UN Committee against Torture, Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of Greece, CAT/C/GRC/CO/7, 3-09-2019

Country

Greece

Title

UN Committee against Torture, Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of Greece, CAT/C/GRC/CO/7, 3-09-2019

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Year

2019

Type of publication

Report

Geographical coverage

National

Area/location of interest

Not applicable - national level

Type of Institution

UN body

Institution

UN/Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights/Committee against Torture

Main Thematic Focus

Discrimination Ethnic profiling Hate crime Racism & xenophobia

Target Population

Ethnic minorities Migrants Refugees & asylum seekers Roma LGBTI

Key findings

In its Concluding Observations on Greece's seventh periodic Report, the CAT stated that while acknowledging the legislative and other measures taken by Greece to tackle hate crime, it is concerned by reports it has received reflecting an increase in the incidence of racist and xenophobic violence, especially against refugees, migrants and members of the Roma community, and a significant rise in the number of incidents where law enforcement officials have been the perpetrators or have otherwise been involved. The Committee stated that it is also concerned at reports of widespread impunity for such crimes. The Committee concluded that Greece should:
(a) Systematically investigate all forms of hate crime, including violent acts, prosecute perpetrators and, if they are found guilty, convict and punish them;
(b) Provide training on hate crime to law enforcement officials and the judiciary in order to improve their initial handling of hate crime reports and the subsequent investigation and prosecution of such crime.

Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)

The working methods for the preparation of the CAT reports involve documentary analyses, a visit to the country concerned, confidential dialogue with the national authorities and requesting reports from NGOs and human rights related national bodies.

Sample details and representativeness

The reports of the UNCAT are analyses based on a great deal of information gathered from the country itself and the reports of NGOs and human rights related national bodies.

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.