Access to Asylum

Duration:

1/1/2019 - 31/12/2020

Collaborator:

Open Society Foundations

Place of implementation:

Wherever GCR is active

Goals:

The project aims to record the new procedures and conditions of reception of third-country nationals as they were implemented (and changed) during the project period, in Greece  and to ensure that people in need International protection have access to the rights and obligations enshrined in national, regional, European and international human rights treaties, legal instruments and protocols. The project also aims to cover critical costs related to the strengthening of the reception service in Athens, the provision of legal support services in the Aegean islands, the support of the agency's administrative support team, the support of the group that offers services to unaccompanied minors, the support of the advocacy team and the strengthening of the activities of promotion and collection of monetary amounts that allows GCR to mobilize and sensitize the public opinion in Greece regarding  refugee situation.

Implementation Period:

1/1/2018 - 31/12/2020

Partner:

UNHCR

Place of implementation:

Evros, Rhodes, Kos, Samos, Lesvos, Leros

Goals:

To provide legal support to the population of the islands and Evros

Actions:

• Legal support in the asylum process, in family reunification cases, and in particularly vulnerable cases

• Support to detainees at risk of detention, living in unhealthy and unsafe conditions, with no access to basic rights

Results:

Legal support to the growing number of people in need of international protection in the islands and Evros.

Period of implementation:

1/07/2018 - 31/12/2020

Collaborators:

Dutch Refugee Council

Country of implementation:

Greece

Goals:

Providing protection and legal support to asylum seekers and people in need of international protection by securing access to services that are primarily appropriate to them through legal support services.

Actions:

• Cases supported by other organizations through written reporting
• Individual cases through the asylum procedure to improve access to the protective framework
• Assistance with the decision to detain or restrict free decisions to the servants
• Vulnerable cases, especially those that are not treated as such by the asylum service

Results:

Providing information, protection and legal support to asylum seekers in Samos and Chios in the first instance (and second) and representation in court, access to family reunification procedures in cases of international protection. Extra protection for clients if their detention needs to be addressed.

Implementation Period:

1/1/2016 - 31/12/2016,1/1/2017-31/12/2017,  1/1/2018 - 30/6/2018

Partner:

UNHCR

Place of implementation:

Athens, Northern Greece

Goals:

Operation of Mobile Units for the provision of legal and social support to beneficiaries, residing in various Hospitality Centers in the wider region of Athens and Northern Greece.

Actions:

Mobile Unit for Civil and Criminal Affairs in Athens: team of lawyers, social workers and interpreters provides support in criminal and civil matters, specifically in vulnerable human rights violations cases, such as cases gender-based violence, labour exploitation, etc.

Athens Mobile Unit: team of lawyers, social workers and interpreters who make weekly visits to the temporary accommodation centers of Thiva, Malakasa, Ritsonas and Livadia to provide support for the population that was transferred there after the closure of the centre in Elliniko.

Mobile Units of Northern Greece: a team of lawyers, social workers and interpreters visits the centres in Nea Kavala, and Volvi, providing legal and social support, while a team based in the office monitors the management of referred by mobile units.

Results:

Provision of social and legal support to the beneficiary population who live in various temporary accommodation centres in the wider region of Attica and Northern Greece.

Implementation Period:

11/1/2016 - 31/12/2016, 1/1/2017 - 30/6/2017

Partner:

Greek Refugee Forum, funded by the UNHCR

Place of implementation:

Athens

Goals:

To strengthen communication among the communities of the servicemen residing in the temporary accommodation centres and strengthening their power.

Actions:

The Greek Refugee Forum, in cooperation with the SPC, sends a team of 32 employees from the existing refugee community of Athens to help the Heads of Temporary Accommodation Centres designated by the Greek authorities, staff belonging to the UNHCR and other NGOs and active in the Centres, to adopt a two-way communication between the responsible, the NGOs and the servicemen who live in the Centres.

Results:

Provision of specific information to the Managers of the Temporary Hospitality Centres and to the staff of the UNHCR on the situation in the field, exchange of knowledge and information in order to benefit the persons who live there and ensure provide an appropriate protection framework for vulnerable people.

