A/HRC/18/13
Australia expressed concern about reported cases of Roma peoples being unable to register
to vote. It encouraged Greece to take further action to remove impediments to accessing
Government-held information. Australia made recommendations.
57.
Guatemala commended Greece for having ratified most of the main international
human rights instruments and hoped for the prompt accession to those still pending. It
acknowledged Greece’s cooperation with the human rights mechanisms and its financial
contribution to OHCHR. Guatemala regarded the National Action Plan for the Management
of Migratory Flows and the measures for social integration as a good first step in order to
guarantee the rights of migrants. Guatemala made a recommendation.
58.
The Netherlands noted that the current economic crisis seems to exacerbate, inter
alia, gender disparities, especially regarding unemployment and salary gap. It underlined
the situation of Muslim women in Thrace, who can choose between the regular Greek legal
system and the intervention of State-appointed muftis who, in the past, had applied a
conservative version of sharia law. The Netherlands also expressed concern at the fate of
unaccompanied minors after being released from detention centres. It made
recommendations.
59.
Albania welcomed the reforms made within the framework of the National Action
Plan to improve the asylum system and the management of migratory flows. It noted with
satisfaction the adoption of legislative measures, which endeavour to improve the system
for acquiring citizenship and political rights. These amendments will favour and further
social integration of migrants, including Albanian migrants living in Greece. It made
recommendations.
60.
Brazil noted recent legal reforms aimed at eliminating discrimination against women
and promoting gender equality. It encouraged Greece to continue pursuing measures to
mitigate the potential negative impact of the current financial situation on the enjoyment of
human rights, particularly of the most vulnerable. Brazil was concerned over reports of
increasing ill-treatment by law enforcement officials and racist violence. Brazil made
recommendations.
61.
Austria commended Greece for taking effective steps to prevent human rights abuses
by the police and law enforcement officials and asked whether there were any additional
measures planned to counter the persistence of this problem. It also asked Greece to outline
the follow-up to the recommendations made by the independent expert on minority issues
after her visit in 2008. Austria asked what further measures Greece intended to take to fully
implement the law on domestic violence. Austria made recommendations.
62.
Spain congratulated Greece for the signature of the Optional Protocol to the
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, and the National Action Plan for the Management of Migratory Flows. Spain
asked when the Parliament would vote on the bill for the establishment of an office, within
the Ministry for Public Order, responsible for receiving individual complaints on arbitrary
acts committed by security forces. Spain made recommendations.
63.
Slovakia acknowledged the challenges faced in the area of irregular migration. It
commended the equal treatment of asylum-seekers and refugees as Greek citizens regarding
work permits. It noted that in 2007, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW) expressed concern about the trafficking in women and girls and
about the insufficient enforcement of relevant legislation. It noted concern at allegations of
discrimination against members of religious minorities. It made recommendations.
64.
Mexico acknowledged Greece’s efforts to improve its legal and institutional
framework. Measures to eliminate women’s discrimination and to offer equal labour
conditions to asylum-seekers were just a token of this commitment. At the same time, it
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