At a glance

The situation of refugees and asylum seekers stranded in Greece has continued to worsen over the years. They face violence and pushbacks at the borders or upon arrival in Greece, they are detained or live in dangerous and unsanitary conditions in overcrowded camps. Many among the refugees are particularly vulnerable to violence by State officials and non-state actors. This is the case for unaccompanied children, women and LGBTIQ people. There are other problems when it comes to Greece's compliance with the Convention against Torture, including the incompatible definition of torture in the new Penal Code of 2019 and the lack of implementation of legal safeguards in the country. In July 2019, the OMCT, together with its Network member Greek Helsinki Monitor and other NGO partners, submitted an alternative report on Greece to the Committee against Torture, highlighting these problems.