Implementation Period:

1/1/2016 - 31/12/2016, 1/1/2017 - 30/8/2017

Partner:

UNHCR

Place of implementation:

Athens

Goals:

Steady presence of lawyers, social workers and interpreters, who provide legal and social support to four temporary accommodation centres in Athens: Greek I (Hockey), Elliniko II (Baseball) and Lavrio/Rafina.

Actions:

Results:

Provision of legal and social support to meet the needs of the people who live in the above shelters.

• Identification of possible beneficiaries by GCR, including Refugee Status Determination interviews and referral to social, medical and mental health services provided by the Parties;
• Legal counseling and legal aid to beneficiaries in connection with the asylum procedure, to include indicatively:
• provision of information on the asylum procedure and the relevant rights and obligations,
• assistance for access to the asylum procedure,
• presence and interventions during the interview with the asylum authorities,
• redaction of written statements and/or counseling prior to the interview,
• appeals against negative decisions,
• follow-up of the asylum procedure and handling of problems arising during the procedure,
• assistance aiming to restart the asylum procedure that has been interrupted,
• assistance aiming to maintain the status initially provided, challenging detention before the competent authorities;
• Legal counseling on selected integration issues.

• Legal needs in Kos and Leros are addressed in a quality manner,
• Parties receive have first-hand information on the context for monitoring and advocacy purposes.

GCR lawyers will ensure a proper balance in the number of cases individually supported in order include the following target groups:

• Cases followed by MSF psychologist, through a written referral form;
• Individual cases in the asylum procedure (including admissibility process) as identified by the lawyer in order to improve access to a protective framework
• Challenge of detention decision or restriction of freedom decisions
• Vulnerable cases
• People identified as vulnerable by MSF and GCR who may not be considered as such by the Asylum authorities.

• Provision of targeted legal information and aid. Assistance includes registration of asylum applications and preparation for interviews, memoranda, appeals, subsequent applications, family reunification procedure and through Dublin III, application for annulment, representation in court proceedings, etc.
• Provision of targeted social information and aid. Assistance includes psychological support, individualized vulnerability reports in support of the cases examined at the Asylum Services and support to all family members of the beneficiary. Social workers will also support access to other services through referrals to hospitals and other organizations that provide medical care, psychological counselling, social support and safe spaces.

A team of three outreach, semi-mobile units based in Ioannina city will provide legal information in the camps of Western Greece. More specifically, the objectives are:

• Provision of legal information and counselling
• Interview and assessment of cases
• Provision of legal assistance
• Provision of psycho-social support, identification and counselling to the most vulnerable amongst them
• Representation of asylum seekers

• Provide legal information, visiting on rotation and conducting needs assessments.
• Provide legal counseling through individualized sessions to beneficiaries (legal assistance of persons in need in the specific sites will be governed by the principle of prioritizing the relevant cases. The assistance will include preparation for, and facilitation of appointments with the Asylum Services).
• Advocate to the authorities based on the identified needs to elevate blockages in the system.
• Provide legal assistance after initial assessments
• Provide information, psycho-social counseling and support including drafting individualized social reports in support of the cases examined at the Asylum
• Services, support to all family members of the beneficiary, addressing health issues through referrals to hospital and other organizations that provide medical care.

The activities are funded by the European Commission – Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)

• Provide Individualized legal support
• Provide assistance to facilitate access to and continuation of the asylum procedure including registration of asylum applications and preparation for interviews, memoranda, appeals, subsequent applications, family reunification procedure through Dublin III, applications for annulment, etc.
• Coordinate and provide support to the legal aid team in Lesvos, receive referrals for cases transferred to the mainland for follow-up of cases and in order to pursue strategic litigations when this arises.

