The Hellenic Parliament is organising tomorrow Friday 25 June 2021 a one day conference on “Developing a comprehensive strategy against racism, intolerance and hate crimes”, during which the following themes will be expanded on:

 

1. EU policy on racism, intolerance and hate crimes

2. The position of the Hellenic Parliament and National Bodies on issues of racism, intolerance and hate crimes

3. Cases of discrimination, hate crimes and hate speech. Ways to address the situation and future objectives. 

 

The one day conference is being organised in the framework of the Rights, Equality and Citizen Programme 2014-2020 (REC) of the European Commission by the Hellenic Parliament, the Ministry of Justice and Panteion University. The objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive strategy against racism and intolerance, with the aim of promoting the rights of victims of relevant crimes, raising public awareness and prosecuting the perpetrators of such crimes more effectively, while also encouraging victims to turn to the competent agencies and report them. 

 

A webpage has been created for the event, through which the public can watch the one day conference live (also available in English) or register for it. 

 

The Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas, the 1st Vice-President of the Hellenic Parliament and Chairman of the European Affairs Committee Nikitas Kaklamanis, the Minister of Justice Konstantinos Tsiaras, the Deputy Minister of Justice Giorgos Kotsiras and the Special Secretary of the Parliament Vassilis Bagiokos will deliver welcoming addresses. 

 

Among the participants will be the Deputy Minister for Demography, Family and Gender Equality of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Maria Syrengela, the Secretary General for Justice and Human Rights Panos Alexandris, MPs Anna Karamanli, Olga Gerovassili, Giorgos Kaminis, Maria Komninaka, Konstantinos Chitas, Aggeliki Adamopoulou, Irini-Eleni Agathopoulou and Konstantina (Nadia) Giannakopoulou as representatives of the parliamentary groups, the President of the Greek National Commission for Human Rights Maria Gavouneli, the Greek Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis, the Law School of Athens Professor Christos Mylonopoulos representing the Scientific Council of the Parliament, the Panteion University Professor Vassiliki Georgiadou and Kimon Tollias representing the Greek Police. 

 

International organisations will be represented among others by the Vice-Chairperson of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Dimitris Kairidis, the MEP and Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights Hannah Neumann, the Chair of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) Maria Daniella Marouda, the PACE General Rapporteur on combating racism and intolerance Momodou Malcolm Jallow, the Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights Ksenija Turković and the Vice-Chair of the UN Human Rights Committee Fotini Pazartzi.