for Human Rights, entitled: «Strengthening Corporate Responsibility and Human Rights Compliance under the CSDDD in Greece». The aim of the conference was to present the Directive, to highlight in practice the importance of the early dialogue between all relevant stakeholders for its optimal transposition and to examine the challenges in its implementation, with a specific focus on the supervision of companies falling within its scope.

Following what the two-day conference highlighted, of crucial importance for the transposition of the Directive is the early and constant institutional cooperation between the State and the GNCHR, the national institution for the protection and promotion of human rights, to ensure the Country's compliance with its international and European obligations, the promotion of corporate sustainability due diligence and the effective national protection of human rights.

Further critical issues from the perspective of the balance to be struck between the protection of human rights and the promotion of entrepreneurship were highlighted from the contributions made by the guests and the ensuing debate:

• The Directive should be a catalyst for entrepreneurial action and an international human rights reference point.
• Effective compliance with the Directive, along with the integration of the equality dimension in the protection of human rights, is a strategic necessity for entrepreneurship in an international environment with increasing competition requirements
• Readjustment of public administration policies plays a key role in providing the necessary information, support and assistance to facilitate business compliance with the Directive in the new regulatory environment.
• For the effective exercise of the powers provided for the supervisory authorities, a clear enabling legal framework, sufficient resources and modern tools for monitoring, assessment and imposition of sanctions for non-compliance are prerequisites.
• Equality, diversity and inclusion are key to the implementation of the Directive, with civil society playing a crucial role in highlighting social dialogue as a basic standard for the identification and assessment of the gravity of the infringements, with a view to properly defending human rights.

The Press Release in pdf file

The Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR) participated in the consultations of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Greece in the context of the preparation of the ex-post evaluation report of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) for the period 2014-2020 on 31 October 2024. The EESC is an EU advisory body composed of representatives of employers' and workers' organisations and other interest groups and promotes participatory processes. It is the first time that the GNCHR has been invited at European or national level to participate in evaluations of funds. In this regard, the GNCHR Coordinator of the Scientific Staff, Ms Eva Tzavala, stressed the special role that EU law confers on National Human Rights Institutions in all stages of European funding, from design and implementation to monitoring and evaluation. A good practice in this field is the cooperation of the GNCHR with the General Secretariat of the Public Investment Programme in the design, implementation and monitoring of the NSRF. The GNCHR, in its independent reports, during the period 2014-2020, had documented a number of violations of the rights of applicants for international protection, such as in the field of housing, health, interpretation, legal aid, etc., which were funded by AMIF 2014-2020 programmes. The ESTIA programme, which was funded by emergency support, constitutes a good practice.  In the period 2021-2027, Greece has more experience and the effort should focus on the harmonization of the actual situation in the field with the Greek legislation and international and European standards through appropriate measures.

The Human Rights Advisor of the GNCHR, Dr. Christos Tsevas participated in the Seminar “Human Rights - CRC-1, Raising awareness of the local community on human rights” in Chalkida on October 24, 2024, which was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice as part of a project which is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund) through the Operational Program “Human Resources and Social Cohesion”. The GNCHR participated in the seminar and the dialogue to raise awareness of the local community with the following subject: “Human rights and technology: The protection of privacy in the digital world and the impact of technology on human rights” with a particular emphasis on new technologies, interaction with the right to private life and the rights of the child.

On Friday, 25.10 the Legal Advisor of the GNCHR, Dr. Katerina Charokopou presented at the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Athens, a presentation on: “Social Rights: Access to education, health and housing as fundamental rights”, with the aim of “Raising awareness of the local community on human rights”.

For more information: https://aspaixoumemila.gr/en/

The Human Rights Advisor of the GNCHR, Dr. Christos Tsevas participated on October 19, 2024 in the panel “Rights and Regime Change” at the Conference “Half a Century of Democracy - Continuities, Crises, Challenges” (October 16-19, 2024), which was co-organized by the Department of Political Science and History of the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences and the National Centre for Social Research (EKKE).

The title of the presentation was the following: “Regime Change and Human Rights: The Continuous Transition of the History of Rights”, while there was a dialogue on issues of the evolution of the protection of human rights at the national level, the influence of the international framework and the role of the Greek National Commission for Human Rights.

The Conference attempted to put under the microscope the continuities but also the key “moments” and “intersections” that make up the period of regime change. The dispute is the Democracy itself through the different phases of the regime change. The thematic axes contained the following:

1. The times of the regime change
2. Political processes, mobilization, parties
3. Identities, values, feelings, behaviors
4. Crises/Threats – Resilience – Prospects/Challenges
5. Media-Political Communication
6. Public policies/Reforms: Economy, State, European Union

For more information please see here

A delegation of the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture visited the GNCHR at its premises on Wednesday 16 October 2024, as part of its mandate and met with representatives of the Board and Members of the GNCHR as well as the GNCHR staff. 

Matters related to the mandate of the Subcommittee were discussed as well as the contribution of the GNCHR to these issues through its work, as well as relevant initiatives that the GNCHR will undertake in the near future. 

