"Protect
our laws and humanity!"
Open Letter
by 256 Organizations
To:
Prime
Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis
President
of the European Parliament, David Sassoli
President
of the European Council, Charles Michel
President
of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen
Athens, 6
March 2020 – The undersigned organisations are deeply concerned about
recent
developments at the Evros border and the Aegean islands where people are
stranded at
the borders of Europe, instrumentalized for political purposes, and
subject to
violations of their rights. We are also deeply concerned about the way the
authorities
of Greece and the European Union are handling new arrivals. Equally
alarming
are the extreme actions by security forces against refugees and by civilians
against
staff of human rights and humanitarian organizations. We would also like to
point out
that the climate of panic and rhetoric of 'asymmetric threat' –also
promoted by
the authorities– does not reflect reality and seriously affects not only
vulnerable
refugees- but also our society and the rule of law as a whole.
Specifically:
We firmly express
our opposition to the recent decisions of the Greek
Governmental
Council on Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA), and in particular the
adoption of
the Emergency Legislative Decree, which stipulates the suspension of
the right
to seek asylum for all people entering the country and their return without
registration,
to their countries of origin or transit. Applying such a regulatory
provision
is inhumane and illegal as it violates the fundamental principle of
nonrefoulement, incurs international responsibilities for Greece and endangers
human
lives. It
is beyond dispute that Greece has the sovereign competence to control its
borders and
to manage any crossings there. Nevertheless, the right to seek asylum is
a
fundamental human right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and the EU
Charter of Fundamental Rights.
We also
denounce the attacks on organizations that defend human rights and
humanitarian
organizations, noting that without the support of these organizations,
the refugee
management system in Greece would collapse. In addition, solidarity has
been
stigmatized and become the target of suspicion, which has been also
exacerbated
by members of the Government, fomenting violence and lawlessness in
society in
general. We denounce any statements, actions or policies that foment or
tolerate
bigotry.
We call
upon the Greek Government to:
• Withdraw
the illegal and unconstitutional Emergency Legislative Decree and to
respect the
obligations of the Greek State concerning the protection of human life
and rescue
at sea and at the land borders.
•
Immediately stop returning people to states where their lives and freedom are
at
risk, or
where they are at risk of being subjected to torture or other inhuman or
degrading
treatment or punishment.
•
Immediately alleviate overcrowding on the islands by relocating asylum seekers
to the
mainland, protecting their well-being and health. Priority should be given to
the most
vulnerable, unaccompanied minors and families with children.
• Take the
necessary measures to protect every person from acts of violence,
victimization
and racism.
We recall
that the EU should assume substantial responsibilities for the protection
of people
on the move in a manner that demonstrates respect for human dignity
and lawfulness
and as a matter of shared responsibility among EU member states in
the context
of managing what is, first and foremost, a European issue. The right to
asylum and
the respect for the principle of non-refoulement are fundamental
elements of
international and EU law and therefore the authorities of the European
Union must
take the necessary measures for their protection.
Therefore:
• The
European Commission, as the guardian of the Treaties, should protect the
right to
asylum as enshrined in EU law. Therefore, it should reverse the “aspida
(shield)”
rhetoric used by Greece and urge it to assume its legal obligations.
• EU Member
States should re-establish immediately the mechanisms for the
relocation
of refugees and asylum seekers from Greece to other Member States, in
a fair and
rational manner, with priority given to unaccompanied children. EU
Member
States should increase resettlement of refugees directly from Turkey.
• EU Member
States and institutions should revise the EU-Turkey Statement, which –
in addition
to legal lacunae– has now proven to be an unpredictable and
unsustainable
political tool for border management.
In closing,
we call on all sides to respect the law and safeguard European democratic
values. Any
further backsliding will have major consequences on European societies,
European
democracy and the rule of law.