Implementation Period:

October 2015 – April 2016

Administrator:

Greek Council for Refugees

Partners:

Humanitarian Bridges Initiative

Arsis

Afghan Community of Migrants and Refugees of Greece

Lighthouse

DYNAMO International

Praksis

Countries of implementation:

Greece

Support:

solidarity-SolidarityNow

Goals :

The aim of the program is to address the immediate needs of mobile refugee populations, with the care to meet their basic needs and, at the same time, by providing information and personalised assistance for their better access protection appropriate in any case. The programme will last until April 2016 and is a direct response of the SPC to the emergency situation that has arisen in Athens due to the increased flows of refugees.

Actions:

1. Provision of legal information and legal support to 350 recipients
2. Provision of social information and psycho-social support to 400 people
3. Provision of temporary accommodation to 20 persons and referral to another 60 to other structures
4. Distribution of supermarket vouchers to 500 people
5. Educational and recreational activities for 60 minors
6. Empowering and long-term integration of young people
7. Capacity building of the structures of partner bodies with emphasis on the method of approaching people of interest on the street and training of cultural mediators

Results:

Addressing the immediate needs of mobile refugee populations, and providing holistic services that help protect them in Greece.

1/5/2016 - 31/12/2016

HELP

Greece

Improvement of the living conditions of refugees and asylumseekers in Greece and Serbia

Provision of information legal counselling and support in Athens to 1800 persons Provision of information, psychosocial counselling and support to 1100 persons Distribution of 5000 supermarket vouchers

Persons in need of international protection gain access to the rights enshrined in national and international legislation Persons in need of international protection are provided with basic relief services

1/6/2016 – 31/10/2016

Greece

Danish Refugee Council

The overall objective of the project is to ensure the respect of the fundamental rights of refugees by focusing on rights to asylum, and to proper reception services. Within this framework, GCR proposes a project which will support asylum seekers and persons in need of international protection to access the protective services they deserve. This will be attained through the proposed services and activities hereby outlined. The beneficiaries of the project are persons in need of international protection residing in Attica, Lesvos and Northern Greece, including persons of international protection under detention conditions in all three aforementioned areas. All the activities outlined in the proposal will commence immediately, due to the emergency situation that the project addresses.

1. Provision of information, legal counselling and support: After an initial session of legal counselling and provision of information, further individualized legal support throughout the entire asylum procedure, including first and second instance and representation before the court, and access to family reunification and relocation procedures will be provided persons in need of international protection. Priority will be provided to particularly vulnerable persons such as unaccompanied minors, victims of torture, vulnerable families, persons with health issues and/or disabilities, etc.

2. Provision of legal information, counseling and support to persons of international protection under detention conditions: After an initial session of legal counselling and provision of information under detention conditions, further individualized legal support throughout the entire asylum procedure, including first and second instance and representation before the court, and access to family reunification and relocation procedures will be provided persons in need of international protection. Priority will be provided to particularly vulnerable persons such as unaccompanied minors, victims of torture, vulnerable families, persons with health issues and/or disabilities, etc.

1. Provision of information, legal counseling and support in Lesvos

• Provide targeted legal information (1,680 persons);
• Legal counseling on the asylum and family reunification procedure in Lesvos (650 persons);
• Provide legal assistance throughout the asylum procedure (140 persons).

2. Provision of legal information, counseling and support to persons of international protection in Attica, including persons under detention conditions

• Provide targeted legal information and counseling on the asylum and family reunification procedure in Attica, including persons under detention conditions (325 persons)
• Challenge detention decisions before administrative and judicial authorities (10 persons)
• Provide legal assistance throughout the asylum procedure (40 persons).

18/6/2016 - 18/9/2016

Save the Children

Greece

The overall goal of the project is to enable vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers in Greece to exercise their legal and social rights and to ensure access to their enjoyment. Within this framework, GCR proposes a project which will support asylum seekers and persons in need of international protection to access the protective services they deserve. This will be attained through the proposed holistic services and activities hereby outlined. The beneficiaries of the project are persons in need of international protection in the first-line reception centres inside and around the territorial division of Thessaloniki, with a particular focus on the identification and support of those most vulnerable amongst them, such as UASC, single-headed families, families with members who have health issues and/or disabilities, and families with many members. Unaccompanied children are considered to be an extremely vulnerable group considering the lack of appropriate alternative care and protection, and the inadequacy of legal and psycho-social supporting mechanisms. All the activities outlined in the proposal will commence immediately, due to the emergency situation that the project addresses.