The meeting was attended by Giannis Ioannidis (First Vice-President), Elli Varchalama (Second Vice-President), Spyros Apergis (Alternate Chair, Sub-Commission for the Application of Human Rights to Aliens), Katerina Trimmi (Member of the GNCHR), Eva Tzavala (Scientific Staff Coordinator), Dr. Katerina Harokopou (Legal Officer), Dr. Christos Tsevas (Human Rights Officer), Katerina Pantou (Head of the Secreatariat), Garyfallia Anastasopoulou (Assistant Coordinator of the Racist Violence Recording Network), Ilias Tsampardoukas (Supervisor of the Recording Mechanism of Informal Forced Returns). 

The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) conducted its first visit to Greece from 6 to 17 October to assess the measures taken by the State party to protect people deprived of liberty from torture and ill-treatment. During the mission, the SPT delegation visited prisons, police stations, detention centres for migrants, and other places of deprivation of liberty. 

The SPT delegation was composed of Anica TOMSIC Head of Delegation (Croatia), Uju AGOMOH (Nigeria), Suzanne JABBOUR (Lebanon) and Juan Pablo VEGAS (Peru) and were accompanied by two Human Rights Officers from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Legal Advisor of GNCHR, Dr. Christos Tsevas participated in the Expert Futures Lab “Thrace 2040” in the context of a research project carried out by the National Center of Social Research (EKKE). The project concerns long-term planning using foresight methodologies.

The purpose of this project is to assist the State in formulating policy proposals regarding critical uncertainties in the region as well as expectations and opportunities related to the socio-economic development, religious and cultural coexistence of the citizens of Thrace.

The GNCHR participated with proposals, which cover the framework of the human rights protection.

GNCHR Statement

Detention conditions in police stations -  Protection of the right to life^*

                                             03.10.2024

The Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR), as the National Human Rights Institution in Greece, recalls the crucial importance of the protection of human rights during detention, the detention conditions in general and in the custody cells of the police stations, the principles of efficient and effective investigation of the State bodies incidents of arbitrariness and of the proper and without delay administration of justice, while closely monitoring, as part of its role, the above mentioned issues.[1]

Due to the particularly serious problems posed by the incidents that resulted in loss of  human life in police stations (see the Announcements of the Hellenic Police dated 26/9/2024, 27/9/2024 and 1/10/2024), the GNHCR is highlighting the importance for the law enforcement Agencies and judicial Authorities to respond immediately, adequately and promptly to similar incidents, especially in cases where the individuals are under the control of the Authorities and in a situation of vulnerability, since being held under detention.

The GNCHR is highlighting the findings of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of the Council of Europe (CPT), during its recent visit to Greece (Report of July 2024)[2]. The findings of the investigation of the Committee reveal serious irregularities throughout Greece, regarding the detention conditions in police stations, mentioning in particular that, “Once again, the two police stations in the Attica region visited by the delegation provided conditions of detention that were inappropriate for stays exceeding 24 hours”[3]. The Omonoia police station is one of the above mentioned police stations.

It is now crucial for the rule of law to indicate that on the basis of the number of incidents, two systemic problems arise with regard, at the same time, the detention conditions and the failure of the State mechanism to eliminate incidents of violence and/or loss of human life, in cases where fatalities occurred, when the individuals were under the control of the Authorities. This specific remark leads to the conclusion that protection and prevention from the authorities, in respect of their public service obligations fail to operate properly, when they hold a human life in their hands, while the systematic manner in which it is treated, is likely to manifest a culture of impunity[4]. In view of the upcoming visit to Greece, of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) from 6 to 17 October 2024, these issues should be thoroughly analysed, in order to develop strategies to address them[5].

The National Commission reiterates that in accordance with settled case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, persons held in detention, are in a vulnerable situation[6]. Previous judgments of the ECtHR against Greece, related to issues falling under Article 2 (Right to life) and Article 3[7] (Prohibition of torture) of the ECHR, are further aggravating the situation. It also follows from the case-law on Article 2 of the ECHR, that the State is bound by substantive positive obligations, which correspond to the adoption of the necessary measures for the protection of life. Consequently, it’s becoming critical to safeguard the principles in practice rather than in theory. The safeguards of the individual’s protection in cases where additional vulnerability arises, due to the health condition and the required conditions for ensuring communication and interpretation, are beyond all dispute. The obligation of an efficient and effective investigation and the breach of the procedural limb of Articles 2 and 3 of the ECHR, are issues fairly common, in cases against Greece[8].

The National Mechanism for the Investigation of Arbitrary Incidents (EMIDIPA) of the Greek Ombudsman in the 2023 Annual Report, points out that, “despite the increased obligation to carry out efficient and effective investigations as stipulated in the above-mentioned framework when investigating the relevant cases, the systematic shortcomings observed during 2023, as regards the availability, retrieval and safeguarding of video material, are indicative of the fact that the facilities of police stations and the custody cells therein, still remain cloaked in obscurity”[9]. Furthermore, serious deficiencies are encountered in the disciplinary proceedings in cases where individuals are under the control of the Authorities. Besides, it has been emphasised that the legal framework of EMIDIPA, should be reinforced[10].

