Joint letter to:<\/p>\n
The Minister of Migration and Asylum, Notis Mitarachi<\/p>\n
The Alternate Minister of Migration and Asylum, Giorgos Koumoutsakos<\/p>\n
The European Commissioner for Values and Transparency, V\u011bra Jourov\u00e1<\/p>\n
The President of the Expert Council on NGO Law of the Council of Europe,\u00a0 Jeremy McBride<\/p>\n
The President of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe, Anna Rurka<\/p>\n
The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and\u00a0 of association, Cl\u00e9ment Nyaletsossi Voule<\/p>\n
The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Felipe Gonz\u00e1lez\u00a0 Morales<\/p>\n
The undersigned organisations welcome the \u2018Opinion on the Compatibility with European Standards of Recent and Planned Amendments to the Greek Legislation on NGO Registration\u2019 from the Expert Council on NGO Law of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe (hereafter Expert Council). (1)<\/p>\n
The organisations appreciate the efforts of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum to centralize the registration of organisations active in the field of international protection, migration, asylum, and social integration of third-country nationals, but endorse the recommendation that current legislation \u201cshould be substantially revised so that they are brought into line with European standards\u201d. (2)<\/p>\n
The Expert Council expressed their concern that the registration and certification procedure creates unnecessary and disproportional barriers to the work of NGOs and impedes freedom of association. (3)<\/p>\n
This could have a chilling effect on civil society and potentially 3 create a \u201cworrying humanitarian situation\u201d as organisations cover existing gaps in the provision of services, protection, health, and the monitoring of human rights.(4)<\/p>\n
These concerns 4 are not unfounded; a recent announcement by the Minister of Migration and Asylum made clear that after the registration process only 18 out of 44 organisations will be allowed to continue work inside government facilities until a final decision on their certification is given. (5)<\/p>\n
The first listing of NGOs that will receive a final decision on their certification, and are allowed to continue their work in government structures excludes a large number of organisations that provide essential services, including medical NGOs. (6)<\/p>\n
In order to continue work in government facilities, organisations that previously registered were obliged to re-register within two months after the publication of the legislation. (7) According to the Expert Council these requirements do not satisfy proportionality requirements for the restriction on the freedom of association.<\/p>\n
The low number of organisations that proceeded to the certification stage of the registration procedure reflects the Expert Council finding that the procedure is onerous, time-consuming and costly, especially for smaller NGOs.(8)<\/p>\n
In addition 8 the Expert Council warns there could be arbitrary decisions made based on the vagueness of criteria for certification and a lack of independence of the deciding body. (9)<\/p>\n
Both the Expert Council and the European Court of Justice recently emphasized that the work of NGOs is essential for a democratic state and a well-functioning pluralistic society and therefore there should be minimal limitations to their work. (10)<\/p>\n
The work of many organisations in Greece is essential in providing basic services including legal assistance, medical care, child protection, women\u2019s protection and empowerment, housing, support for unaccompanied children, (informal) education, employment counseling, job matching, Site Management Support, and provision of information, but are currently hampered by legislative requirements. (11)<\/p>\n
To ensure the well functioning of civil society in Greece NGOs should have been consulted about legislation regarding their work and the procedure for registration and certification should be made as simple as possible and in line with the right to the freedom of association. Therefore, we respectfully ask you: (12)<\/p>\n
1. Action for Education<\/p>\n
2. Action for Women<\/p>\n
3. ActionAid Hellas<\/p>\n
4. Advocates Abroad<\/p>\n
5. Afghan Community Migration & Refugees in Greece<\/p>\n
6. ARION-CETACEAN RESCUE AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH CENTER<\/p>\n
7. ARSIS \u2013 Association for the Social Support of Youth<\/p>\n
8. Bridge2<\/p>\n
9. Centre for Research on Women\u2019s Issues (CRWI) \u201cDiotima\u201d<\/p>\n
10. Changemakers Lab<\/p>\n
11. Danish Refugee Council (DRC)<\/p>\n
12. Donate4Refugees<\/p>\n
13. ECHO100PLUS<\/p>\n
14. ELIX<\/p>\n
15. Fenix – Humanitarian Legal Aid<\/p>\n
16. foodKIND<\/p>\n
17. Free Movement Skateboarding UK<\/p>\n
18. Greek Forum Of Migrants – \u0395\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03a6\u03cc\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc \u039c\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03ce\u03bd<\/p>\n
19. Greek Forum of Refugees<\/p>\n
20. Hellenic Liver Patient Association \u201cPrometheus\u201d<\/p>\n
21. Help Refugees<\/p>\n
22. HIGGS<\/p>\n
23. Humanity Now: Direct Refugee Relief<\/p>\n
24. HumanRights360<\/p>\n
25. Humans for Humans (The Imagine Project)<\/p>\n
26. I AM YOU Humanitarian Aid<\/p>\n
27. InCommOn AMKE<\/p>\n
28. Indigo Volunteers<\/p>\n
29. Intereuropean Human Aid Association<\/p>\n
30. INTERSOS Hellas<\/p>\n
31. InterVolve<\/p>\n
32. Jesuit Refugee Service Greece – JRS Greece<\/p>\n
33. La Luna Di Vasilika ONLUS<\/p>\n
34. Lesvos Solidarity<\/p>\n