1. Provision of legal information and counselling: Vulnerable beneficiaries will be informed on his/her rights and receive advice;

2. Interview and assessment of cases;

3. Provision of legal aid: Beneficiaries with a valid claim for asylum will be supported throughout the asylum procedure (where applicable, considering the time-consuming asylum procedures);

4. Provision of psycho-social support, identification and counselling to the most vulnerable amongst them;

5. Representation of asylum seekers before first instance asylum procedure (where applicable);

6. Provision of interpretation services.

1. Provision of legal information, legal counselling and aid
i. First level: Legal Information
Two teams will be based in two different camps, providing on the spot legal information and psycho-social counselling. At this stage an initial assessment and prioritisation of vulnerable cases will be made.
ii. Second level: Legal Counselling
Legal counseling will be provided after the initial assessment of cases, through provision of individualised sessions to beneficiaries. Attention will be given to particularly vulnerable persons in need of international protection; and follow up support to their access to asylum service, thus enhancing their protection. This step will largely depend on the arrangements by the state regarding their access to asylum services. Legal assistance of persons in the specific sites will be governed by the principle of prioritising the relevant cases based on the vulnerability level that will be assessed in consultation with the social unit of the team.
iii. Third level: Legal Aid (in case of project extension)
Legal sessions after the initial trimester of legal counselling with further individualized counselling regarding the entire asylum procedure can be provided. The activities will be facilitating individualised support services, with follow up legal assistance throughout the asylum, family reunification and relocation procedures. Taking into consideration the time consuming procedures due to the severely limited capacity of the Asylum Service, provision of legal aid can only be provided in case that the proposed project is extended beyond the initial trimester.

2. Provision of information, psycho-social counselling and support
The social workers of GCR will provide psycho-social counselling and support, including:
• the drafting and implementation of individualised action plans;
• support to all family members of the beneficiary;
• addressing health issues, through referrals to hospitals and other organisations that provide medical care;
• provision of financial support in emergency cases, through funds of supplementary projects, or private ad hoc donations;
• addressing accommodation needs, through referrals;
• special care for unaccompanied children, such as contact with social services of other EU Member States, where family reunification is involved etc.

Ανθρωπιστική Πρωτοβουλία Γέφυρες
Άρσις
Αφγανική Κοινότητα Μεταναστών και Προσφύγων Ελλάδας
Φάρος
DYNAMO International
PRAKSIS

Ελλάδα

αλληλεγγύη-SolidarityNow

Σκοπός του προγράμματος είναι να αντιμετωπιστούν οι άμεσες ανάγκες των μετακινούμενων προσφυγικών πληθυσμών, με μέριμνα για τη κάλυψη των βασικών τους αναγκών και, ταυτόχρονα, με παροχή ενημέρωσης και εξατομικευμένης βοήθειας για την καλύτερη πρόσβασή τους στην προστασία που αρμόζει σε κάθε περίπτωση. Το πρόγραμμα θα διαρκέσει μέχρι και τον Απρίλιο του 2016 και αποτελεί μια άμεση ανταπόκριση του ΕΣΠ στην έκτακτη κατάσταση που έχει δημιουργηθεί στην Αθήνα λόγω των αυξημένων ροών προσφύγων.

