UN condemns Greece: Deeply concerned about human rights violations
UN special rapporteurs made a written statement on Greece's border protection policies.
"We call on Greece to adopt safe and impartial border protection policies and practices. We condemn the lack of accountability for violations involving Greek law enforcement agencies."
The statement noted that Greece's inability to provide rapid and effective assistance to migrants in danger, to disembark them safely and to ensure the acceptance of sufficient migrants is of concern. It was reminded that on 11 April, 12 asylum seekers, including a 6-month-old baby, who came to Greece from Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia, were gathered together by masked persons, their belongings were taken away from them and they were forcibly taken to Lesbos Island.
It was noted in the statement that UN experts requested detailed information from the Greek government on this incident on 7 August, "We are deeply concerned about the events in April, human rights violations and allegations of abuse. We call on Greece to provide information on the internal regulation on the use of force and the measures taken to prevent similar incidents. The violence, which has been filmed, verified and reported by the media, has exposed the racist exclusion and persecution of Europe's border protection practices."
Call for a transparent and impartial investigation into the allegations
Countries have an obligation under international human rights and refugee law to address the dangers and risks faced by migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, the statement said, adding that the lack of regular migration routes, restrictive migration policies, xenophobic rhetoric and other factors that can displace people on the move make this situation more difficult.
The statement also called on Greece to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation into allegations of violations of the principles of non-refoulement and non-discrimination and violations of the right to life and border violence against law enforcement officials.
UN special rapporteurs
UN special rapporteurs are known as part of the process recognised as special mechanisms of the Human Rights Council.
Known as the largest independent special mechanisms in the UN Human Rights system, they stand out as independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address the situation of a particular country or thematic issues anywhere in the world.
The experts of the special mechanisms, which do not exist within the UN, carry out their work on a voluntary basis and independently.
