Following the call for inputs by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders in Greece in June 2022, the Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR) provides an overview on the challenges faced by human rights defenders working on issues related to migration, refugees and asylum.
The report contributes to the UN Special Rapporteur’s annual report of 2022 on human rights defenders working on the rights of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. It details the provisions in place in Greece that limit the activities of NGOs and human rights defenders, such as Laws 4636/2019 and 4686/2020 which impose strict criteria for NGOs to be registered as such. NGOs and their employees or volunteers working on migration and asylum issues have to be registered by the Greek Ministry for Migration and Asylum, but as of May 2022 only 36 organisations were approved, compared to 78 rejected and 97 pending requests.
The report also mentions a Bill on the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights Defenders that has been approved by the GNCHR. For the moment, we have not found more details on the purpose and status of this law. Please don’t hesitate to contact us on focus@protectioninternational.org if you have more information.
Find the original publication here in English (Hellenic Republic. National Comission for Human Rights).
