The implementing partner of the project “Legal Aid Watch” is the Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR).
The Hellenic League for Human Rights was founded in 1953 and is the oldest human rights organization in Greece.
The theoretical processing of contemporary data and the status of the rights at national or international level, the prevention of violations with daily vigilance and intervention for the protection of victims, are the primary tools that the non governmental sector can provide as a contribution to the restriction of human rights violations.
The means through which the goals of HLHR are achieved include the study of problems that the citizens are facing, at individual and/or collective level, the elaboration and submission of proposals for their solutions, the provision of legal assistance, public awareness raising and deepening of public dialogue on human rights, through the organization of public presentations, conferences, publications, and other means that are deemed appropriate under the circumstances. To maximize the achievement of its goals, the League envisages the cooperation with other national or international bodies active in the field of human rights (human rights organizations, Greek Ombudsman, National Commission for Human Rights, and international organizations such as the Council of Europe and the UN). HLHR, since its establishment, is a regular member of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
The Thessaloniki team of HLHR has been operating since 2008 and had historical action between 1964 -1967. The group is active in rights issues in Northern Greece. In addition the HLHR Crete’s team was formed in 2015.
Field of Action
HLHR was founded and developed in an environment of a shrinking democracy; an environment where the struggle for the protection of human rights was politically dangerous but nevertheless very well defined regardingits goals. The post-1974 period in Greece provided a safer environment for human rights defenders. Nevertheless, this new era revealed itself to be a lot more complex in what concerns understanding, preventing and challenging the new forms of violations which arise from the social complexity of our times.
HLHR’s fields of action include the following:
- Migration and asylum in Greece and the EU
- Minority rights
- Shortcomings with regards to the observation of guarantees provided for by the penal procedure especially regarding high risk groups, such as prisoners, foreigners, etc
- Church -State relations and the situation of religious freedom in Greece
- The reform of the nationality legislation and the rationalization of the relevant mechanisms
- Racist violence and hate speech
- Freedom of expression
- Issues of police arbitrariness
- Justice and the penitentiary system
For more information on HLHR: www.hlhr.gr