List of
Signatories
A BUON
DIRITTO (ITALY)
ACT
ALLIANCE EU (BELGIUM)
ACCIÓN
POLITEIA (SPAIN)
ACTIONAID
HELLAS
ACTIONAID
INTERNATIONAL
ACTIONAID
ITALIA
ACTION FOR
EDUCATION (GREECE)
ADDART
(GREECE)
A DROP IN
THE OCEAN (DRÅPEN I HAVET)
AED
EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS (GERMANY)
AFGHAN
HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION (UK)
AIDOS -
ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA DONNE PER LO SVILUPPO (ITALY)
ΑΙΤΙΜΑ
(GREECE)
ALLIANCE
FOR AFRICAN ASSISTANCE (ITALY)
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
AMURT-AMURTEL
HELLAS
ANASA
CULTURAL CENTER (GREECE)
ANTIGONE
(GREECE)
ANTI-TRAFFICKING
AND LABOUR EXPLOITATION UNIT (ATLEU) (UK)
AOI,
ASSOCIATION OF ITALIAN NGO'S FOR COOPERATION AND SOLIDARITY
ARSIS –
ASSOCIATION FOR THE SUPPORT OF YOUTH (GREECE)
ASGI
ASSOCIAZIONE PER GLI STUDI GIURIDICI SULL'IMMIGRAZIONE (ITALY)
ASINITAS,
ROMA (INTERCULTURAL CENTERS) (ITALY)
ASSOCIATION
DE SOUTIEN AUX TRAVAILLEURS IMMIGRES - ASTI ASBL (LUXEMBOURG)
ASSOCIATION
FOR INTEGRATION AND MIGRATION (CZECH REPUBLIC)
ASSOCIATION
FOR LEGAL INTERVENTION (POLAND)
ASOCIACIÓN
POR TI MUJER (SPAIN)
ASVIS
(ITALIAN ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT)
ASYLOS (UK)
ATTIKA
HUMAN SUPPORT
AVOCATS
SANS FRONTIÈRES
BABEL DAY
CENTER (GREECE)
BAOBAB
EXPERIENCE (ITALY)
BORDER
CRIMINOLOGIES-OXFORD UNIVERSITY (UK)
BORDERLINE-EUROPE
HUMAN RIGHTS WITHOUT BORDERS (GERMANY)
BRIGHTON
MIGRANT SOLIDARITY (UK)
CARE
DEUTSCHLAND E.V.
CARITAS
HELLAS
CCM –
COMITATO COLLABORAZIONE MEDICA (ITALY)
CENTER FOR
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND FREEDOM (CEPS) (MONTENEGRO)
CENTRAL
ASYLUM YORKSHIRE
CENTRE
DIOTIMA (GREECE)
CENTRE FOR
PEACE STUDIES (CENTAR ZA MIROVNE STUDIJE) (CROATIA)
CENTRE FOR
TRAUMA, ASYLUM AND REFUGEES, UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX (UK)
CESIE
(ITALY)
CESSMIR,
UNIVERSITY OF GHENT (BELGIUM)
CHANGE
MAKERS LAB (GREECE)
CHEER
INTERNATIONAL GROUP (CHEERING) (GREECE)
CHILD AND
YOUTH CARE ASSOCIATION (SMAN) (GREECE)
CIRÉ
(COORDINATION ET INITIATIVES POUR REFUGIES ET ÉTRANGERS) (BELGIUM)
COLLECTIVE
AID (SERBIA)
COMHLÁMH
(IRELAND)
CONCORD
ITALIA
COORDINADORA
DE ORGANIZACIONES PARA EL DESAROLLO (SPAIN)
COSPE ONLUS
(ITALY)
CZECHIA
AGAINST POVERTY AND INEQUALITY
DANISH
REFUGEE COUNCIL (DRC)
DEFENCE FOR
CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL GREECE
DIRTY GIRLS
(ΕΛΛΑΔΑ)
DONATE4REFUGEES
DUTCH
COUNCIL FOR REFUGEES (DCR)
DUTCH
LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (NETHERLANDS)
ECHO100PLUS
(GREECE)
ECOLOGICAL
MOVEMENT OF THESSALONIKI (GREECE)
EDUCATIONAL
INNOVATION (GREECE)
ELIX
(GREECE)
ELPIDA HOME
END FGM
EUROPEAN NETWORK
EPAPSY
(GREECE)
EQUAL
RIGHTS BEYOND BORDERS (GREECE)
EQUAL SOCIETY
(GREECE)
EUROPEAN
ANTIPOVERTY NETWORK (EAPN)
EUROPEAN
COUNCIL ON REFUGEES AND EXILES (ECRE)
EVERY CHILD
PROTECTED AGAINST TRAFFICKING (ECPAT)
FEDERAZIONE
DEGLI ORGANISMI CHRISTIANI SERVIZIO INTERNATIONALE VOLONTARIO
(ITALY)
FENIX
HUMANITARIAN LEGAL AID
FIX IN ART
(GREECE)
FORENSIC
ARCHITECTURE (GREECE)
FREEDOM
FROM TORTURE (UK)
FREE
MOVEMENT SKATEBOARDING (UK)
FUNDACION
CEPAIM (SPAIN)
GAASBEEK EN
GAASBEEK ADVOCATEN (NETHERLANDS)
GATWICK
DETAINEES WELFARE GROUP
GCAP EUROPE
(BELGIUM)
GCAP HELLAS
GCAP ITALIA
GENERATION
2.0 RED (GREECE)
GERMAN NGO
FORUM ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
GLOCAL
ROOTS (SWITZERLAND)
GREATER
MANCHESTER IMMIGRATION AID UNIT (GMIAU)
GREEK
COUNCIL FOR REFUGEES (GCR)
GREEK FORUM
OF MIGRANTS
GREEK FORUM
OF REFUGEES
GREEK
NETWORK FOR THE RIGHT TO SHELTER AND HOUSING
HARINGEY
MIGRANT SUPPORT CENTRE (HMSC)
HELLENIC
ANTIPOVERTY NETWORK
HELLENIC
LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (HLHR)
HELLENIC
PLATFORM FOR DEVELOPMENT
HELLO MY
FRIEND
HELP
REFUGEES / CHOOSE LOVE
HERTS FOR
REFUGEES (UK)
ΗΙΑS GREECE
HIGGS
(GREECE)
HUMANITY
NOW (USA)
HUMANRIGHTS360
(GREECE)
HUMAN
RIGHTS WATCH
HUBB -
HUMANS BEFORE BORDERS (PORTUGAL)
I AM YOU
HUMANITARIAN AID (SWEDEN)
ILIAKTIDA
AMKE (GREECE)
IMMIGRANT
COUNCIL OF IRELAND
INDIGO
VOLUNTEERS (UK)
INITIATIVE FOR
THE DETAINEES’ RIGHTS (GREECE)
INSTITUTE
OF RACE RELATIONS (UK)
INTELEKTUALET
E RINJ, SHPRESE (IRSH) (ALBANIA)
INTER ALIA
(GREECE)
INTEREUROPEAN
HUMAN AID ASSOCIATION GERMANY E.V.
