European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)
Third Report on Greece

Released June 8, 2004

Source: www.coe.int

Full Report on Greece - English	Full Report on Greece - Greek
Full Report on Greece - English	Full Report on Greece - Greek

Executive summary 

Since ECRI's second report on Greece was published in June 2000, progress has been made in a number of areas covered by the report. For example, the Ombudsman and the National Committee on Human Rights have contributed to the fight against racism and intolerance in Greece. Measures have been taken to combat the traffic in human beings. The Greek authorities have taken a stance against racism and for a multicultural society, particularly by reinforcing the network of intercultural schools. Progress is noted in the exercise of the religious freedom of minority religious groups. An integrated action programme aims to better the day-to-day life of the Roma. Equal opportunities programmes regarding access to education and employment have been planned for the Muslim minority in Western Thrace. Lastly, the situation of immigrants in Greece has been the focus of two legalisation procedures.

However, many of the recommendations contained in ECRI's second report have not, or not fully, been implemented. There remain stereotypes, prejudices and incidences of discrimination targeting members of minority groups, particularly the Roma community and minority religious groups, as well as against immigrants. Criminal law is not enforced to a sufficient extent to curb racist acts, and existing civil and administrative law provisions are insufficient to effectively prohibit discrimination. The position of the Muslim minority in Western Thrace should improve further. The situation of immigrants is a long way from being completely legalised, and there is still no comprehensive, targeted integration policy on immigration. The measures taken at national level to combat racism and intolerance are not always replicated at the local level.

In the current report, ECRI makes a series of recommendations to the Greek authorities. Specifically, it recommends that a number of international instruments of relevance to the fight against racism and intolerance be ratified. ECRI recommends that the Greek authorities strengthen legal provisions and their implementation in criminal, civil and administrative law to fight against racism and racial discrimination, and set up a specialised body to combat racism and racial discrimination. ECRI recommends to the Greek authorities to intensify their efforts to improve the situation of Roma, particularly in respect of housing, employment and education. It encourages the authorities to continue their efforts to improve the situation of members of other minority groups, including the Muslim minority in Western Thrace, the Macedonian community, the minority religious groups, as well as immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. ECRI recommends continuing efforts to raise the awareness of civil servants, the general public and the media about human rights and the problem of racism and intolerance. Lastly, ECRI recommends legalising the situation of immigrants in Greece and strengthening policies aimed at their integration

Source: http://www.coe.int/t/E/human_rights/ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-country_approach/Greece/Greece_CBC_3.asp