A. Human Rights: Greek Politics
The protection and promotion of democracy, Human Rights and individual freedoms constitute the basic principles of the Greek Constitution and are an integral part of our national legislation. Greece attaches primary importance to the defense of the Human Rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals within Greek territory, as well as to the preservation of democratic institutions and the functioning of the rule of law. It supports, on the other hand, the universality, indivisibility and interdependence between individual and political rights on the one hand and economic, social and cultural rights on the other.
Greece considers that the respect of Human Rights, the promotion of democracy and the rule of law are intertwined with peace, justice, security, stability, the elimination of poverty and coherent socio-economic development.
Our country makes enormous efforts (and spends financial resources) to protect the fundamental rights and human dignity of all persons, especially the most vulnerable, such as unaccompanied children, pregnant women, people with special needs, etc.
Greece, having as its principle the right to free education for all, which is guaranteed in our legislative framework, has established an emergency plan for the education of all refugee and immigrant children.
In addition, over the last year, priority measures have been taken to ensure the protection of unaccompanied refugee/immigrant minors. The relevant authorities have taken special measures in the best interest of these children. A guardianship law is currently being drafted to ensure their best interests. At the same time, unaccompanied minors are being transferred to open accommodation facilities and the aim is to increase the number of available places. In addition, new "safe zones" are being created for unaccompanied minors within the Reception and Identification centers.
In the field of multilateral diplomacy, within the United Nations system, our country shows a constant interest in issues related to Human Rights. It participates actively and constructively in the main multilateral fora, such as the 3rd Committee of the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council of the United Nations. Within the framework of the EU, our country participates actively and constructively in all work related to the protection, promotion, integration and integration of human rights in all policies and actions of the European Union (human rights mainstreaming).
Our country has signed and ratified the most basic international conventions for the protection of all human rights, which have been drawn up in the framework of the United Nations since the 1960s(1).
The country has developed or is in the process of developing the following National Action Plans:
– Human Rights Action Plan (2014-2016), which is under review. The aim, however, is to create a further comprehensive effective and functional mechanism for the implementation, promotion and protection of Human Rights.
– National Action Plan for Gender Equality (2016 – 2020)
– National Action Plan for the Rights of the Child
In addition, it should be noted that on September 9, 2014, the Greek Parliament adopted the new anti-racism law (n.4285/2014), which aims to strengthen the existing anti-racism legislation, as well as to incorporate the 2008 Framework Decision of the Council of the EU , in internal legislation.
In December 2016, the National Parliament adopted a new law (4443/2016) on equal treatment, which incorporates a series of relevant European directives (Directive 2000/43/EC, on the implementation of equal treatment of persons, regardless of race or ethnicity of origin, Directive 2000/78/EC on the establishment of a general framework for equal treatment in employment and work and Directive 2014/54/EU on measures to facilitate the exercise of workers' rights in the context of their free movement) .
The above law creates a regulatory framework for the implementation of equal treatment. The responsibility for monitoring and promoting the implementation of this principle is now assigned to the Citizen's Ombudsman, unified for the wider public and private sectors.
B. The international context – General
Human rights issues are constantly gaining more importance in the foreground of global interest, in the initiatives and actions of individual states as well as at the multilateral level. The current trends of international politics include the serious violations of A.D. among the potential threats to international legitimacy, peace and security. In this context, a sufficient number of states use the A.D. as a prominent tool of foreign policy, both with initiatives that shape their image as pioneers and defenders of the A.D., and as a means of political pressure.
More special challenges appear in the protection of various vulnerable population groups, such as children, women, people with disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers, immigrants, indigenous people, minorities. On the other hand, the issues of racism, intolerance, human security, terrorism and the compatibility of the anti-terrorist fight with human rights are highlighted, as well as the issue of the rehabilitation of victims of human rights violations. Particular importance is attached to political and economic rights, as well as solidarity rights (i.e. right to development, right to enjoy the common heritage of humanity, right to a healthy environment, etc.)
The above are part of a constantly evolving framework of institutions and procedures for monitoring the obligations of states, but with disproportionate results at the level of practical application. The implementation of the decisions of the United Nations and the compliance of the countries with them lies, to a large extent, in the political choices of their governments.
C. EU policy in the field of A.D.
At the EU level, there is an ever-increasing interest in the field of ADs, in the light of the principle of their systemic approach (mainstreaming), which consists, primarily, in their integration into the political relations of the Union in the narrow sense ( examination of A.D. issues in EE dialogue with strategic partners, progress control in this area of candidate countries for accession, Progress Reports of the E. Committee etc.).
It is underlined that the interest of the EU, as well as of the member states, regarding the situation of ADs in third countries, has no geographical limitation (except for neighboring countries or former colonies) and extends internationally.
D. Human Rights Council (HRC)
The Human Rights Council (HRC) was created by a decision of the General Assembly, in 2006, to replace the Human Rights Commission. Greece actively supported the efforts to create an effective SAA, with an upgraded status, functionality and with substantial structures. In June 2011, the revision process of the SAD was completed, with the adoption of a relevant GSIE Decision.
The Human Rights Council (HRC) is an international platform for dialogue and coordination of the activity of UN bodies in human rights matters, it is an auxiliary body of the General Assembly and is made up of 47 elected members, distributed in five geographical groups.
Particular importance is attached to the UPR mechanism, which was put into operation in April 2008, and is one of the main actions of the SAA for equal evaluation of states by other UN states (peer to peer review), in terms of practices that the countries follow in terms of the enjoyment / protection of human rights, based on international obligations and commitments.
