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Results 1 to 15 out of 33.

2017

31/12/2017 - Special report
- National Preventive Mechanism Against Torture and Ill-treatment - Annual Special Report 2017

In 2017 the Ombudsman’s National Preventive Mechanism put in place a plan of mapping detention facilities throughout the country, setting out the conditions in all areas of deprivation of liberty falling within its sphere of competence. Systematic visits and inspections took place in orisons, police and coast guard detention facilities, detention centers for third country nationals pending deportation, inpatient hospitals, welfare institutions throughout the country.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
31/12/2017 - Special report
- Special report on return of third country nationals

In its recent 4th Special Report on Forced Returns of 3rd country nationals, the Ombudsman sees a 60% increase in the number of administrative detainees in 2017, without a corresponding increase in the number of returnees to their countries of origin. In particular, with regard to forced return and readmission procedures to Turkey, the Independent Authority notes some improvements in the use of restraints, but notes a constant shortage in timely and interpreted information for returnees as well as only partial certification of their health status. At the European level, the Ombudsman expresses its concern about the declarations of effectiveness of the return system, if it is not accompanied by guarantees of fundamental rights.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
31/12/2017 - Special report
- National Mechanism For The Investigation Of Arbitrary Incidents - Report 2017-2018

National Mechanism For The Investigation Of Arbitrary Incidents - Report 2017-2018
From: The Greek Ombudsman
31/12/2017 - Special report
- Equal treatment - Special report 2017

This is the first Report of the Greek Ombudsman in the context of his extended competence for equal treatment issues. It reflects both the work and the strategic planning of the Authority aiming to the effective exercise of its competence as regards both, monitoring and promotion.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
21/12/2017 - Press release
- Change in the tax residence of one of the spouses or civil partners residing abroad

The Ombudsman expresses his satisfaction for the policy modification which gives the possibility to any of the spouses or civil partners residing abroad, to change his/her tax residence, following the issue of a circular (POL 1201/2017) by the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) which specifies the procedure and provides relevant instructions to the competent tax authorities. This development harmonises the practice of the administration with a relevant judgment of the Council of State and implements a proposal of the Ombudsman to the Ministry of Finance and AADE, which the Independent Authority has stated since 2011.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
20/11/2017 - Press release
- Discrimination against women candidates by the minimum height requirement for admission to Police Academy

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in case C-409/16, which was recently published, was asked to reply to a request for a preliminary ruling addressed to it by the Greek Council of the State, regarding compliance of the minimum height requirement for admission to Police Academy of at least 1.70m, common for both sexes.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
14/11/2017 - Press release
- ENOC cooperation and policies for the protection of rights and the social integration of refugee children

The need for focused policies, multi-faceted measures and European cooperation for the protection of rights and the social integration of refugee and immigrant children has been highlighted by the 23 European Children’s Ombudspersons, in their meeting in Athens, hosted by the Greek Ombudsman in collaboration with UNICEF, financed by the European Commission.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
02/11/2017 - Summary
- Obligations of State Agencies hosting conscientious objectors

Following the Ombudsman’s proposal, the National Defence General Staff highlighted to State agencies, where conscientious objectors fulfil their alternative service obligations, that they are obliged either to provide them with adequate housing conditions or to secure in advance the necessary amounts for their remuneration.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
31/10/2017 - Press release
- ENOC 2017 Position Statement on a "Comprehensive Relationship and Sexuality Education: the right of children to be informed"

On the occasion of ENOC 21st Annual Conference and General Assembly meeting held in Helsinki, Finland, in September 2017, ENOC members unanimously adopted a statement to express their recommendations on the right of children to be informed about relationships and sexuality education. The 2017 ENOC position statement is now available in English (http://enoc.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ENOC-position-statement-on-CRSE.pdf)
From: The Greek Ombudsman
13/10/2017 - Summary
- Issue of primary school qualifications for foreign minors

The social service of a Child Protection Institute turned to the Ombudsman after finding that the local primary school, schooling a number of foreign minors hosted by the Institute, was not treating them as normally registered students. The Ombudsman noted that, on the basis of the existing legislation, children of third-country citizens residing in the country are registered in public schools even lacking supporting documents. The positive outcome of the intervention of the Ombudsman coincided with the recent adoption of an explicit provision on the matter.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
27/09/2017 - Summary
- Free movement of the unemployed in the urban transport media of Thessaloniki — (O.A.S.TH.)

Unemployed citizens, using the mass media of transport in Thessaloniki, asked the Ombudsman to intervene to the Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organisation (O.A.S.TH.) with regard to free use of the city’s urban transport on their behalf,as has already been the case for the unemployed in Attica since 29-6-2015.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
28/08/2017 - Summary
- Environmental management and protection of Chrysi Island in Ierapetra, Crete

The Greek Ombudsman, in its recent findings report, sent to the competent Ministries established environmental degradation of the Chrysi Island in Lasithi (Gaidouronisi), as well as illegal constructions and activities, in breach of the specific institutional framework destined to protect the site. The Independent Authority notes that the ineffective implementation of the legislative framework, the inability to accelerate the administrative procedures, the involvement of multiple State agencies as well as the individual economic interests make it difficult to find a mutually acceptable and realisable solution.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
14/08/2017 - Summary
- Annulment of fines imposed on the unemployed for using mass media of transportation without a valid ticket

Unemployed, passengers of the mass media of transportation, on whom a fine had been imposed for having been caught using the media without a valid ticket, applied to the transport companies OSY (buses and trolley buses) and STASY (subway and tram) as well as OASA (State Agency coordinating public mass media of transportation in the Region of Attica) asking for the annulment of fines imposed on them between 2 July 2010 and 2 July 2015, as provided by law. However, after almost two years they have not received a definitive reply yet. The Ombudsman’s investigation concluded that, while STASY has proceeded with examining the applications and annulling the fines, OSY has refrained from any relevant actions, based on the former legislative framework. The Independent Authority addressed OASA, asking for its intervention in the form of written instructions to OSY) with regard to the implementation of the law. Following the Ombudsman’s intervention, OASA urged OSY to proceed with examining the applications and annulling the fines of the unemployed that fulfil the legal requirements, even after commencement of the forced payment procedure by the Tax Authorities.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
09/08/2017 - Summary
- Readmission to the police of an officer dismissed due to chronic illness

A Police Academy student, deregistered in 2006, due to the fact that he was diagnosed with hepatitis b, filed for readmission. His application was rejected by the competent Higher Health Commission. The Ombudsman has pointed out to the Police that the above decision is unlawful on the grounds that it does not contain specific reasoning as to the applicant’s unfitness to carry out office duties, and therefore, based on the mere fact that he suffers from a chronic condition, constitutes discrimination prohibited under Law 4443/16. The competent Reviewing Medical Committee re-examined the application and allowed the applicant’s readmission for office duty.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
02/08/2017 - Summary
- Retroactive granting of a welfare allowance to a child with severe disabilities

Municipal social service, in agreement with the parents of a child suffering from severe disability, sought the assistance of the Ombudsman to resume the child’s disability allowance, after it had been discontinued for a long period without the beneficiary’s fault. In the course of the investigation, there was a shift in attitude on behalf of the State Agency and the child’s guardian submitted a supplementary complaint due to subsequent conflict of interest. After repeated interventions by the Ombudsman to the agencies involved, the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity adopted the positions of the Independent Authority and the social service was given instructions to grant the allowance retroactively, also covering the period of the child’s transfer from the centre.
From: The Greek Ombudsman