The National Commission draws attention to the Reports of the Racist Violence Recording Network  and specifically to the last one, according to the findings of which, law enforcement officials and civil servants are involved in incidents of violence,  3% of the incidents take place in police stations and in 89 incidents, targeting of migrants, refugees or asylum seekers is manifested.[11].

In view of the above and guided by the need to ensure the proper implementation of the institutional, protective framework for the prevention of and response to incidents that could result in loss of human life during detention and under the control of the Authorities, the GNCHR, points out:

a) the obligation of the Authorities to provide early and appropriate protection to the victims, by safeguarding the enjoyment of the right to life, through the development of an integrated framework of policies and measures,

b) the urgency for an immediate, efficient and effective investigation of the incidents and the coordination of the Authorities, based on transparency and accountability, which is instrumental to citizens’ trust in security forces and the fundamental principles of the rule of law, and at the same time, the obligation to ensure access of the victims and their relatives, to justice served without delay,

c) the need for public denunciation, on the part of the police Authorities, of all forms of violence occurring in detention areas, that amount to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment and leads to loss of human life and for the assessment of the competence of the officials,

d) the necessity for adoption and actual implementation of the GNCHR recommendations, in respect of the detention conditions and the breach of the right to life and for compliance with all recommendations of the CPT and the EMIDIPA,

e) the responsibility of the Authorities for constantly promoting systematic information, raising public awareness and educating all those engaged in the protection of human life and the physical and mental integrity, during detention, through targeted actions, tailored-made trainings, or projects, in accordance with the obligations arising from the requirements of the international instruments.

Find here the GNCHR Statement in pdf format.

*  The present Statement has been adopted by the Plenary of the GNCHR on 3.10.2024 Rapporteurs: Professor  Maria Gavouneli, President of the GNCHR, Giannis Ioannidis, First Vice-President of the GNCHR, Ellie Varhalama, Second Vice-President of the GNCHR,  Dr. Christos Tsevas, Human Rights Officer (Legal Advisor) of the GNCHR

[1]See for instance the following GNCHR submissions:  Detention conditions in custody cells of police stations and in detention facilities for foreign nationals, 29 April 2010· Note on the adoption of the Draft Bill of the Ministry of Citizen Protection, "Reform and modernisation of the Penitentiary Code -Amendments to Law  2776/1999 and other provisions”, October 2022· Statement on the occasion of the recent reports on the unjustified use of force by the Greek police and the announcements of the Minister of Citizen Protection on the use of cameras in police operations, January 2020· Observations on the Draft Bill of the Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights on the "Establishment of a National Mechanism to investigate Incidents of Arbitrariness in Security Forces and Detention Facilities Employees", July 2016.

[2] CPT, CPT/Inf (2024)21, Report to the Greek Government on the visit to Greece carried out by the CPT from 20 November to 1 December 2023, 12 July 2024.

[3]Ibid, par. 55 and p. 51:

[4]Hellenic League for Human Rights, Police, Violence and Rights - An overview of the police abuse cases in Greece, September 2024, p. 94 et seq. 

[5] See: UN Committee against Torture, Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of Greece, CAT/C/GRC/CO/7, 3 September 2019.

[6] ECtHR, Case of Tomasi v. France, (Application no. 12850/87) 27 August 1992.

[7]See for instance Tsirli, Marialena, “Article 3 - Prohibition of torture” to Sisilianos, Linos – Alexandros (ed.) ECHR - Interpretation by article, Nomiki Bibliothiki, 2017, p. 131 et seq.

[8] See Sidiropoulos and Papakostas, Konstantinopoulos and Others No. 2 in the context of implementation of the judgments and compliance with the recommendations of the Council of Europe's (CoE) Committee of Ministers.

[9] Greek Ombudsman, EMIDIPA  – Annual Report 2023, 2024, p. 113:

[10] Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Supervision of the Execution of Judgements and Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, 17^th Annual Report, 2023, p. 38.

[11] Racist Violence Recording Network, Annual Report 2023, p. 6, 9, 6 , 9 , 15.

Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee by the GNCHR in view of the third periodic report of Greece on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Read the written submission of the GNCHR here

GNCHR Legal Advisor, Dr. Christos Tsevas participated in the Meeting of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions on the topic of “Strengthening the work of National Human Rights Institutions on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights”, which took place on 23 and 24 September 2024 in Brussels.

The discussion included issues related to the AI oversight, the role and good practices of NHRIs, developments in the regional regulatory framework with Regulation 2024/1689 laying down harmonized rules on artificial intelligence and the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, fundamental rights impact assessments, and the relationship between artificial intelligence and national defense.

GNCHR Written Contribution for the List of Themes prior to Greece’s review of its combined 23rd and 24rd periodic report by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in its 114th Session