GCR Legal Service

Description

The Legal Service (NY) provides legal assistance and advice to those who turn to the organization and need international protection or belong to particularly vulnerable groups (unaccompanied minors, victims of torture or other forms of violence, victims of human trafficking, etc.).

The actions of the legal service take place both at the offices of the APS in Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as at points of entry, reception centers, accommodation structures, detention centers and other points (Municipalities, etc.) throughout Greece. In the context of its role, N.Y. undertakes individual case support by performing the following actions:

• information and counseling on rights and obligations during the asylum procedure
  providing support at all stages of the asylum procedure (first and second degree, Dublin procedure, etc.), following the examination of the conditions for recognition of refugee status,
• support at any stage of deportation, detention or restrictive measures,
• support for beneficiaries of international protection in any case related to their refugee status or vulnerability;
• litigation before Greek and International Courts in support of the rights of persons in need of international protection or belonging to particularly vulnerable groups (for example: objections to detention, applications for annulment and suspension before the competent Courts, , for violations of the European Convention on Human Rights, support for criminal and civil cases directly related to their status as refugees or their vulnerability, etc.)
• providing holistic rehabilitation services for torture and asylum seekers at legal, social, psychological and medical levels in cooperation with other organizations.
• providing counseling and support to victims of violence (indicative of gender, racism, etc.)
• organization and participation in training seminars related to issues of international protection and human rights
• participation in public awareness actions (organization and participation of conferences, workshops, etc.) in relation to issues of international protection and human rights
• institutional interventions before the competent bodies for wider problems of implementation of the existing legislation for international protection or wider human rights
• cooperation with other organizations, inside and outside Greece, active in the field of refugees and the field of human rights, by undertaking joint actions and interventions, as well as with institutions of the Greek State (National Commission for Human Rights, etc.) and the Council of Europe.

In addition, N.Y. in cooperation with the other departments, carries out missions in areas and points of entry and exit of beneficiaries of international protection throughout the country, in reception centers, accommodation structures, detention centers and other places where refugees, asylum seekers and Beneficiaries of international protection need urgent legal and social assistance.