Open Letter by 256 Organizations

To:

Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis

President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli

President of the European Council, Charles Michel

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen

Athens, 6 March 2020 – The undersigned organisations are deeply concerned about recent developments at the Evros border and the Aegean islands where people are stranded at the borders of Europe, instrumentalized for political purposes, and subject to violations of their rights. We are also deeply concerned about the way the authorities of Greece and the European Union are handling new arrivals. Equally alarming are the extreme actions by security forces against refugees and by civilians against staff of human rights and humanitarian organizations. We would also like to point out that the climate of panic and rhetoric of ‘asymmetric threat’ –also promoted by the authorities– does not reflect reality and seriously affects not only vulnerable refugees- but also our society and the rule of law as a whole.

Specifically:

We firmly express our opposition to the recent decisions of the Greek Governmental Council on Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA), and in particular the adoption of the Emergency Legislative Decree, which stipulates the suspension of the right to seek asylum for all people entering the country and their return without registration, to their countries of origin or transit. Applying such a regulatory provision is inhumane and illegal as it violates the fundamental principle of non-refoulement, incurs international responsibilities for Greece and endangers human lives. It is beyond dispute that Greece has the sovereign competence to control its borders and to manage any crossings there. Nevertheless, the right to seek asylum is a fundamental human right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

We also denounce the attacks on organizations that defend human rights and humanitarian organizations, noting that without the support of these organizations, the refugee management system in Greece would collapse. In addition, solidarity has been stigmatized and become the target of suspicion, which has been also exacerbated by members of the Government, fomenting violence and lawlessness in society in general. We denounce any statements, actions or policies that foment or tolerate bigotry.

We call upon the Greek Government to:

• Withdraw the illegal and unconstitutional Emergency Legislative Decree and to respect the obligations of the Greek State concerning the protection of human life and rescue at sea and at the land borders.

• Immediately stop returning people to states where their lives and freedom are at risk, or where they are at risk of being subjected to torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

• Immediately alleviate overcrowding on the islands by relocating asylum seekers to the mainland, protecting their well-being and health. Priority should be given to the most vulnerable, unaccompanied minors and families with children.

• Take the necessary measures to protect every person from acts of violence, victimization and racism.

We recall that the EU should assume substantial responsibilities for the protection of people on the move in a manner that demonstrates respect for human dignity and lawfulness and as a matter of shared responsibility among EU member states in the context of managing what is, first and foremost, a European issue. The right to asylum and the respect for the principle of non-refoulement are fundamental elements of international and EU law and therefore the authorities of the European Union must take the necessary measures for their protection.

Therefore:

• The European Commission, as the guardian of the Treaties, should protect the right to asylum as enshrined in EU law. Therefore, it should reverse the “aspida (shield)” rhetoric used by Greece and urge it to assume its legal obligations.
• EU Member States should re-establish immediately the mechanisms for the relocation of refugees and asylum seekers from Greece to other Member States, in a fair and rational manner, with priority given to unaccompanied children. EU Member States should increase resettlement of refugees directly from Turkey.
• EU Member States and institutions should revise the EU-Turkey Statement, which –in addition to legal lacunae– has now proven to be an unpredictable and unsustainable political tool for border management.

In closing, we call on all sides to respect the law and safeguard European democratic values. Any further backsliding will have major consequences on European societies, European democracy and the rule of law.

