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Self Report 2019

The self-report on WHS Commitments below is organized according to the 24 transformations of the Agenda for Humanity. It is based on commitments pledged at the time of report submission. Click on the 'Expand' symbol to expand each section and read the reporting inputs by transformation.

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  • 1D
    Develop solutions with and for people

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Greece supports religious and cultural pluralism in the Middle East, necessary to achieve peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding. It will step up its initiatives in promoting inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue, in view of promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms of religious and cultural communities in the region.
    • Advocacy
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    In 2018, Greece initiated inter-ministerial consultations on the development of a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), in order to coherently incorporate the fundamental principles and priorities of the UNSC Resolution 1325/2000 into its national policy. The National Action Plan on WPS is currently in the drafting process, which is inclusive and participatory, involving all competent public institutions, national human rights mechanisms and academia as well as substantial consultation with civil society.

    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    3. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Good coordination at national level.

  • 2A
    Respect and protect civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities

    Individual Commitments (4)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Greece will closely cooperate both with UNESCO and civil society organizations in order to implement the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, trace all existing trends on the topic and adjust its strategic approach towards greater efficiency and accountability.
    • Partnership
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • Greece will continue to actively promote measures to prevent civilians, women and especially children and detainees, as well as humanitarian and healthcare personnel, journalists, patients and medical facilities from being targeted in conflicts. An educational program for journalists reporting from conflict areas, to be implemented by the Ministry of Defense, in cooperation with the UN, is expected to commence, most probably, by the end of 2016.
    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    • Greece will continue to promote international co-operation for safeguarding cultural heritage in times of war and humanitarian emergencies, as well as to promote synergies between monitoring committees, both currently under Greek Chairmanship, of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the fighting against illicit trafficking of cultural property and the 2nd Protocol to the 1954 Convention on the protection of cultural property in event of armed conflict. Attaching particular importance to the issue of vulnerability of cultural property in times of crises and taking into consideration the rights of the countries of origin, Greece commits to step up our efforts in supporting all actions in order to combat trafficking of cultural property and promote return of illegally removed property.


    • Advocacy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • In the context of the national initiative regarding the safety of journalists, crystallized in a series of respective pioneering resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly (GA Res.68/163, 69/185 and 70/162) and the Human Rights Council (HRC Res.27/5), Greece will continue to effectively promote and protect the human rights of journalists and media workers as wells as raise awareness on crimes perpetrated against them.
    • Advocacy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Greece, as a strong supporter of the Intergovernmental Process on Strengthening Compliance with International Humanitarian Law ( IHL), based on Resolution 2 of the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, has actively participated in all meetings held within this Process.

    In addition, Greece supports initiatives at the international and regional level which are aimed at the promotion and dissemination of IHL. In this context, Greece participated in a Regional IHL Conference for States  in Central  and South-Eastern Europe, organized in Bucharest, in March 2018, by the Romanian National IHL Commission and the ICRC, for the purpose of discussing IHL issues of common concern and fostering peer-to-peer cooperation.

    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Adherence to standards and/or humanitarian principles
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    Keywords

    IHL compliance and accountability

  • 2E
    Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity

    Joint Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Greece has actively supported and will continue to support the joint Swiss-ICRC initiative for strengthening compliance with international humanitarian law and will, therefore, participate in good faith in the next phase of the process aimed at the creation of a regular forum of dialogue among States on issues of international humanitarian law.


    • Partnership
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Partners: Switzerland, ICRC

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Greece commits to continue promoting universal adherence to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
    • Policy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    At the 37th Session of the Human Rights Council of UN (March 2018), Greece along with a core group of countries namely Brazil, China, Russian Federation, Cyprus, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Lebanon, Morocco, Congo successfully submitted its initiative, that is to say the Resolution A/HRC/RES/37/18 “Promoting human Rights through sports and the Olympic ideal”.

    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Adherence to standards and/or humanitarian principles
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    • Strengthening national/local systems

  • 3B
    Address the vulnerabilities of migrants and provide more regular and lawful opportunities for migration

    Individual Commitments (5)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Greece has adopted the necessary legal framework for the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement of 18 March 2016, while fully abiding by its obligations regarding the respect of human rights and relevant international and EU law.


    • Policy
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Greece attaches particular importance to the integration of refugees and migrants. The Greek strategy on integration of migrants and refugees has been mainstreamed in all policy sectors of the country. Greece commits to continue working towards the access for the migrants and refugees to the labor market, social security services and the health system, as well as access of migrant children to the national education system, language courses for all migrants and the promotion of intercultural/interreligious dialogue, despite the high unemployment rate, which plagues the country and hinders even more the access of these people to the labor market.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Greece has endeavored actively in the education of migrant children and young people since the 1990s, through the operation of intercultural schools. Greece commits to continue with further plans for addressing the particularities in offering education opportunities to children of migrant backgrounds and the implementation of selected measures and politics throughout the territory.