INTERNATIONAL
CENTRE FOR ERITREAN REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS – ICERAS
INTERNATIONAL
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION – EUROPEAN NETWORK (IPPF EN)
(BELGIUM)
INTERNATIONAL
RESCUE COMMMITTEE (IRC)
INTERSOS
HELLAS
INTERSOS
ORGANIZZAZIONE UMANITARIA ONLUS (ITALY)
INTERVOLVE
(GREECE)
IRIDA
WOMEN’ S CENTER (GREECE)
IRISH
ANTIPOVERTY NETWORK
ISLAMIC
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
ITALIAN
COUNCIL FOR REFUGEES
JOINT
COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF IMMIGRANTS (JCWI) (UK)
JRS
PORTUGAL
JRS GREECE
JUSTRIGHT
SCOTLAND
KHORA
COMMUNITY CENTRE (GREECE)
KITRINOS
HEALTH CARE (GREECE)
L’AUBERGE
DES MIGRANTS (FRANCE)
LAW CENTRES
NETWORK (UK)
LEEDS NO
BORDERS (UK)
LEGAL
CENTRE LESVOS (GREECE)
LEGAL
SECTOR WORKERS UNION (LSWU) (UK)
LEROS
SOLIDARITY NETWORK (GREECE)
LESVOS
SOLIDARITY (GREECE)
LIGHTHOUSE
RELIEF (LHR)
LIVERPOOL
LAW CLINIC (LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY) (UK)
MASS ACTION
MEDICAL AID
FOR REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PEOPLE (MARDI)
MED.IN
MEDICAL INTERVENTION (GREECE)
MEDECINS DU
MONDE – GREECE (MDM - GREECE)
MEDECINS
SANS FRONTIERES – GREECE (MSF – GREECE)
MELISSA
NETWORK (GREECE)
ΜΕΤΑDRASI
(GREECE)
METHORIA
LAST RIGHTS (GREECE)
MIDDLESBOROUGH
DIOCESE JUSTICE AND PEACE COMMISSION
MIGRANT’S
RIGHTS NETWORK (UK)
MIGRANT
VOICE (UK)
MIGRATION
MOBILITIES BRISTOL (UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL)
MISSION
LIFELINE E.V. (GERMANY)
MOBILE INFO
TEAM (GREECE)
MOVEMENT ON
THE GROUND (THE NETHERLANDS)
NETWORK FOR
CHILDREN’S RIGHTS (GREECE)
NETWORK FOR
THE SOCIAL SUPPORT OF REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS (GREECE)
NETWORK
ITALIANO SALUTE GLOBALE
ODYSSEA
(GREECE)
OFFICE OF
DISPLACED DESIGNERS (ΕΛΛΑΔΑ)
OMANIAE VZW
ORGANISATIE (BELGIUM)
OMNES
(GREECE)
ONE HAPPY
FAMILY (GREECE)
ONE PUMP
COURT (UK)
ORGANIZATION
EARTH (GREECE)
OXFAM
OXFORD
AGAINST IMMIGRATION DETENTION (UK)
OXFORD
MIGRANT SOLIDARITY
PAMPIRAIKI
SUPPORT INITIATIVE FOR REFUGEES & MIGRANTS (GREECE)
PAR –
PLATFORMA DE APOIO AOS REFUGIADOS (PORTUGAL)
PAX CHRISTI
INTERNATIONAL (BELGIUM)
PHYSICIANS
FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (FINLAND)
PLATFORM
FOR INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION ON UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS (PICUM)
POSITIVE
ACTION IN HOUSING
POVORD
INSTITUTE (SLOVENIA)
PRAKSIS
(GREECE)
PRAXIS
COMMUNITY PROJECTS (UK)
PROJECT
ARMONIA (GREECE/SWITZERLAND)
PUBLIC
INTEREST LAW CENTRE (PILC) (UK)
QUAKER
ASYLUM AND REFUGEE NETWORK (QARN)
RAV