List of Signatories

• A BUON DIRITTO (ITALY)
• ACT ALLIANCE EU (BELGIUM)
• ACCIÓN POLITEIA (SPAIN)
• ACTIONAID HELLAS
• ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL
• ACTIONAID ITALIA
• ACTION FOR EDUCATION (GREECE)
• ADDART (GREECE)
• A DROP IN THE OCEAN (DRÅPEN I HAVET)
• AED EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS (GERMANY)
• AFGHAN HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION (UK)
• AIDOS – ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA DONNE PER LO SVILUPPO (ITALY)
• ΑΙΤΙΜΑ (GREECE)
• ALLIANCE FOR AFRICAN ASSISTANCE (ITALY)
• AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
• AMURT-AMURTEL HELLAS
• ANASA CULTURAL CENTER (GREECE)
• ANTIGONE (GREECE)
• ANTI-TRAFFICKING AND LABOUR EXPLOITATION UNIT (ATLEU) (UK)
• AOI, ASSOCIATION OF ITALIAN NGO’S FOR COOPERATION AND SOLIDARITY
• ARSIS – ASSOCIATION FOR THE SUPPORT OF YOUTH (GREECE)
• ASGI ASSOCIAZIONE PER GLI STUDI GIURIDICI SULL’IMMIGRAZIONE (ITALY)
• ASINITAS, ROMA (INTERCULTURAL CENTERS) (ITALY)
• ASSOCIATION DE SOUTIEN AUX TRAVAILLEURS IMMIGRES – ASTI ASBL (LUXEMBOURG)
• ASSOCIATION FOR INTEGRATION AND MIGRATION (CZECH REPUBLIC)
• ASSOCIATION FOR LEGAL INTERVENTION (POLAND)
• ASOCIACIÓN POR TI MUJER (SPAIN)
• ASVIS (ITALIAN ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT)
• ASYLOS (UK)
• ATTIKA HUMAN SUPPORT
• AVOCATS SANS FRONTIÈRES
• BABEL DAY CENTER (GREECE)
• BAOBAB EXPERIENCE (ITALY)
• BORDER CRIMINOLOGIES-OXFORD UNIVERSITY (UK)
• BORDERLINE-EUROPE HUMAN RIGHTS WITHOUT BORDERS (GERMANY)
• BRIGHTON MIGRANT SOLIDARITY (UK)
• CARE DEUTSCHLAND E.V.
• CARITAS HELLAS
• CCM – COMITATO COLLABORAZIONE MEDICA (ITALY)
• CENTER FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND FREEDOM (CEPS) (MONTENEGRO)
• CENTRAL ASYLUM YORKSHIRE
• CENTRE DIOTIMA (GREECE)
• CENTRE FOR PEACE STUDIES (CENTAR ZA MIROVNE STUDIJE) (CROATIA)
• CENTRE FOR TRAUMA, ASYLUM AND REFUGEES, UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX (UK)
• CESIE (ITALY)
• CESSMIR, UNIVERSITY OF GHENT (BELGIUM)
• CHANGE MAKERS LAB (GREECE)
• CHEER INTERNATIONAL GROUP (CHEERING) (GREECE)
• CHILD AND YOUTH CARE ASSOCIATION (SMAN) (GREECE)
• CIRÉ (COORDINATION ET INITIATIVES POUR REFUGIES ET ÉTRANGERS) (BELGIUM)
• COLLECTIVE AID (SERBIA)
• COMHLÁMH (IRELAND)
• CONCORD ITALIA
• COORDINADORA DE ORGANIZACIONES PARA EL DESAROLLO (SPAIN)
• COSPE ONLUS (ITALY)
• CZECHIA AGAINST POVERTY AND INEQUALITY
• DANISH REFUGEE COUNCIL (DRC)
• DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL GREECE
• DIRTY GIRLS (ΕΛΛΑΔΑ)
• DONATE4REFUGEES
• DUTCH COUNCIL FOR REFUGEES (DCR)
• DUTCH LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (NETHERLANDS)
• ECHO100PLUS (GREECE)
• ECOLOGICAL MOVEMENT OF THESSALONIKI (GREECE)
• EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION (GREECE)
• ELIX (GREECE)
• ELPIDA HOME
• END FGM EUROPEAN NETWORK
• EPAPSY (GREECE)
• EQUAL RIGHTS BEYOND BORDERS (GREECE)
• EQUAL SOCIETY (GREECE)
• EUROPEAN ANTIPOVERTY NETWORK (EAPN)
• EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON REFUGEES AND EXILES (ECRE)
• EVERY CHILD PROTECTED AGAINST TRAFFICKING (ECPAT)
• FEDERAZIONE DEGLI ORGANISMI CHRISTIANI SERVIZIO INTERNATIONALE VOLONTARIO (ITALY)
• FENIX HUMANITARIAN LEGAL AID
• FIX IN ART (GREECE)
• FORENSIC ARCHITECTURE (GREECE)
• FREEDOM FROM TORTURE (UK)
• FREE MOVEMENT SKATEBOARDING (UK)
