"Despite steps forward – including the enactment of a new anti-racism law – problems persist, including worrying levels of xenophobia and violence against refugees, asylum seekers and migrants and the ongoing segregation of Roma children in some schools," ECRI head Christian Ahlund said as quoted in a statement on Human Rights Europe website.
Since 2012, Greek authorities have taken a number of steps to combat racist violence, including the adoption of a new anti-racism law and the creation of special counter-racism police units.
However, the 62-page report stresses that Greece has still not ratified Protocol 12 to the European Convention on human rights which contains the general prohibition of discrimination. Also, despite the fact that the need to combat racism is understood by the Greek authorities, the country still lacks a much-needed comprehensive strategy to fight the problem's causes.
"Greece has seen a surge of racist violence in recent years and although some measures have been taken, these have remained largely insufficient," the report said.
According to the ECRI, the situation is aggravated by some Greek politicians inciting racial hatred in their speeches and the country's police which are often unwilling to investigate cases of racist violence.
"Hatred [in Greece] is usually directed against immigrants, but also against Roma, Jews and Muslims. This situation is not adequately addressed and there is widespread impunity for acts of hate speech and insufficient official condemnation," the report said, adding that there also is "considerable discrimination" toward LGBT people.
The ECRI's two main recommendations to Greece are the creation of a Task Force of relevant authorities, human rights advocates and NGOs to develop a national counter-racism strategy and ensuring that the question of racist or homophobic motivation becomes "an integral part of investigations and judicial proceedings." The latter includes additional training for police, judges and prosecutors on how to apply legislation on hate motivated offenses.
The watchdog also recommended that Greek authorities launch a public campaign to denounce racist attitudes "as contrary to Greek values and interests."
The ECRI will evaluate Greece's progress on the matter no later than two years after the publication of the current report.