Greece, in this context of the mechanism of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), was examined according to the above, for its performance in the field of Human Rights, during the 25th Session of the relevant Working Group of the SAD (Geneva, 2 -13/5/2016). Greece was examined by 88 UN members, receiving positive reviews for the situation of the UN in its territory and, in particular, for the efforts it makes in the fight to rescue refugees / migrants at sea.
Since the SAC is considered as the body where human rights are used to promote broad-scale policies and strategies, Greece is actively involved, both during the meetings of the SAC (2) and during the other work of the body, as well as it is considered as a stage for the promotion of the fight that our country is fighting today in the protection and promotion of human rights.
We focus our work in fora such as the Human Rights Council on cross-regional initiatives aimed at addressing important issues of social and economic rights, such as the right to work, the global drug problem, the enjoyment of cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage, youth and human rights.
We also attach great importance to the promotion of human rights through sport and the Olympic Ideal. Greece, having taken the initiative to promote the resolution "Promoting Human Rights through Sport and the Olympic Ideal", has organized in Geneva a series of parallel events, including those on equality, the fight against racism in sport, with participation of athletes of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. On September 28, 2016, Greece organized, together with the International Olympic Committee, a side event on sport as a means of integrating refugees and migrants into local societies, with the participation of the flag bearer of the Refugee Olympic Team Ms. Rose Lokonyen, Sudanese origin. Our sensitivity in the field of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights also comes from the fact that the promotion and protection of these rights is an interrelated component for the realization of Individual and Civil Rights.
In the field of Civil and Civil Rights, we actively support a number of initiatives, EU and other, on the protection of Human Rights defenders, the fight against racism and other forms of discrimination, including those based on religion, gender and sexual orientation. Furthermore, considering that the promotion and protection of freedom of expression is a fundamental condition for building coherent democracies, we are one of the main sponsors of the Human Rights Council resolution on "Safety of Journalists".
It should also be noted that within the framework of the Third Committee of the 70th General Assembly of the United Nations (November 2015), at the initiative of Greece, the resolution for the protection of journalists "Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity" was adopted, which has since been submitted every two years.
Also, our country participates in the "Group of Friends of Journalists" in all fora (3rd Committee of the IAEA, SAD and UNESCO).
During 2016 and until April 2017, the SADC held four regular (31st, 32nd, 33rd and 34th) and two extraordinary (25th and 26th) Synods, in which Greece actively participated.
● Visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of immigrants, Mr. François Crépeau (12-16/5/2016):
During the above period of time, the said Special Rapporteur visited our country, as part of his mandate (it should be noted that Greece maintains an open invitation - standing invitation - to all Commissioners of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council).
During his stay in our country, Mr. Crépeau met with representatives of the political leadership and senior/senior officials of various Ministries and Agencies, while he also made visits to hospitality centers throughout Greece. After the end of his visit, Mr. Crépeau drew up a report with his observations and proposals to the Greek side, which will be published shortly.
● Visits of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grandi (23-25/08/2016):
During the above period, the High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grandi, visited our country for the second time. He spoke with representatives of the political leadership and visited refugee / immigrant accommodation facilities in Attica and Central Macedonia. The purpose of his visit was to assess the humanitarian needs of refugees/immigrants, as well as to find ways of further assistance and humanitarian response on the part of the High Commission, in cooperation with the Greek authorities.
● Visit of Goodwill Ambassador (UN) for Refugees, Mrs. Angelina Jolie:
During the period 15-17 May 2016, the Special Envoy of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Ms. Angelina Jolie, visited Greece, in order to express her undivided solidarity both with the victims and with our country itself , which is called upon, in the midst of generalized difficulties, to deal with the continuous refugee/immigrant flows.
Ms. Jolie visited various accommodation facilities in Athens and Thessaloniki, and spoke with representatives of the political leadership, as well as the local government, wanting to express her support to all parties concerned and highlight the plight of the international community.
● Examination of our country by the Commission for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD, 3-4/8/2016):
During the above period, an examination of Greece by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), an obligation arising from the corresponding International Convention (ICERD), took place in Geneva.
The representatives of the competent Greek bodies presented the policy and the changes that our country has made in the field of dealing with racial discrimination.
(1) Greece has signed and ratified: 1965: International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1966: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (and the Optional Protocols), 1966: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1979: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (and the Optional Protocols), 1984: Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (and the Optional Protocol), 1989: Convention on the Rights of the Child (as well as the 1st and 2nd Optional Protocols), 2006: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (and the Optional Protocol), 2014: International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
(2) The SAD meets at least three times a year.
New York, November 19, 2019
The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopts the Greek initiative Decision on "Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity".
On November 19, the Third Committee of the current 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the Resolution on the "Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity", submitted by Greece, in cooperation with Argentina, Austria, France , Costa Rica and Tunisia, as main co-parents, every two years since 2013.
The Resolution was supported by a particularly high number of co-sponsors from all geographical groups, i.e. a total of 106 UN member states, i.e. eighteen more co-sponsors compared to the previous one, adopted in 2017.
The Decision is based on the recent Report of the Secretary General of the United Nations on the "Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity" (A/74/314) and includes new provisions regarding the need to: a) recognize the essential role of national institutions and human rights mechanisms to prevent violations against journalists, b) form appropriate legal frameworks to protect journalists and media workers, c) accelerate efforts to integrate the gender dimension in the implementation of the United Nations Plan of Action for the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, d) condemning attacks against women journalists and media workers, including discrimination and gender-based and sexual violence, e) avoiding politically motivated attacks against journalists and media workers, f) ensuring the proper use of the legislation on defamation and g) protection of journalists and media workers, for the benefit of ensuring public access to information, in accordance with Sustainable Development Sub-Goal 16.10.
source
Consulate General of Greece/Consulate General of Greece
400 North Tampa Street Suite 1160
TampaFL 33602
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