• FUNDACION CEPAIM (SPAIN)
• GAASBEEK EN GAASBEEK ADVOCATEN (NETHERLANDS)
• GATWICK DETAINEES WELFARE GROUP
• GCAP EUROPE (BELGIUM)
• GCAP HELLAS
• GCAP ITALIA
• GENERATION 2.0 RED (GREECE)
• GERMAN NGO FORUM ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
• GLOCAL ROOTS (SWITZERLAND)
• GREATER MANCHESTER IMMIGRATION AID UNIT (GMIAU)
• GREEK COUNCIL FOR REFUGEES (GCR)
• GREEK FORUM OF MIGRANTS
• GREEK FORUM OF REFUGEES
• GREEK NETWORK FOR THE RIGHT TO SHELTER AND HOUSING
• HARINGEY MIGRANT SUPPORT CENTRE (HMSC)
• HELLENIC ANTIPOVERTY NETWORK
• HELLENIC LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (HLHR)
• HELLENIC PLATFORM FOR DEVELOPMENT
• HELLO MY FRIEND
• HELP REFUGEES / CHOOSE LOVE
• HERTS FOR REFUGEES (UK)
• ΗΙΑS GREECE
• HIGGS (GREECE)
• HUMANITY NOW (USA)
• HUMANRIGHTS360 (GREECE)
• HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
• HUBB – HUMANS BEFORE BORDERS (PORTUGAL)
• I AM YOU HUMANITARIAN AID (SWEDEN)
• ILIAKTIDA AMKE (GREECE)
• IMMIGRANT COUNCIL OF IRELAND
• INDIGO VOLUNTEERS (UK)
• INITIATIVE FOR THE DETAINEES’ RIGHTS (GREECE)
• INSTITUTE OF RACE RELATIONS (UK)
• INTELEKTUALET E RINJ, SHPRESE (IRSH) (ALBANIA)
• INTER ALIA (GREECE)
• INTEREUROPEAN HUMAN AID ASSOCIATION GERMANY E.V.
• INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR ERITREAN REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS – ICERAS
• INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION – EUROPEAN NETWORK (IPPF EN) (BELGIUM)
• INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMMITTEE (IRC)
• INTERSOS HELLAS
• INTERSOS ORGANIZZAZIONE UMANITARIA ONLUS (ITALY)
• INTERVOLVE (GREECE)
• IRIDA WOMEN’ S CENTER (GREECE)
• IRISH ANTIPOVERTY NETWORK
• ISLAMIC HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
• ITALIAN COUNCIL FOR REFUGEES
• JOINT COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF IMMIGRANTS (JCWI) (UK)
• JRS PORTUGAL
• JRS GREECE
• JUSTRIGHT SCOTLAND
• KHORA COMMUNITY CENTRE (GREECE)
• KITRINOS HEALTH CARE (GREECE)
• L’AUBERGE DES MIGRANTS (FRANCE)
• LAW CENTRES NETWORK (UK)
• LEEDS NO BORDERS (UK)
• LEGAL CENTRE LESVOS (GREECE)
• LEGAL SECTOR WORKERS UNION (LSWU) (UK)
• LEROS SOLIDARITY NETWORK (GREECE)
• LESVOS SOLIDARITY (GREECE)
• LIGHTHOUSE RELIEF (LHR)
• LIVERPOOL LAW CLINIC (LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY) (UK)
• MASS ACTION
• MEDICAL AID FOR REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PEOPLE (MARDI)
• MED.IN MEDICAL INTERVENTION (GREECE)
• MEDECINS DU MONDE – GREECE (MDM – GREECE)
• MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES – GREECE (MSF – GREECE)
• MELISSA NETWORK (GREECE)
• ΜΕΤΑDRASI (GREECE)
• METHORIA LAST RIGHTS (GREECE)
• MIDDLESBOROUGH DIOCESE JUSTICE AND PEACE COMMISSION
• MIGRANT’S RIGHTS NETWORK (UK)
• MIGRANT VOICE (UK)
• MIGRATION MOBILITIES BRISTOL (UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL)
• MISSION LIFELINE E.V. (GERMANY)
• MOBILE INFO TEAM (GREECE)
• MOVEMENT ON THE GROUND (THE NETHERLANDS)
• NETWORK FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS (GREECE)
• NETWORK FOR THE SOCIAL SUPPORT OF REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS (GREECE)
• NETWORK ITALIANO SALUTE GLOBALE
• ODYSSEA (GREECE)
• OFFICE OF DISPLACED DESIGNERS (ΕΛΛΑΔΑ)
• OMANIAE VZW ORGANISATIE (BELGIUM)
• OMNES (GREECE)
• ONE HAPPY FAMILY (GREECE)
• ONE PUMP COURT (UK)
