What we can help with
The Ombudsman handles complaints of breach of individual and civil rights under the general mandate as well as the specific competences the independent authority has been entrusted with. In particular:
A. — In the context of the general mandate, the Ombudsman mediates in cases involving issues of:
· Breach of personal freedom, such as: control and investigation, home asylum, personal data protection, arrest, conditions of detention, administrative detention, abuse of power, access to documents kept by public services, etc.
· Dignity of the deceased (right to burial and cremation), freedom of religion and belief (establishment, operation and protection of churches and houses of worship)
· Entry and stay of migrants and asylum seekers in Greece, protection of their rights, such as: international protection and asylum, notably political asylum, social inclusion, administrative detention conditions.
· Civil and municipal status (registries, passports, diplomatic protection of Greeks abroad, citizenship (naturalisation).
· Military service and alternative forms of service.
· Higher education (access, students’ welfare and scholarships, housing, recruitment and professional development of staff) and academic recognition of qualifications.
· Professional freedom, ensuring professional rights, registration in professional associations and chambers
B. — Apart from the above fields of intervention, the Ombudsman has also been entrusted with the following special mandates:
- External monitoring of procedures for the removal of third-country nationals (art.23 § 6 L. 3907/11 and Joint Ministerial Decree 4000/4/57 − ia/24-10-2014).
- ‘National Torture Prevention Mechanism’ (L.4228/2014), in accordance with the UN’s Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), adopted on 18-12-2002.
- ‘‘National Mechanism for the investigation of arbitrary behaviour” (Law 4443/2016, Part D, entry into force 9.6.2017) with responsibility to collect, record, assess, investigate or refer for further investigation and disciplinary control, complaints about actions of police officers, the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Fire Brigade and Staff of State Penitentiaries, occurring in the performance of their duties, or abuse of their status regarding:
a. torture and other violations to human dignity within the meaning of Article 137a of the Penal Code,
b. illegal intentional attacks against life, health, physical integrity, personal or sexual freedom,
c. illegal use of firearms or illegal behaviour for which there is evidence of racist motivation or discriminatory treatment on the grounds of colour, race, national or ethnic origin, descent, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity”.
