BackThe Greek Ombudsman calls for immediate and drastic measures against racist violence. The pronounced surge in racist violence, the impunity the perpetrators enjoy, and the overall negligence of the state authorities in charge of such matters undermine social cohesion and the foundations of the rule of law.
These are the points the Greek Ombudsman emphasized in a special report which records the racist violence phenomenon from January 2012 to April 2013 and highlights the rapid escalation in the intensity and number of attacks throughout 2012, especially following the national elections.
The report includes the findings of the Ombudsman after the Independent Authority’s thorough probe into complaints submitted to the Greek Ombudsman during a 16-month period (January 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013), a probe which was combined with a study on the phenomenon’s characteristics as those ensue from the grouping of racist violence incidents recorded during that same time period by the Hellenic Police, the Press, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
The report also takes into account the pertinent reports by international organizations and the proposals made by political bodies in response to a relevant invitation by the Greek Ombudsman. It further evaluates the Police administration’s approach in combating racism and xenophobia and – in a special chapter – records the manifestation of the phenomenon in schools and the manner in which the school administration has responded to it.
The findings and the conclusions, together with the recommendations and proposals of the independent authority included in the present report aspire at providing the State with institutional safeguards so that it may effectively combat the deplorable phenomena of racist violence, phenomena which, regrettably, have been escalating both in number as well as in the intensity of the violence exercised, thus breaching social cohesion and peace and undermining the principle of equal human value and the foundations of the rule of law itself.
To read the English summary of the special report on the phenomenon of racist violence in Greece and how it is combated, please visit the website of the Greek Ombudsman.
Source: Office of the Greek Ombudsman
