in human rights defenders Greece working to protect asylum seeker And migrant rights are facing threats and attacks from the authorities United Nations Special Envoy on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawler.
Lawler to visit Greece in June 2022 to assess the situation of rights defenders in the country, presented their findings To the United Nations Human Rights Council on 15 March.[H]Human rights lawyer, humanitarian activist, volunteer and journalist [working on migration]The discredit campaign, to an alarming degree, has been subjected to a changing regulatory environment, threats and attacks, and the abuse of criminal law against them,” she writes in the 19-page report.
Greece is facing intense international criticism Above Pushback and wider human rights concerns Related to migration and asylum, the Greek government has moved to silence groups working to expose those abuses. While the report acknowledges that the scenario for some civil society Groups are better in Greece, from experience other european countries Indicates that an environment abusive to civil society in an area can easily spread.
Lawler’s report also highlights the lack of media freedom, media pluralism and the Greek authorities’ restrictions on a surveillance scam Influencing journalists. “News that are inconvenient or unattractive to the government, including reporting on serious human rights violations, do not receive adequate coverage on many media outlets,” the report said. “Journalists have also faced criminal prosecutions and strategic prosecutions against public participation for their investigative reporting on corruption and environmental pollution.”
Greece has fallen 38 posts Reporters Without Borders 2022 Report on Press Freedom Index 108 out of 180 countries within a year Lowest ranked EU country for press freedom,
Odd Greece’s response In line with the issues highlighted by Lawler at the Human Rights Council, the Greek government should champion civil society by implementing without delay the UN expert’s recommendations, which include dropping of outstanding criminal charges and investigations against rights defenders.
The European Commission Noted in July last year Greece is shrinking space for groups working with migrants and asylum seekers, and warned that attacks and threats against journalists continue as media freedoms decline further. The Commission should step up its activism on this issue and press Greece to stop harassing civil society groups, activists and journalists.