REPUBLICAN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (GERMANY)
RED ACOGE
(SPAIN)
REFOCUS
MEDIA LABS
REFUGEE AID
SERBIA (SERBIA)
REFUGEE
BIRIYANI AND BANANAS (UK)
REFUGEE
COUNCIL (UK)
REFUGEEED
REFUGEE
FOUNDATION (SERBIA)
REFUGEE
INFO BUS (FRANCE AND GREECE)
REFUGEE
LEGAL SUPPORT (RLS)
REFUGEE
RESCUE (UK)
REFUGEE
RIGHTS EUROPE (RRE)
REFUGEE
SUPPORT AEGEAN (RSA)
REFUGEE
SUPPORT EUROPE
REFUGEE
WOMEN’S CENTRE (FRANCE)
REFUGEE
YOUTH SERVICE (GREECE/UK)
RIGHT TO
REMAIN (UK)
ROOM FOR
REFUGEES (UK)
RTI HELLAS
SAFE
PASSAGE INTERNATIONAL
SAMOS
VOLUNTEERS (GREECE)
SANTE
REFUGEE MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS PROJECT
SAO
ASSOCIATION FOR DISPLACED WOMEN (SWITZERLAND)
SAVE THE
CHILDREN
SCI HELLAS
SCOTTISH
REFUGEE COUNCIL
SEEBRÜCKE
SHOWER
POWER FOUNDATION (GREECE)
SLOVENE
PHILANTHROPY
SOAS
DETAINEE SUPPORT (UK)
SOCIAL
HACKERS ACADEMY - SOCIAL HACKER A.M.K.E.
SOCIETY FOR
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (SID)
SOLIDARITY4ALL
(GREECE)
SOLIDARITYNOW
SOS RACISMO
(SPAIN)
SOUTH
YORKSHIRE MIGRATION AND ASYLUM ACTION GROUP (SYMAAG)
STATE OF
CONCEPT
STATEWATCH
(UK)
STILL I
RISE (GREECE)
STIL-UTRECHT
(THE NETHERLANDS)
SÜDWIND
(AUSTRIA)
SWINDON
CITY OF SANCTUARY
SXEDIA STIN
POLI (GREECE)
SYMBIOSIS
SCHOOL OF POLITICAL STUDIES (GREECE)
SYMBOLO -
ROMA NORDOVEST PER LA SINISTRA (ITALY)
SYNDICAT
INTERPROFESSIONNEL DE TRAVAILLEUSES ET TRAVAILLEURS (SIT) (SWITZERLAND)
TEXNODROMO
(GREECE)
TERRE DES HOMMES
HELLAS
THALASSA OF
SOLIDARITY (GREECE)
THE BALKAN
FORUM (KOSOVO)
THE
BRIGHTON TRUST (UK)
THE DAY OF
THE ENDANGERED LAWYER FOUNDATION (NETHERLANDS)
THE HOME
PROJECT (GREECE)
THE
INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT (IRAP) (USA)
THE LAVA
PROJECT (GREECE)
THE SUSSEX
REFUGEE AND MIGRANT SELF SUPPORT GROUP
THE
INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT (IRAP) (USA)
THE ROUTES
OF THE OLIVE TREE (GREECE)
THESSALONIKI
PRIDE (GREECE)
ΤHESS
DICTIO – VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS’ NETWORK OF THESSALONIKI (GREECE)
THOUSAND 4
1000 (UK)
TOGETHER
FOR BETTER DAYS (GREECE)
TO MOV
(GREECE)
TRP
SOLICITORS (UK)
TRANSGENDER
SUPPORT ASSOCIATION (GREECE)
UNITED
AGAINST INHUMANITY - UAI
UTOPIA 56
(FRANCE)
VELOS YOUTH
(GREECE)
VEREIN FAIR
(SWITZERLAND)
VICTORIA SQUARE
PROJECT
VIRGO
SOLICITORS
VLUCHTELINGEN
ONDERSTEUNING SINT-NIKLAAS (BELGIUM)
WESLEY GRYK
SOLICITORS
WORLD
WITHOUT WARS AND VIOLENCE (GREECE)
YOUNG ROOTS
ZA’ATAR NGO (GREECE)
6/3/2020
https://www.gcr.gr/en/news/press-releases-announcements/item/1402-open-letter-by-85-organizations-on-current-developments-at-the-greek-borders