1. Παροχή νομικής πληροφόρησης και νομικής στήριξης σε 350 αποδέκτες

2. Παροχή κοινωνικής πληροφόρησης και ψυχο-κοινωνικής στήριξης σε 400 άτομα

3. Παροχή προσωρινής στέγασης σε 20 άτομα και παραπομπή άλλων 60 σε άλλες δομές

4. Διανομή κουπονιών σούπερ-μάρκετ σε 500 άτομα

5. Εκπαιδευτικές και ψυχαγωγικές δραστηριότητες για 60 ανήλικους

6. Ενδυνάμωση και μακροπρόθεσμη ενσωμάτωση νέων

7. Capacity building των δομών των συνεργαζόμενων φορέων με έμφαση στη μέθοδο προσέγγισης ατόμων ενδιαφέροντος στο δρόμο και εκπαίδευση πολιτισμικών διαμεσολαβητών

Η ιδιαιτερότητα του συγκεκριμένου προγράμματος, είναι η δράση ‘outreach’, στο πλαίσιο της οποίας μας δίνεται η δυνατότητα να παρέχουμε υπηρεσίες σε διάφορα σημεία ανά την Αττική όπου συγκεντρώνεται μεγάλος αριθμός ατόμων. 

Supported by a grant from the SolidarityNet Foundation

The purpose of this grant is to maintain and enlarge GCR’s provision of legal and psycho-social
aid in the region of Thessaloniki.

Implementation Period:

January 2015 - June 2015

Financing:

Programme financed entirely from the state budget

Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity

Place of implementation:

Greece

Goals:

Reception, integration and accommodation of asylum seekers and recognised beneficiaries of international protection

Activities:

Reception of asylum seekers

Housing assistance (hotel accommodation)

Provision of legal assistance services to the Centre for Temporary Residence of Foreign Asylum Seekers of Lavrio

Provision of interpretation services to support legal aid action

Ensuring the movement of foreign asylum seekers

Provision of social work

Implementation Period:

September 2013 – December 2015

Administrator:

Doctors of the World, Greece

Partners:

Greek Council for Refugees

Country:

Greece

Support:

Grants of the European Economic Area (EEA grants), SSOM Programme

Goals:

The overall goal of the programme is to contribute to the social and legal protection of vulnerable asylum seekers in Greece.

Actions:

Ensuring medical care and medical care-Special care will be taken for children and pregnant women

Providing legal support while taking measures to speed up asylum procedures and ensure access to these procedures, as well as to solve possible problems in the integration process

Provision of social services for holistic and smooth integration into society

Results:

Provision of reception services in at least 300 vulnerable cases (single parents, vulnerable women, etc.) seeking asylum in Greece.

Implementation Period:

November 2013 - June 2014, July 2014 - February 2015

Partner:

-

Country:

Greece

Support:

European Refugee Fund (ERF) 2012 – National Actions

Priority:

Implementation of the principles and measures provided for in the acquis communautaire in the fields of asylum, including those relating to the objectives of social inclusion.

Goals:

To prevent  limited access to asylum procedures

Strengthen the ability of individuals in the asylum application process;

To create capable and supportive structures at the entry points in Greece,

Identify, inform and protect people in need of international protection, with an emphasis on vulnerable cases.

Actions:

• Legal support and assistance services for asylum seekers entitled to international protection;
• Providing information to local communities and educating local authorities and organisations;
• Implementation of Union rules on the identification of the State responsible for examining an asylum request and the application of the relevant provisions for the protection of the rights of applicants.

Implementation Period:

November 2013 – June 2014

Administrator:

Greek Council for Refugees

Country:

Greece

Category:

European Refugee Fund (ERF) – National Actions

Goals:

The provision of legal services with a view to effectively respecting the procedures and criteria for granting international protection under existing international, Community and national legislation, and respect for the acquis communautaire, by ensuring international protection in third-country nationals entering or are in the country and entitled to such protection.

Actions:

Provision of legal support, counselling and information at all stages of the asylum procedure

Legal assistance for access to the asylum procedure, including the support of new entrants to entry points in the country

Support for vulnerable cases for their priority access to the asylum procedure and examination of their requests as defined in the relevant provisions

Monitoring the course of the asylum request and framing cases in accordance with the assessment of particular protection needs

Legal support for the completion of the procedure for examining the request until a final administrative decision on the request is issued.

Counselling, information and legal assistance in support of the rights of persons granted international protection under applicable law.

Assistance of a social worker, who will support and strengthen the work of legal aid both at the stage of the initial submission of the request and subsequently, at the stage of supporting the request.

