Immigration – Asylum

The trial of the nine survivors of the deadly Pylos shipwreck was scheduled for 21 May 2024, in Kalamata. The Court dismissed all charges against the survivors due to lack of jurisdiction. The Court found the prosecution inadmissible for the charges of criminal organization and causing a shipwreck. Additionally, the defendants were acquitted of charges related to transporting migrants and illegal entry into the country.

Athens, September 14, 2023: Forty survivors of the deadly shipwreck in Pylos filed yesterday a criminal complaint against all responsible parties before the Naval Court of Piraeus.

The survivors, represented by the Network for Refugee and Migrant Rights, the Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR), the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), the Initiative of Lawyers and Jurists for the shipwreck of Pylos, and Refugee Support Aegean (RSA), denounce a series of violations of the Greek authorities’ obligations to protect the lives of those on board and demand an effective investigation into the circumstances of the deadliest shipwreck to occur in the Mediterranean in recent years.

Athens, June 21, 2023: Greece must guarantee independent and effective monitoring of violations of the human rights of refugees and migrants to restore the rule of law, following the European Commission request to the Greek authorities for an investigation of a push back of refugees by the Hellenic Coast Guard on Lesvos island, documented by the New York Times. The Greek authorities have entrusted the National Transparency Authority (NTA) with the investigation.

On 20 February 2023, the Hellenic League for Human Rights proceeded with a submission to the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the ECtHR, in accordance with Rule 9.2 of the Rules of the Committee of Ministers Concerning the judgment Safi and Others v Greece (5418/15).

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in its judgment Safi and Others v Greece, App No 5418/15, 7.7.2022, examined the application of 14 refugees supported by our organisation on violation of articles 2 (right to life) and 3 (prohibition of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court held the Greek authorities responsible for the shipwreck that took place on Farmakonisi on 20 January 2014 following the involvement of a Coast Guard vessel, which led to the tragic drowning of eight children and three women, refugees from Afghanistan.

PRESS RELEASE

WITCH-HUNT AGAINST DEFENDERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN COMPLETE REVERSAL OF REALITY

Athens, 19 December 2022

European and international human rights monitoring bodies record systematic and continuous complaints regarding pushbacks (which are always illegal) of refugees at Greece’s borders. These complaints have become commonplace[1]; yet, instead of being investigated, the people and the organisations who denounce them and address the competent bodies are themselves targeted and accused of criminal charges.

INVITATION TO PRESS CONFERENCE

The organisations Network of Social Support to Refugees and Migrants, Hellenic League for Human Rights, Greek Council for Refugees, Group of Lawyers for the Rights of Refugees and Migrants, Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) / PRO ASYL cordially invite you a Press Conference held on Monday 11 July 2022 at 11:30 at the Bar Association of Athens (Akadimias 60). 

Regarding today’s judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Safi and Others v Greece, App No 5418/15, 7.7.2022, granting the application of 14 refugees supported by our organisations on violation of articles 2 (right to life) and 3 (prohibition of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court held the Greek authorities responsible for the shipwreck that took place on Farmakonisi on 20 January 2014 following the involvement of a Coast Guard vessel, which led to the tragic drowning of eight children and three women, refugees from Afghanistan.

Με επιστολή τους της 27ης Απριλίου 2021 προς την Ευρωπαία Επίτροπο Εσωτερικών Υποθέσεων, Ylva Johansson, πέντε οργανώσεις της κοινωνίας των πολιτών αιτούνται από την Επιτροπή την εκτίμησή της ως προς τη συμμόρφωση της Ελλάδας με τις διαδικαστικές υποχρεώσεις της σχετικά με την αρχή της μη επαναπροώθησης και την υποχρέωση παροχής πρόσβασης στο άσυλο στα χερσαία και θαλάσσια σύνορα.

Μια δομή που αποτελεί εδώ και χρόνια σύμβολο ανθρωπιάς και αλληλεγγύης αναγκάζεται να κλείσει σήμερα.

Η Βουλή των Ελλήνων πρέπει να ξεκινήσει κατεπείγουσα έρευνα για όλους τους ισχυρισμούς που αφορούν παράνομες επιστροφές μεταναστών στην Τουρκία από τα ελληνικά σώματα επιβολής του νόμου και άλλα άτομα

The first COVID-19 case was identified earlier last week in Moria, spiraling concerns about the health and safety of the overcrowded Reception Center’s population.

Respect for Human Rights should Prevail over Use of Force

Following yesterday’s fire in Moria, on Lesvos, which destroyed the Reception and Identification Centre, 31 civil society organizations call on the Greek Government to immediately provide assistance to people who lost their shelter. Those affected, among them many children and at-risk groups, must be carefully transferred to safety on the mainland. 

The Hellenic League for Human Rights together with 60 organizations sent a joint letter to the Minister of Migration and Asylum, the European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs and the European Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, expressing concerns about the impeding exits of 8,300 recognized refugees from accommodation and financial assistance programs.