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Greece’s Human Rights Portfolio…

Those of you who think that Greece is a modern civilized country governed by democracy and thus respectful of human rights need a reality check…

In this dedicated thread, you’ll find countless reports of Greece’s human rights violations and abuses for your perusal from a wide range of sources including...

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
The US State Department
Amnesty International
The Human Rights Watch
The Macedonian community
The Albanian community

…and many, many more! So sit back, fasten your seatbelts and discover the mythological birthplace of democracy Greek-style!

Regards, GR.

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From The US State Department:

Human Rights Practices in Greece

In early August a Greek man was injured by the Coast Guard and died after he reportedly did not stop for a boat check. The Coast Guard ordered the suspect to stop; upon his failing to do so, Coast Guard officers opened fire, injuring the man. He was taken to a hospital where he died. Press reports alleged that the deceased was a member of a network smuggling aliens and narcotics to Greece.

In November a border guard shot and killed an Albanian who was attempting to illegally cross the border. The border guard was arrested and the case was pending at year's end.

In June the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) found Greece in violation of Article 2 (right to life) in connection with the shooting in January 1998 that left Ioannis Karagiannopoulos, a Romani man, an invalid for life.

In July the ECHR unanimously found Greece in violation of article 2 (right to life) and cited several shortcomings in the inquiry into the fatal wounding of the 20-year-old Albanian immigrant Gentjan Celniku by an off-duty police officer in 2001 in Athens. The court awarded the applicants $42,400 (29,010 euros) for damages, costs and expenses.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100562.htm

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From AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL:

Greece Human Rights in HELLENIC REPUBLIC

2008 Report:

Migration, refugees and asylum-seekers
Ill-treatment by police
Deaths in custody
Prison ill-treatment and conditions
Trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation
Human rights defenders
Violations against the Romani community
Violence against women

http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/greece/report-2008

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From AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL:

Greece Human Rights in HELLENIC REPUBLIC

2007 Report:

Abductions and incommunicado detention in the 'war on terror'
Treatment of migrants and refugees
Conscientious objection to military service
Domestic violence
Trafficking in human beings
Freedom of expression
Update: The killing of Marinos Christopoulos

http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/greece/report-2007

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From AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL:

Greece Human Rights in HELLENIC REPUBLIC

2004 Report:

(Too much to quote here!)

http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/greece?page=5

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From the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Human Rights Watch World Report 1994 - Greece

Human rights abuses in Greece involved freedom of speech, discrimination against minorities, physical abuse of detainees and prisoners, and violations of religious freedom.

A handful of free speech cases continued to be prosecuted and appealed during 1993. Minority issues were involved in six trials held in 1992 and 1993 against Greek citizens for the peaceful expression of their views. One case concerned two journalists who were found guilty of insult and sentenced to seven months in prison for a column about the "non-Greekness" of the Turkish minority in western Thrace. The other five cases, some dating from 1992, concerned speech about the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRM), or members of the Macedonian minority in Greece. The subject of FYRM was extremely sensitive and emotional in Greece. The Greek government objected to the use of the world "Macedonia" to describe the former Yugoslav republic, since "Macedonia" is also the name of a region in northern Greece.

A temporary compromise was reached in April 1993, when the republic was admitted to the U.N. under the temporary name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."

http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher ... d1e,0.html

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From the Human Rights Watch…

Trafficking of Migrant Women for Forced Prostitution into Greece

Despite the creation of anti-trafficking initiatives at the international and regional levels--and in bilateral and multilateral agreements among European states--Greece has failed to take the measures necessary to tackle its own trafficking problems.

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2000/11/13/t ... ion-greece

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From the Human Rights Watch…

Systematic Failure to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Greece

Some 1,000 unaccompanied migrant children who have entered Greece in 2008 without parents or caregivers struggle to survive without any state assistance, Human Rights Watch said in a new report issued today. Although a member of the European Union, Greece flouts its most basic obligations when it comes to meeting the rights of these children, many of whom come from war-torn countries, including Afghanistan, Somalia, and Iraq, with special protection needs.

This 111-page report documents the plight of the majority of unaccompanied children who have entered Greece and end up in a daily fight for survival.

http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2008/12/22/left-survive

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From Amnesty International Mission:

Greece Human Rights

Latest News

Greece: Proposed changes to asylum procedures flagrantly violate international law
May 15, 2009

Over 20,000 sign petition for Greek trade unionist
May 12, 2009

Over 20,000 sign petition for Greek trade unionist
May 11, 2009

Violations against civilians by police in Greece highlighted in report
March 31, 2009

Greece: In Investigating December Riots, Greece Must Address "Entrenched Pattern" of Police Abuse, Charges Amnesty International
March 30, 2009

Greece: Policing Demonstrations, Responsibly
March 27, 2009
Latest Reports
Greece: Alleged Abuses In Policing Of Demonstrations
March 30, 2009

Greece: Health Professional Action: Trafficked women: Inadequate time for psychological recovery
July 24, 2007

Greece: Uphold the rights of women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation
June 12, 2007

Vital UN human rights work under threat
May 09, 2007

http://www.amnestyusa.org/all-countries ... id=1011160

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Greece: Case for Human Rights Abuse in 2009

“We didn’t do anything. Why do they treat us like this?” questioned Fouad, a 33-year-old Moroccan immigrant living in the building. “The police did nothing. … Here in Greece, human rights don’t exist.”

http://newmonitor.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/greece/