GCR is the most important NGO in Greece that protects the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and, in general, those who are entitled of international protection in our country.

Since Greece constitutes the first destination of the majority of people asking international protection in the EU, GCR daily welcomes and assists a very large number of people.

Based on the national, European and international law, our country is obliged to provide international protection to whomever is entitled of it. However, the important number of newcomers, that arrive in Greece every day, without having the necessary documents and without knowing the language, their rights and the procedure for receiving refugee status, end up in detention centers and, often, on the street, without any protection and without having access to the asylum procedure.

GCR intervenes in order to deal with this issue where the State is absent by providing to these people the necessary legal and social aid and by interfering in every stage of the procedure of international protection’s provision.

We provide legal information and consulting, we offer the necessary preparation for the interviews of refugee status determination before authorities, as well as the representation of our beneficiaries when needed, in the presence of one of our interpreters.

We carry out emergency missions in entry points and detention centers, not only for evidence documentation, but also for observation and evaluation of detention conditions.

We intervene every time there is a need for protection of our beneficiaries’ human rights.

We assist recognised refugees for their integration in the local community, as well as during their job and house search, while we try to cover the first needs of those who are entitled of protection, focusing on vulnerable cases like torture and trafficking victims, women, unaccompanied minors, etc.

We compose reports and we publish studies in order to change not only the legal framework but also the daily practices of the competent authorities, we fight for access to the asylum procedure and we denounce the infringement of basic human rights.

We implement campaigns aiming at raising public awareness, informing people about refugees’ and asylum seekers’ rights, in order to fight phenomena of racist violence and to achieve wider social coherence.

You can also become an active citizen of your country and support us, by participating by whichever means you prefer in the work of GCR.

PROTECT THOSE IN DANGER BY HELPING GCR TO MEET THE MAJOR NEEDS IT SHOULD DEAL WITH IN ORDER TO DEFEND THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR.

Νέοι από την Ελλάδα δημιούργησαν ολιγόλεπτο βίντεο για να εκφράσουν την υποστήριξή τους σε κάθε παιδί που βρίσκεται κρατούμενο επειδή παραβίασε μεταναστευτικούς νόμους. Η δράση αυτή πραγματοποιήθηκε στο πλαίσιο  διεθνούς εκστρατείας κατά της κράτησης ανηλίκων, με τίτλο “End Immigration Detention of Children - Κανένα Παιδί Πίσω από τα Κάγκελα”, που διοργάνωσε ο Διεθνής Συνασπισμός κατά της Κράτησης (International Detention Coalition [IDC]). Η παγκόσμια αυτή εκστρατεία ξεκίνησε το 2012 εστιάζοντας κάθε μήνα και σε μία διαφορετική χώρα. Με τη συμμετοχή του ΕΣΠ, καθ’ όλο τον Ιούνιο 2012, η Ελλάδα και τα προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζουν εδώ οι ανήλικοι κρατούμενοι ήρθαν στο επίκεντρο της προσοχής.

Our mission is to defend the rights of people who are entitled to protection in our country, and to promote their smooth integration into local society. Refugees and beneficiaries of international protection in general - particularly vulnerable cases such as unaccompanied minors, victims of trafficking, victims of torture, etc. - are the target group of GCR, who receive by the professional staff the necessary social and legal counseling and support so that they manage to lay the foundations for a new life without the fear of persecution.

The Greek Council for Refugees was founded in 1989 with the goal of protecting the rights of refugees in Greece.

The Greek Council for Refugees, in accordance with its statute, is governed by a Board of Directors, which is made up of members of the organization who are elected by secret ballot by the General Assembly.