A/HRC/49/5
Intolerance. The first national action plan on the rights of the child, aimed at combating child
poverty and protecting children on the move, had also been adopted.
9.
Greece had prepared the national strategy for the equality of LGBTQI+ persons, and
a new national strategy and action plan for Roma social inclusion.
10.
The status of the Muslim minority in Thrace had been established under the Treaty of
Peace, signed at Lausanne, July 24, 1923, and encompassed three distinct groups of persons
of Turkish, Pomak and Roma origin. Members of each of group had their own language and
distinct heritage and cultural traditions. Their Muslim faith was their common attribute,
which gave them the right to enjoy the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne. While Greece
fully respected the principle of individual self-identification, any attempt to impose a sole
collective identity on all minority members, in disregard of the Treaty of Lausanne and the
objective circumstances, could not be accepted.
11.
On freedom of religion or belief, the Athens Mosque and the hundreds of licensed
worship places of different religious denominations, both Christian and non-Christian,
functioned freely, and Greece undertook various activities, domestically and abroad, in order
to combat antisemitism.
12.
Greece had ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating
Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), and a number of
dedicated structures for the prevention and treatment of victims of domestic violence, and
relevant helplines, had been put in place.
13.
The national action plan on gender equality was in the final stages of drafting, while
the Me Too movement in Greece had contributed to a process of breaking the silence on
sexual violence and sexual harassment, empowering victims and holding perpetrators
accountable. The first national action plan on women, peace and security had been finalized,
in implementation of the Security Council resolution 1325 (2000).
14.
Greece had ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Violence and
Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190), and it had been the first member State of the
European Union and one of only eight ILO member States to have done so at the time.
15.
Significant progress had been achieved since 2015 on the issue of mixed migration
arrivals. Greece had clearly condemned the cruel instrumentalization of human beings as
immoral and against the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (1951). Assistance
had been provided by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Children’s Fund,
the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Hellenic Red Cross and various nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the financial support of the European Union had
been vital. Greece had been protecting its borders, which were also the borders of the
European Union, in compliance with international law. Headway had also been made in
combating trafficking in persons.
16.
Lastly, the head of delegation stated that the rights to freedom of speech and
expression were fully protected.
B.
Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review
17.
During the interactive dialogue, 97 delegations made statements. Recommendations
made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report.
18.
Lebanon commended Greece for its efforts to improve the human rights framework
and for its adoption of national action plans.
19.
Libya commended Greece for the steps taken to promote human rights, especially the
adoption of the national action plan against racism and intolerance.
20.
Lithuania congratulated Greece on its continued progress in promoting and protecting
human rights.
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