    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Greece will work both at the regional and international level in order to achieve a concrete outcome at the upcoming High Level meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants (New York, 19 September 2016).


    • Policy
    • Leave No One Behind
    • In line with an already adopted policy, Greece will continue providing support to local communities within the country who are dealing with the migration crisis, especially in the field of infrastructure and coordination with civil society's actions.
    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Among the measures which are currently implemented:

    • Increase the effectiveness of the investigation of racist crimes;
    • Data collection with regard to racism has significantly improved and is expected to further improve;
    • An “Agreement on inter-agency cooperation on addressing racist crimes in Greece” was signed on 6 June 2018, facilitated by OSCE/ODIHR;
    • The National Council against Racism and Intolerance is working towards the identification of gaps and actions required to better combat racism and intolerance, as well as hate crimes and hate speech;
    • Uninsured citizens and persons belonging to vulnerable social groups have the right to free access to the public health system;
    • From January to December 2018, Greece has taken initiatives to prevent trafficking in human beings (THB) among different vulnerable groups, including migrants and asylum seekers, and to protect and rehabilitate victims of THB.

     

     

    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Adherence to standards and/or humanitarian principles
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    Keywords

    Migrants

  • 3D
    Empower and protect women and girls

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • The Greek General Secretariat for Gender Equality - in order to contribute to the response to the refugee crisis - will provide refugee women (victims, or at risk, of gender based violence or/and single mothers) and their children, safe accommodation in its 21 shelters, psychosocial support and, if needed, legal counseling.


    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind

    Core Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the Outcome documents of their review conferences for all women and adolescent girls in crisis settings.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Ensure that humanitarian programming is gender responsive.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Fully comply with humanitarian policies, frameworks and legally binding documents related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and women's rights.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Other

    In July 2018, the fourth European Directive 2015/849/ΕU on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist, was transposed into national law (Law 4557/18). In compliance with the Directive the national legal framework provides for measures to tackle money laundering related to proceeds derived from acts constituting criminal activities described as “predicated offenses”, including Trafficking in Human beings (art.323A of the Greek Penal Code) and Trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation (art.351 G.P.C.).

    Gender equality programming

    3F. Unaccompanied minors

    Concerning the protection of unaccompanied minors against any risk including human trafficking, the Laws 4538/18 and 4540/2018 foresee that unaccompanied minors may benefit from the National foster care system. The General Secretary of Social Solidarity, Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Solidarity will be responsible to follow up those foster care cases. An additional Law 4554/2018 brings in positive changes for the Guardianship system concerning unaccompanied minors; specifically, it foresees the establishment of a State Network of professional Guardians, providing individualized support to this population, facilitating access to legal protection and basic social services as well as ensuring the assessment and determination of unaccompanied children’s best interest and thus increasing their protection from trafficking exploitation risk. These Guardians will receive specialized training on taking care of children victims of human trafficking and children at risk for human trafficking.
     

    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    Keywords

    Gender, Migrants, Youth

  • 4A
    Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems

    Individual Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Greece commits to support and invest in national and local leadership whenever possible responding "sur mesure" to the real local needs avoiding duplicative international mechanisms.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • The EU Aid Volunteer Initiative, an idea initiated by Greece, provides standards on the management of a variety of volunteers' profiles, as well as opportunities for local organizations and communities aiming at strengthening their capacity in order to deal with disasters. Greece commits to continue supporting this initiative.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to reinforce national and local leadership and capacities in managing disaster and climate-related risks through strengthened preparedness and predictable response and recovery arrangements.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Strengthening national/local leadership and systems

    The General Secretariat for Gender Equality, Ministry of Interior: The services provided to the victims by the 62 structures either run or coordinated by the GSGE (SOS helpline 15900, 40 Counseling Centres and 21 Shelters) include psychosocial support, legal counseling as well as counseling in labour issues, emergency shelter and, where necessary, legal aid in cooperation with local Bar Associations.

    The National Centre for Social Solidarity (EKKA). ΕΚΚΑ operates one (1) emergency shelter in Attica for women and girls – victims of violence, as well as two (2) short – term shelters in Attica and Thessaloniki (part of which operates also as an emergency shelter for the region). The two latter are funded by the National Structural Fund, in cooperation with the Region of Attica and Central Macedonia, respectively, as well as the General Secretary of Equality of Sexes.

    Institutionalized training on issues related to trafficking in human beings (THB) has been established in the Police Academy, the Academy for Judges, and the Academy for Diplomatic Staff. In late 2018, the Labour Inspectorate announced that THB-related modules will be included in the Labour Inspectors’ official training.

    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    Keywords

    Gender, Local action, Strengthening local systems

Attachments

  • WHS Commitments Attachments
    Transformation - 1D, 2D, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4A | Displacement, Gender, Migrants