Results:

5300 beneficiaries legally supported in order to facilitate access to their rights in relation to the procedure for the submission and support of asylum applications

Date:

July 2013 – December 2014

Administrator:

Greek Council for Refugees

Country:

Greece

Category:

Open Society Foundation – Solidarity Now Network

Goals:

Improved access to free legal aid and representation

Improved access to free psychosocial support

Strengthening the knowledge of local authorities and other stakeholders on the rights of refugees

Actions:

• Providing legal information and advice on the asylum procedure and integration issues
• Providing psychosocial support and counseling to vulnerable refugees
• Interview and case evaluation
• Representation before the asylum committees and in the courts
• Providing counseling to detained refugees and victims of racist violence
• Training local authorities on the rights of asylum seekers and refugees

Results:

The result of the project is to increase the number of asylum seekers and refugees in Thessaloniki who will have access to legal and social services. It is expected that 1700 people will benefit during the program.

Date:

October 2013 - January 2016

Administrator:

Doctors of the World, Greece

Collaborators:

Greek Council for Refugees

Country:

Greece

Category:

Grants from the European Economic Area (EEA grants), SOAM Program

Goals:

The overall goal of the program is to contribute to the social and legal protection of vulnerable asylum seekers in Greece.

Actions:

• Providing medical care and pharmaceutical care - Special care will be taken for children and pregnant women
• Providing legal support while taking steps to expedite asylum procedures and ensure access, as well as to resolve potential problems in the integration process
• Providing social services for holistic and orderly integration into society
• Providing educational activities for children and adults.

Results:

Provision of reception services in at least 300 vulnerable cases (single parent families, vulnerable women, etc.) seeking asylum in Greece.

Date:

July 2013 - September 2013

Collaborators:

-

Country:

Greece

Category:

European Refugee Fund (ERF) 2013 - Emergency Measures

Goals:

Address basic needs of people who may need international protection, including the provision of services.

Actions:

• Counseling and psychosocial support services.
• Informing and liaising with Services, State and Non-Governmental,
• Interconnecting beneficiaries with other organizations or communities,
• Coverage of some of the material reception conditions: accommodation, rent subsidy or temporary hotel stay

Results:

Addressing the housing problem by providing housing assistance and addressing the social needs of assisted persons through their integration into the social service of GCR.

Date:

September 2012 - March 2013

Collaborators:

Hellenic Red Cross

Doctors of the World

PRAKSIS

Country:

Greece

Category:

Ministry of Labor, Social Security & Welfare

European Refugee Fund (ERF) 2012 - Emergency Measures

Goals:

Assistance in renting and arrangements and covering basic needs for people who may need international protection

Actions:

• Counseling and psychosocial support services
• Informing and liaising with the Services, Governmental and Non-Governmental
• Interconnecting beneficiaries with other organizations or communities
• Partial coverage of material reception conditions

Results:

The objective of this program was to cover material living conditions: housing through a rent subsidy or a temporary stay in a hotel and food assistance. The above program also addressed the social needs of assisted persons through their integration into the social services of corporate bodies.

Implementation Period:

July 2011 - December 2013

Collaborators:

-

Country:

Greece

Category:

Stavros Niarchos Foundation - sponsorship

Goals:

Increased protection of refugees and asylum seekers in border areas

Actions:

Missions recommended by lawyers, translators, and social workers.

Implementation Period:

May 2013 - October 2013

Partner:

-

Country:

Greece

Category:

European Refugee Fund (ERF) 2013 - Emergency Measures

Goals:

Provision of medical care, psychosocial and legal assistance

Actions:

• Provision of legal support, counselling and information at all stages of the asylum procedure in both ongoing procedures;
• Legal assistance for access to the asylum procedure;
• Counselling, information and legal assistance in support of the rights of persons granted international protection under applicable law.

Results:

The provision of legal services will effectively comply with the procedures and criteria for the provision of international protection under existing international, Community and domestic legislation. In addition, better implementation of Union rules on the identification of the State responsible for examining a request and the application of the relevant provisions for the protection of the rights of applicants.