• ORGANIZATION EARTH (GREECE)
• OXFAM
• OXFORD AGAINST IMMIGRATION DETENTION (UK)
• OXFORD MIGRANT SOLIDARITY
• PAMPIRAIKI SUPPORT INITIATIVE FOR REFUGEES & MIGRANTS (GREECE)
• PAR – PLATFORMA DE APOIO AOS REFUGIADOS (PORTUGAL)
• PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL (BELGIUM)
• PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (FINLAND)
• PLATFORM FOR INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION ON UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS (PICUM)
• POSITIVE ACTION IN HOUSING
• POVORD INSTITUTE (SLOVENIA)
• PRAKSIS (GREECE)
• PRAXIS COMMUNITY PROJECTS (UK)
• PROJECT ARMONIA (GREECE/SWITZERLAND)
• PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTRE (PILC) (UK)
• QUAKER ASYLUM AND REFUGEE NETWORK (QARN)
• RAV REPUBLICAN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (GERMANY)
• RED ACOGE (SPAIN)
• REFOCUS MEDIA LABS
• REFUGEE AID SERBIA (SERBIA)
• REFUGEE BIRIYANI AND BANANAS (UK)
• REFUGEE COUNCIL (UK)
• REFUGEEED
• REFUGEE FOUNDATION (SERBIA)
• REFUGEE INFO BUS (FRANCE AND GREECE)
• REFUGEE LEGAL SUPPORT (RLS)
• REFUGEE RESCUE (UK)
• REFUGEE RIGHTS EUROPE (RRE)
• REFUGEE SUPPORT AEGEAN (RSA)
• REFUGEE SUPPORT EUROPE
• REFUGEE WOMEN’S CENTRE (FRANCE)
• REFUGEE YOUTH SERVICE (GREECE/UK)
• RIGHT TO REMAIN (UK)
• ROOM FOR REFUGEES (UK)
• RTI HELLAS
• SAFE PASSAGE INTERNATIONAL
• SAMOS VOLUNTEERS (GREECE)
• SANTE REFUGEE MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS PROJECT
• SAO ASSOCIATION FOR DISPLACED WOMEN (SWITZERLAND)
• SAVE THE CHILDREN
• SCI HELLAS
• SCOTTISH REFUGEE COUNCIL
• SEEBRÜCKE
• SHOWER POWER FOUNDATION (GREECE)
• SLOVENE PHILANTHROPY
• SOAS DETAINEE SUPPORT (UK)
• SOCIAL HACKERS ACADEMY – SOCIAL HACKER A.M.K.E.
• SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (SID)
• SOLIDARITY4ALL (GREECE)
• SOLIDARITYNOW
• SOS RACISMO (SPAIN)
• SOUTH YORKSHIRE MIGRATION AND ASYLUM ACTION GROUP (SYMAAG)
• STATE OF CONCEPT
• STATEWATCH (UK)
• STILL I RISE (GREECE)
• STIL-UTRECHT (THE NETHERLANDS)
• SÜDWIND (AUSTRIA)
• SWINDON CITY OF SANCTUARY
• SXEDIA STIN POLI (GREECE)
• SYMBIOSIS SCHOOL OF POLITICAL STUDIES (GREECE)
• SYMBOLO – ROMA NORDOVEST PER LA SINISTRA (ITALY)
• SYNDICAT INTERPROFESSIONNEL DE TRAVAILLEUSES ET TRAVAILLEURS (SIT) (SWITZERLAND)
• TEXNODROMO (GREECE)
• TERRE DES HOMMES HELLAS
• THALASSA OF SOLIDARITY (GREECE)
• THE BALKAN FORUM (KOSOVO)
• THE BRIGHTON TRUST (UK)
• THE DAY OF THE ENDANGERED LAWYER FOUNDATION (NETHERLANDS)
• THE HOME PROJECT (GREECE)
• THE INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT (IRAP) (USA)
• THE LAVA PROJECT (GREECE)
• THE SUSSEX REFUGEE AND MIGRANT SELF SUPPORT GROUP
• THE INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT (IRAP) (USA)
• THE ROUTES OF THE OLIVE TREE (GREECE)
• THESSALONIKI PRIDE (GREECE)
• ΤHESS DICTIO – VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS’ NETWORK OF THESSALONIKI (GREECE)
• THOUSAND 4 1000 (UK)
• TOGETHER FOR BETTER DAYS (GREECE)
• TO MOV (GREECE)
• TRP SOLICITORS (UK)
• TRANSGENDER SUPPORT ASSOCIATION (GREECE)
• UNITED AGAINST INHUMANITY – UAI
• UTOPIA 56 (FRANCE)
• VELOS YOUTH (GREECE)
• VEREIN FAIR (SWITZERLAND)
• VICTORIA SQUARE PROJECT
• VIRGO SOLICITORS
• VLUCHTELINGEN ONDERSTEUNING SINT-NIKLAAS (BELGIUM)
• WESLEY GRYK SOLICITORS
• WORLD WITHOUT WARS AND VIOLENCE (GREECE)
• YOUNG ROOTS
• ZA’ATAR NGO (GREECE)

