Review of the twenty-third and twenty-fourth periodic reports of Greece from the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Geneva, 3-4 December 2024)

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) concluded its consideration of the combined twenty-third and twenty-fourth periodic reports of Greece on 3rd and 4th December 2024. Greece was commended on its guide for victims on reporting hate crimes, which has been translated into nine languages and published online.

The delegation of Greece, headed by Mrs Katerina Patsogianni, Secretary General for Equality and Human Rights from the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, was made up of representatives from the Ministry of Interior (headed by the Secretary General Mr Athanasios Balermpas), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Citizen Protection, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Hellenic Labour Inspectorate and the Presidency of the Government. The Greek delegation had a fruiful exchange with CERD and was commended on the progress made in various fields and particularly regarding the fight against hate crimes.

The Greek delegation thanked the Committee for the frank and honest exchange and noted that Greece had worked hard to improve the situation. Since the last review, Greece had made significant progress in key areas, including in protecting the rights of asylum seekers and other vulnerable groups.  Despite unprecedented challenges, Greece remained and will remain committed to implementing the Convention on the elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination.