AMNESTY REPORT 2005
The annual report on Greece from Amnesty International is published today. It seems that the situation has remained pretty much the same here for migrants and refugees. Read Human Rights violated on the margins of society and Out of the Spotlight. To see a slideshow showing the appalling detention containers used here in Greece go here Take action against the detention centres. They are overcrowded. There is limited hot water. Children are being detained with adults and show signs of stress. There are allegations of sexual and physical abuse. Write to the Greek authorities drawing attention to the violations of the rights of migrants in detention and the failure of Greece to meet its obligations under international human rights and refugee law. A draft letter can be found here Also read the BBC article relating to this latest Amnesty report.
Technorati Tags: asylum, Greece, human rights, immigration, migrant, roma
posted by deviousdiva @ 10/05/2005 01:00:00 PM
4 comments
And just what does Government Spokesman, Theodore Roussopoulos have to say about all this?
"...Greece was "completely opposed to the violation of human rights".
"We need to protect people who are wronged, if indeed they are wronged," he told AFP.
"And I am certain that whenever such complaints arose, the competent ministers and services intervene."
It sounds like he does not believe the report when he even questions whether or not there are even examples of human rights abuses in Greece.
Then, without actually checking to verify whether or not there was government intervention, he just assumes it to be the case. And just what IS 'intervention'? Cover-up? Quicker deportation or just some low-ranking civil servant who reads the complaint on his/her lunchbreak and files it under "Miscellaneous"?
It seems to me that the abuse victims don't want intervention AFTER the fact, they need it BEFORE it happens. And if the anonymous immigrant has already been deported or sometimes even killed, who files the complaint on their behalf if no one but the abuser knows about it in the first place? Greeks were totally insulted when they found out the US wanted to fingerprint them upon arrival in the US but they turn a blind eye to REAL abuse? Condemnation, outrage AND action are what's needed--not weak placations.
I am asking everyone who is outraged by this situation to write to Mr Karamanlis.
The conditions of detention here is in violation of International Human Rights law which Greece signed.
A draft letter is available from the link on the post. I urge everyone to write.
Thank you for visiting and commenting hsm. I hope you will come back and participate in the discussions. I went to your blog. If you need help with anything like how to make your own links etc. let me know. Blogger help is informative but can be confusing if you don't know much html.
Thanks for responding loxias. I hope many more will do the same.
Post a Comment
<< Home