Refugee Camps Have Reached Breaking Point

Athens, March 4, 2020 – European Union (EU) Member States should urgently relocate unaccompanied children from the Greek islands to safety in their territory, while ensuring that the children’s best interests are taken into account, 65 human rights, humanitarian and civil society organizations said in a statement today. The groups warned of widespread violations of children’s rights and threats to their health and safety across the Aegean islands’ refugee hotspots. Action is all the more urgent in light of the escalating violence on Lesbos and as increased arrivals to the islands could lead to further deterioration of the dangerous conditions in the camps.

“The EU Hotspots on the Aegean islands are entirely unsuitable and in some cases life-threatening places for unaccompanied children,” said Stephanie Pope, EU policy and advocacy manager at Refugee Rights Europe. “Each EU state only needs to accept a small number of unaccompanied children to end the intolerable situation these children are in. We believe the EU can do better.”

Over 1,800 unaccompanied children are struggling to survive on the Greek islands, the groups said. Children are deprived of  their fundamental rights, such as access to shelter, water, food, medical, and psychosocial – mental health – care, as well as education. They are exposed to inhuman and degrading living conditions. Many children cannot secure a place in specialized accommodations for unaccompanied children because of lack of space, and are forced to face unsanitary and dangerous conditions, with many sleeping outdoors.

“Unaccompanied migrant children are some of the most vulnerable people in the world,” said Eva Cossé, Greece researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Yet lone children on the Greek islands are being deprived of the most basic necessities of life and living in inhuman conditions.” 

“Unaccompanied children stuck on the Greek islands must be urgently assisted. Exposed to multiple dangers, many are forced to sleep out in the open, without essential support to alleviate their suffering or uphold their rights. All the children must be protected. Those with family in other parts of Europe must be reunited with them. This can happen through existing reunification channels or new bilateral agreements between Member States and Greece,” added Dimitra Kalogeropoulou, Head of Office, IRC Greece.

Psychologists working with unaccompanied children on Lesbos have told the media that an increasing number of children are harming themselves and attempting suicide. Unaccompanied children interviewed by one of the groups reported anxiety, depression, recurrent headaches, and insomnia.

“In the absence of adequate protection measures, the unaccompanied children living on the Greek islands remain exposed to various forms of exploitation,” said Elina Sarantou, program coordinator, HIAS Greece. “Each additional day, each additional hour that these children remain in these conditions, means they are suffering additional exploitation and abuse.”

There are hardly any guardians for these children, as required under Greek law, further exacerbating the situation. A guardianship program spearheaded by the non-governmental organization METAdrasi ended in 2019 because funding ran out.

“Hundreds of children are stuck in a dangerous limbo,” said Lefteris Papagiannakis, head of advocacy, policy and research at Solidarity Now. “A child under 15 needs consent from a guardian to access legal support. But many children have no guardian, and no way to get the help they need. Many are trapped in terrifying conditions, unable to apply to reunite with family in other countries.”