35. Medical Volunteers International e.V.<\/p>\n
36. Melissa: Network of Migrant Women in Greece<\/p>\n
37. mellifera<\/p>\n
38. MERIMNA \u2013 Society for the care of children and families facing illness and death<\/p>\n
39. Mobile Info Team<\/p>\n
40. Network for Children\u2019s Rights<\/p>\n
41. Northern Lights Aid<\/p>\n
42. Office of Displaced Designers<\/p>\n
43. OMNES<\/p>\n
44. One Happy Family<\/p>\n
45. Project Armonia<\/p>\n
46. Refugee Legal Support (RLS)<\/p>\n
47. Refugee Rescue<\/p>\n
48. Refugee Rights Europe<\/p>\n
49. Refugee Trauma Initiative (RTI)<\/p>\n
50. Refugee Youth Service<\/p>\n
51. RefugeeEd<\/p>\n
52. Samos Volunteers<\/p>\n
53. ShowerPower Foundation<\/p>\n
54. Social Hacker A.M.K.E.<\/p>\n
55. SolidarityNow<\/p>\n
56. Still I Rise<\/p>\n
57. Terre des hommes Hellas<\/p>\n
58. Velos Youth<\/p>\n
59. Verein FAIR.<\/p>\n
60. Wave – Thessaloniki<\/p>\n
61. We Need Books<\/p>\n
62. Yoga and Sport For Refugees<\/p>\n
63. YouBeHero<\/p>\n
64. \u0392\u0399\u039f\u039a\u0391\u03a4\u0391\u039d\u0391\u039b\u03a9\u03a4\u0395\u03a3 \u0393\u0399\u0391 \u03a0\u039f\u0399\u039f\u03a4\u0399\u039a\u0397 \u0396\u03a9\u0397 (\u0392\u0399\u039f\u0396\u03a9)<\/p>\n
65. \u0398\u03ac\u03bb\u03b1\u03c3\u03c3\u03b1 \u0391\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bb\u03b5\u03b3\u03b3\u03cd\u03b7\u03c2- Thalassa of Solidarity<\/p>\n
66. \u039a\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u03c9\u03c6\u03b5\u03bb\u03ad\u03c2 \u03a3\u03c9\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u03af\u03bf \u0391\u03c1\u03c9\u03b3\u03ae\u03c2 \u0397\u03bb\u03b9\u03ba\u03b9\u03c9\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u0391\u03c4\u03cc\u03bc\u03c9\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5 \u0391\u03bd\u03b1\u03c0\u03b7\u03c1\u03af\u03b1-\u03a6\u03a1\u039f\u039d\u03a4\u0399\u0396\u03a9<\/p>\n
67. \u039cary Pini Director KESO – \u039c\u03b1\u03af\u03c1\u03b7 \u03a0\u03af\u03bd\u03b7 \u0394\u03b9\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u03cd\u03bd\u03c4\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1 \u039a\u0395\u03a3\u039f<\/p>\n
68. \u03a4\u03b5\u03c7\u03bd\u03bf\u03b4\u03c1\u03bf\u03bc\u03ce\/ArtActing<\/p>\n
69. 50\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u0395\u03bb\u03bb\u03ac\u03c2<\/p>\n
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n
1. Expert Council on NGO Law of the Conference INGOs of the Council of Europe (Expert Council) (2020), Opinion on the Compatibility with European Standards of Recent and Planned Amendments to the Greek Legislation on NGO Registration, CONF\/EXP(2020)4, 2 July.<\/p>\n
2. Expert Council, para 109.<\/p>\n
3. Expert Council, para 78.<\/p>\n
4. Expert Council, para 83-85 and 108.<\/p>\n
5. Mitarakis, N. \u201c18 \u039c\u03b7 \u039a\u03c5\u03b2\u03b5\u03c1\u03bd\u03b7\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ad\u03c2 \u039f\u03c1\u03b3\u03b1\u03bd\u03ce\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u03bf\u03cd\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03af\u03c9\u03bc\u03b1 \u03b5\u03b9\u03c3\u03cc\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c3\u03b5 \u039a\u03a5\u03a4 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b4\u03bf\u03bc\u03ad\u03c2 \u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03bf\u03be\u03b5\u03bd\u03af\u03b1\u03c2\u201d (17 June 2020).<\/p>\n
6. Listing has been shared with the NGOs that can continue to be active in the structures.<\/p>\n
7. Article 9(1) of Ministerial Decision 3036\/2020.<\/p>\n
8. Expert Council, 54 and 58.<\/p>\n
9. Expert Council, para 70-72.<\/p>\n
10. Expert Council para, 8 and European Court of Justice (ECJ) (2020) Judgment Commission v Hungary (Grand Chamber), ruling of 18 June 2020, Case C-78\/18, para 110-114 and Expert Council para 8.<\/p>\n
11. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) (2020) Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants: Right to the Freedom of association of migrants and their defenders, UN Doc A\/HRC\/44\/42 13 May, para 83 and Expert Council, para 4 and 8.<\/p>\n
12. OSCE\u2019s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) (2014) Guidelines on the Freedom of Association, 14 December, para 156 and Expert Council, para 60.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The certification process of NGOs in Greece should be aligned with the right to freedom of association.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":10724,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[867],"tags":[1178],"class_list":["post-10391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-releases","tag-refugee-issues"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/diotima.org.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/diotima.org.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/diotima.org.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diotima.org.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diotima.org.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10391"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/diotima.org.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10391\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32220,"href":"https:\/\/diotima.org.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10391\/revisions\/32220"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diotima.org.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/diotima.org.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diotima.org.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diotima.org.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}