Standing for protection, not detention
We are deeply concerned by the recent announcements regarding the suspension of access to asylum procedures and the creation of closed detention facilities. Every person—regardless of country of origin or mode of arrival—has the right to safety, protection, and a fair asylum process. Greece has both a legal and moral responsibility to honor its commitments under the Constitution, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
As an organization dedicated to protecting unaccompanied minors, we witness daily the trauma children carry when fleeing war, exploitation, and extreme poverty. Many of the children arriving today come from regions like Sudan, where millions have been displaced due to a devastating civil war and mass atrocities.
Policies that prioritize detention over protection risk undermining the rights of the most vulnerable. Now more than ever, we must safeguard the principles of child protection, non-refoulement, and human dignity.