Delays in the registration process, and the lack of representation and legal support for unaccompanied children in the hotspots, undermine their ability to reunite with family members in other EU countries. A three-month deadline for the submission of a family reunification request is often unmet because unaccompanied children are not identified during that period.

“Conditions on the Greek islands are overcrowded and inhumane,” said Giulia Cicoli, project coordinator at Still I Rise. “The camps have capacity for just over 6,000. Yet over 38,600 people are crowded into and around them. They are no place for a child.” 

EU countries should share responsibility and relocate unaccompanied children out of Greece while ensuring that their best interests are taken into account, and faciliate family reunification. Relocating unaccompanied children would contribute to securing durable solutions for them.

“There are empty spaces for unaccompanied children in other EU countries, with families waiting to be reunited with many of these children,” said Lora Pappa, founder and president of METAdrasi. “Many of these children might one day be European citizens, so we should inspire them from the outset with our core European values.”

EU countries should take into account the humanitarian emergency on the Greek islands when it comes to deadlines for submitting family reunification requests, say the organisations. For children who missed the deadline, they should make use of the “discretionary clause” of the Dublin III Regulation, that determines which EU Member State is responsible for the examination of an application for asylum.

“It is a disgrace to humanity and a stain on the conscience of Europe that vulnerable children are left sleeping rough in a living hell,” said Josie Naughton, CEO of Help Refugees. “This is absolutely within our power to change. We must find it in our hearts to act now.”

To read the full statement, please visit

Organizations Signing the Statement:

• 100Million
• ADP Amici dei Popoli
• Better Days
• Boat Refugee Foundation
• Caritas Europa
• Child Circle
• Concord Italia
• COP Piemonte
• COSPE Onlus
• CVCS
• Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
• Defence for Children International Greece
• Defence for Children International Italia
• Defence for Children International
• Defence for Children the Netherlands
• Défense des Enfants International – Belgique | Defence for Children International – Belgium
• Destination Unknown
• Diaconia ECCB – Center of Relief and Development
• Dynamo International – Street Workers Network
• Eurochild
• FENIX Humanitarian Legal Aid
• FOCSIV (partner of the project Faces of Migration)
• Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) Europe
• Greek Council for Refugees (GCR)
• Help Refugees
• HIAS Greece
• Human Rights Watch
• Immigrant Council of Ireland
• International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) Europe
• International Rescue Committee
• Khora Legal
• Kopin
• Legal Centre Lesvos
• Lesvos Solidarity
• Lighthouse Relief (LHR)
• MAIS
• Médecins Sans Frontières
• METAdrasi
• Missing Children Europe
• Mobile Info Team
• Moviment Graffitti
• Network for Children’s Rights (Greece)
• Office of the Dean, Faculty for Education University of Malta
• One Happy Family
• Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU)
• Organization Mondiale pour l’Éducation Préscolaire/ World Organization for Early Childhood Education
• Oxfam
• PAX
• RE.TE Ong – Associazione di tecnici per la solidarietà e la cooperazione internazionale
• Refugee Legal Support (UK)
• Refugee Rescue
• Refugee Rights Europe
• Safe Passage International
• Save the Children
• SB OverSeas
• Solidarity Now
• Spark 15
• Stichting Vluchteling
• Still I Rise
• Studenti Ħarsien Soċjali
• Tampep Onlus
• Terre des Hommes Greece
• Terre des Hommes International Federation
• Velos Youth
• WeWorld Onlus

Background Information

The situation on the islands has grown more acute due to a spike in arrivals since July 2019, leading to extreme overcrowding in the hotspots. The situation is compounded by the Greek authorities’ containment policy to carry out the  EU-Turkey Statement, intended to return unsuccessful asylum seekers to Turkey. This has led to perpetual overcrowding on the islands.

On November 24, Greece’s prime minister announced a plan, No Child Alone, to protect unaccompanied children, including by creating more shelters. In keeping with the plan’s spirit, Greek authorities should urgently ensure that children have access to safe, humane accommodation where they can receive care, education, counseling, legal aid, guardianship, and other essential services, the groups said.

In October, Greece’s citizen protection minister, Michalis Chrisochoidis, sent a letter to all other European Union governments asking them to share responsibility by voluntarily relocating a total of  2,500 unaccompanied children from Greece. On November 6, he told the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties that only one country had responded.