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Results 1 to 15 out of 165.

2021

31/12/2021 - Special report
- Special report 2021 on Returns of third country nationals

The small number of forced returns and the constant detention of third country nationals in police detention cells instead of Pre-removal centres, are stressed in the Greek Ombudsman’s Special report on Returns in 2021.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
28/04/2021 - Special report
- Alleged pushbacks to Turkey of foreign nationals who had arrived in Greece seeking international protection

Interim report (updated up to 31 December 2020) An interim report on alleged illegal pushbacks of foreign nationals from Greece to Turkey, in the area of Evros river was publicised by the Ombudsman, on April 28, 2021. The report provides a brief, concise overview of the Ombudsman’s own-initiative inquiry from June 2017 through the end of 2020. It presents key aspects of the reported incidents, records the handling of the allegations by the Greek authorities and makes proposals, in the direction of shielding legality, enhancing transparency, and ensuring full respect for the principles of the rule of law. The interim report has already been sent to the Minister of Citizens’ Protection and the Chief of the Police.
From: The Greek Ombudsman

2020

31/12/2020 - Special report
- National Mechanism for the Investigation of Arbitrary Incidents – Special Report for 2020

According to the Greek Ombudsman, the year 2020 marks a decisive turn in the investigation of arbitrary incidents by police officers or other members of the security forces. The alleged incidents submitted to the Ombudsman as National Mechanism for the Investigation of Arbitrary Incidents increased by 75% by individual complainants and by 26% in total, indicating the recognition by the public at large of the independent authority’s contribution to securing substantial safeguards in independent and objective investigation procedures. The rising trend of complaints reflects the demand for effective investigation of alleged violations of the right to life, physical integrity and personal safety. The legislative enhancement of the independent authority with institutional means of investigation in 2020, increases its potential to fulfill its mandate as National Mechanism for the Investigation of Arbitrary Incidents which is crucial in a rule of law state.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
31/12/2020 - Special report
- Returns of third-country nationals – Special Report 2020

The Greek Ombudsman points out the disproportionate number of detained migrants in view of return, compare to the number of those returned in their countries of origin, a finding valid yet another year, in the independent authority’s special report on Returns of third-country nationals in 2020.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
31/12/2020 - Special report
- Equal Treatment – Special Report 2020

From the beginning of 2020, the disproportionately severe effects of the pandemic, which threaten socially vulnerable groups or groups with special characteristics, became apparent. This state of emergency necessitated immediate action and brought to the forefront the obligation to take reasonable care of the needs of affected groups or persons. This is the general observation of the Greek Ombudsman's Special Report on Equal Treatment in 2020.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
25/08/2020 - Special report
- Special Report: Protection of Vulnerable Children

The Ombudsman reiterates the issue of protecting the rights of children who are temporarily or permanently deprived of their family environment, by publishing up-to-date information, findings and data. It highlights problems related to the operating model followed, distortions in the institutional framework, heterogeneity of practices, deficits in the envisaged structures, public authorities and services, which lead to unacceptable shrinkage in the safeguarding of the rights of children placed in institutional care structures. It lists the necessary interventions, reforms and policies that will allow for the abandonment of the institutional care model and the transition to the model of family support and alternative care in the community.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
27/02/2020 - Abstract
- The Ombudsman’s intervention to Greek National Council for Radio & Television due to breach of the children’s right to privacy

The Ombudsman was informed throuhg the Media of the extended publicity of the news concerning sexual abuse of a minor by a person of the family environment. The Independent Authority sent a letter to the Greek National Council for Radio and Television (NCRTV), stressing the need to protect the image of the child from the media and complaining about the violation of the minor’s right to privacy stemming from the International Convention on Children’s rights.
From: The Greek Ombudsman

2019

31/12/2019 - Special report
- National Preventive Mechanism Against Torture and Ill-treatment - Annual Special Report OPCAT 2019

National Preventive Mechanism Against Torture and Ill-treatment - Annual Special Report OPCAT 2019
From: The Greek Ombudsman
31/12/2019 - Special report
- National Mechanism For The Investigation Of Arbitrary Incidents - Report 2019

The Ombudsman’s Special Report 2019 analyzes the shortcomings of disciplinary investigations concerning arbitrary incidents in the security forces. Taking into account that allegations of infringement of physical integrity or health during arrest, detention and all kinds of police operations, account for more than half of the complaints examined, the Independent Authority stresses that impartial and thorough disciplinary investigation is an elementary, non-negotiable requirement for the rule of law.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
31/12/2019 - Special report
- Equal Treatment - Special Report 2019

In 2019, the Greek Ombudsman recorded an increase of 31% -in comparison to 2018- in citizens' reports on issues of equal treatment by public bodies and individuals. This has been the largest increase since 2016 - when the Independent Authority was entrusted with the relevant responsibility.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
31/12/2019 - Special report
- Special Report 2019 on Returns of Third Country Nationals

The decrease in forced returns and the increase in administrative detention in the year 2019 was highlighted by the Greek Ombudsman in his special report on returns of third country nationals. The Greek Ombudsman, in the capacity of the National Mechanism for monitoring forced returns on the basis of EU law, confirms a trend of disproportionate increase in administrative detention in the recent years and expects a further increase due to the legislative amendments in 2019. Also, in 2019 the dysfunctions in asylum procedures continue to have a negative effect on the legal safety in relation to returns. The reduced number of returnees, the increase in administrative detention, the shortcomings in health and interpretation services, poor living conditions but also a certain improvement in organising returns, are some of the key findings in the monitoring conducted by the independent authority. The report focuses on the European developments for the enhanced role of FRONTEX in border protection and refers to the Greek Ombudsman’s initiative for networking with independent authorities in other member-states and the Council of Europe, aiming at achieving safeguards of independence in monitoring and enhancing transparency in the EU system of returns of third country nationals to their countries of origin.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
11/07/2019 - Special report
- Annual Report 2018 - Rights of Children on the Move

Annual Report 2018 - Rights of Children on the Move
From: The Greek Ombudsman
25/02/2019 - Special report
- Relocation Revisited The Greek Case

The Greek Ombudsman published a report on the EU Relocation Programme for asylum seekers, on the occasion of the Regional Board of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) meeting in Athens on February 20, 2019. An assessment of the EU emergency measure of relocating asylum seekers form Greece to other Member-states was assigned to the Ombudsman by the IOI European Regional Board. Mr. Andreas Pottakis, participating in the Board, presented the report in their meeting in Brussels in October 2018 and also sent it to the Greek Minister for Migration, Dimitris Vitsas.
From: The Greek Ombudsman
13/02/2019 - Press release
- Gender tax equality

The Greek Ombudsman welcomes the decision of the Ministry of Finance to establish the right of each of the spouses to file a separate tax return, if s/he so chooses, by submitting an irrevocable declaration each tax year up to February 28 of the year of filing the return (Article 59 (5) of Law 4583/2018). The procedure shall be implemented for the first time with regard to tax returns to be filed in the year 2019 (tax year 2018).
From: The Greek Ombudsman