Five United Nations experts, led by Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders Mary Lawlor, have sharply criticized Greece’s new migration law for criminalizing human rights defenders supporting migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. In a letter made public on February 24, the experts warned that the legislation, adopted on February 5, imposes unfair restrictions on NGOs and converts humanitarian activities into criminal offenses.
Under the law, membership in a nongovernmental organization is treated as an aggravating factor for migration-related crimes, meaning aid workers face harsher penalties than private citizens performing the same acts. For example, helping an undocumented person find shelter could be a misdemeanor for a private individual but a felony for an NGO worker. The UN experts argue that this creates “de jure discrimination” and could chill humanitarian efforts.
The legislation also grants the Greek migration minister broad powers to deregister NGOs without judicial oversight, adding to the already complex registration requirements for civil society groups. Human Rights Watch notes that this move fits a broader pattern of Greek authorities intimidating those who provide life-saving assistance, report on pushbacks, or hold the government accountable for migrant deaths.
By targeting and criminalizing civil society, the law undermines the rule of law and fosters a climate of fear, putting the lives of migrants and asylum seekers at risk. The UN experts urge the Greek government to annul abusive provisions and preserve civil society space as a fundamental aspect of democracy and human rights protection.