Date:

January 2013 - December 2013

Partner:

-

Country:

Greece

Category:

Ministry of Labour, Social Security & Welfare

Goals:

Reception, integration and accommodation of asylum seekers and recognised beneficiaries of international protection

Activities:

Reception of asylum seekers

Housing assistance (hotel accommodation)

Provision of legal assistance services to the Centre for Temporary Residence of Foreign Asylum Seekers of Lavrio

Provision of interpretation services to support legal aid action

Ensuring the movement of foreign asylum seekers

Provision of social work

Date:

January 2014 - December 2014

Financing:

Programme financed entirely from the state budget

(Special Body 33-220 OEM 5216 "Maintenance, maintenance and care costs of political fugitives")

Country:

Greece

Category:

Ministry of Labour, Social Security & Welfare

Goals:

Reception, integration and accommodation of asylum seekers and recognised beneficiaries of international protection

Actions:

Reception of asylum seekers

Housing assistance (hotel accommodation)

Provision of legal assistance services to the Centre for Temporary Residence of Foreign Asylum Seekers of Lavrio

Provision of interpretation services to support legal aid action

Ensuring the movement of foreign asylum seekers

Provision of social work

Date:

1/9/2017 - 31/12/2017

Partners:

-

Country:

Greece

Category:

European Refugee Fund (ERF) 2011 – National Actions

Priority: Reception conditions and asylum procedures

Goals:

To combat limited access to asylum procedures

Strengthen the ability of individuals in the asylum application process;

To create capable and supportive structures at the points of entry into Greece.

Identify, inform and protect people in need of international protection, with an emphasis on vulnerable cases

Actions:

• Social care, provision of health services,
• Psychological assistance and related counselling services with a focus on vulnerable cases

Implementation Period:

January 2013 - December 2013

Collaborators:

-

Country:

Greece

Category:

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Greece

Goals:

Improving access and quality of asylum procedures in Greece

Improving reception conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in Greece

Conducting missions to Pre-departure detention centers across Greece and detention facilities in Attica for the identification and legal support of asylum seekers and vulnerable groups

Actions:

• Providing legal support for renewing the asylum card, intervening in cases where the asylum process has been arbitrarily terminated and providing legal support in cases of family reunification through the Dublin II & III Regulation
• Providing psychosocial support on the integration processes and problems faced by asylum seekers and refugees. Specifically, support for access to public health services, educational institutions, vocational training seminars, employment support, and any problems arising in relation to tax, employment, family and other social problems
• Providing legal assistance to detained asylum seekers such as, support in cases where the asylum process has been arbitrarily terminated, support in cases of family reintegration through the Dublin II & III Regulation and support in cases of asylum seekers in need of international protection to be released

Results:

As a result of the program, people in need of international protection received legal and psychosocial support to secure their right to asylum, protection and integration.

Stavros Niarchos Foundation - Grant

So far GCR has conducted 10 missions to the following places:

Evros (3 times), Crete, Patras, Rhodos-Symi, Samos, Leros, Lesvos, Kommotini

European Refugee Fund (ERF) 2010 – National Actions

Priority: Implementation of the principles and measures set out in the Community acquis in the field of asylum, including those related to integration objectives.

• To fight the limited access to asylum procedures,
• To strengthen the capacity of people in their process of asylum request,
• To create competent and supportive structures at the entry points in Greece.

• Legal support and assistance services to asylum seekers and people in need of international protection,
• Social welfare and related consulting services with emphasis on vulnerable cases,
• Provision of information to local communities and education of local authorities and organizations.

• Legal counselling and advice on asylum procedures and rights provided to persons seeking protection, Legal counselling and advice provided by 6 full time qualified lawyers in Athens, 3 junior lawyers, 2 lawyers in Orestiada, 1 lawyer in Alexandroupoli and 1 lawyer in Thessalonica.
• Provision of protection information and advice in a language understood by the person of concern, through interpretation services,
• Ensuring / providing legal representation in 1st, 2nd instances of the Government procedure,
• Counselling finally rejected asylum seekers on further legal remedies.