Greek Helsinki Monitor's 2002 Activity Report
The following are excerpts from GHM's 2002 activity report. For the full text, please visit the link below:
www.greekhelsinki.gr
1. Minorities
A GHM report on "Minorities and the Media in Greece” was commissioned by and published in Mercator Media Forum. In association with MRG-G, a document was published with the proceedings of the March 2001 conference on minorities in the Balkans, as well as the material of the campaign for ratification of the FCNM that culminated with a public appeal in December 2001.
Substantial sections of the thematic reports to the UN Treaty Bodies (CRC, CEDAW, CESCR) and of the statement and the presentation to the US Congress Helsinki Commission's hearing on human rights in Greece dealt with minorities.
Moreover, GHM has translated into English and published in both Greek and English the Greek Ombudsman's report on the non-registration of the "Home of Macedonian Civilization,” calling for sanctions against the local Bar Association that refused to appoint a lawyer. The Ombudsman had dealt with the issue through a series of complaints that GHM filed for the "Home;” the submission of the report to the Minister of Justice led to a prompt reversal of the situation, and the appointment of a lawyer.
Finally, a series of comprehensive reports about minorities in Greece were published in 2002 (Anti-Semitism in Greece, Religious Freedom in Greece, Catholics of Greece, Jehovah's Witnesses of Greece, and Albanians of Macedonia) or are forthcoming in 2003 (Roma of Greece -joint report with ERRC, and Macedonians in Greece).
4. Press Releases
13 March 2002: EBLUL and Eurolang drop references to "Slavo-macedonian language” in favor of "Macedonian language” following criticism by Macedonian diaspora and minority rights NGOs.
1 September 2002: Daily "Eleftherotypia” slanders minority Macedonian priest and but does not publish critical letter.
www.greekhelsinki.gr
1. Minorities
A GHM report on "Minorities and the Media in Greece” was commissioned by and published in Mercator Media Forum. In association with MRG-G, a document was published with the proceedings of the March 2001 conference on minorities in the Balkans, as well as the material of the campaign for ratification of the FCNM that culminated with a public appeal in December 2001.
Substantial sections of the thematic reports to the UN Treaty Bodies (CRC, CEDAW, CESCR) and of the statement and the presentation to the US Congress Helsinki Commission's hearing on human rights in Greece dealt with minorities.
Moreover, GHM has translated into English and published in both Greek and English the Greek Ombudsman's report on the non-registration of the "Home of Macedonian Civilization,” calling for sanctions against the local Bar Association that refused to appoint a lawyer. The Ombudsman had dealt with the issue through a series of complaints that GHM filed for the "Home;” the submission of the report to the Minister of Justice led to a prompt reversal of the situation, and the appointment of a lawyer.
Finally, a series of comprehensive reports about minorities in Greece were published in 2002 (Anti-Semitism in Greece, Religious Freedom in Greece, Catholics of Greece, Jehovah's Witnesses of Greece, and Albanians of Macedonia) or are forthcoming in 2003 (Roma of Greece -joint report with ERRC, and Macedonians in Greece).
4. Press Releases
13 March 2002: EBLUL and Eurolang drop references to "Slavo-macedonian language” in favor of "Macedonian language” following criticism by Macedonian diaspora and minority rights NGOs.
1 September 2002: Daily "Eleftherotypia” slanders minority Macedonian priest and but does not publish critical letter.