Country

Greece

Detention issue

Legal assistance

FRA research findings

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Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
Penitentiary CodeDetainees who reside in Greek prison facilities generally have the right to make requests and complaints both orally and in written form to various administrative and judicial national and international competent authorities. The prison facility public prosecutor, who is a kind of “judge for the execution of sentences”, is competent for legal counselling, independently of the prisoners’ financial status. Moreover, prisoners with are financially weak can apply for free legal aid.
Law 4228/2014 Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by the United Nations General Assembly (Κύρωση του Προαιρετικού Πρωτοκόλλου στη Σύμβαση κατά των βασανιστηρίων και άλλων μορφών σκληρής, απάνθρωπης ή ταπεινωτικής μεταχείρισης ή τιμωρίας τηςΓενικής Συνέλευσης των Ηνωμένων Εθνών)Detainees can also appeal to the Independent authority of the Greek Ombudsman, who, under Article 2 of Law 4228/2014209, has been designated as National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which was ratified by the abovementioned law.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report