LEGAL AID FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS IN GREECE

"The continued deterioration in the treatment and in the services available to applicants for, and beneficiaries of, international protection throughout Greece is beyond words.  It is a threat to all the people in and of Greece, to the Rule of Law and to democracy itself." Anonymous, 2022.

 A.Ss.I.S.T. (Asylum Seekers Information Services Team) is a non-profit civil company registered in Greece. Our mission is to overcome barriers to fair process by providing information and legal advice. Our aim is to enable applicants for international protection to participate in the system in a way that facilitates their understanding and promotes confidence in the process to which they are subject. A.Ss.I.S.T. endeavours to ensure that the experience of the applicant is facilitated by preventing misunderstandings, overcoming mistrust and an inability or unwillingness to engage in what is an intrusive and increasingly complex process. Assistance is also offered to beneficiaries of international protection to navigate the Greek bureaucracy to help them exercise their rights and fulfil their obligations.

CHIOS ISLAND

From July to September 2022, 484 people arrived by boat from Turkey to seek international protection and 330 AS/BIPs departed. From October 01 to 4 December 2022, a further 467 people arrived.  Vial resident population was relatively stable at 300+ until a major transfer of 139 people from Vial RIC to the mainland occurred between 4-9 October 2022 leaving 279 residents as of 11 October 2022.  Between October 01 and 4 December 467 people arrived on Chios.  As of that date, there were 494 people living in Vial RIC. Somali nationals have consistently been in the majority in Vial RIC since June 2022 with Afghans, Palestinians, Sierra Leonians and Yemeni the next most populous groups (10%+) at different times across the months. Men were consistently in the majority throughout the period, with women accounting for the next highest percentage than children until recently.  At the time of writing this Report, the percentage of children rose to 30% surpassing the number of women for the first time in 2022 (UNHCR Chios Statistics). 

Access to Services

Essential and recreational services are reported to have improved. New arrivals seeking legal services are referred by UNHCR to all legal actors (A.Ss.I.S.T., ERBB and Metadrasi) for interview preparation.  A service to take people to hospital is in place. UNHCR is running sessions for women in non-formal education and other activities, Movement of the Ground is running recreational services and Bananas & Biryani and Offene Arme e.V. continue to distribute warm clothing and essential non-food items. The quality of food served and the state of the accommodation containers are the constant complaints expressed by the residents. 

The Municipality of Chios should, in the near future, receive a grant from the State, permitting them to improve transport access from Vial RIC to Chios Town… to be seen.

No closed camp… as yet.

The Chios Municipality won the case against the Greek state requiring the Greek state to return to the Municipality the current site of Vial Camp.  The Vial property is due to be handed over in December 2022. The Municipality filed a court case against the Greek state claiming ownership of the land upon which the new proposed RIC at the Tholos site on the coast north of Chios town is to be built.  While  they lost this case , the Municipality is denying access to the site as they are owners of all surrounding land required to gain access to the new RIC site.  Court cases continue with no news to date of any settlement.

Recently, the Chios County Court rejected the Ministry of Migration’s application for interim measures against the Chios Municipality requesting unimpeded access to Tholos in view of the plans to construct this facility.  Court cases continue with no news to date of any settlement. As court cases continue, construction is delayed. Construction of a new facility will take up to 18 months if and when access to the site is granted. 

What all this may mean for the future Vial RIC in 2023 remains to be seen. The opening of a detention facility as proposed so far from town (25 km to the north of Chios town on the coast) will be detrimental to the provision of not only all non-government services but will further limit access to government services.  A.Ss.I.S.T. remote services may still be available depending on internet and mobile phones with asylum seekers.  At the very least, as long as we can retain the services of our Greek lawyers will retain the right to visit A.Ss.I.S.T. beneficiaries.  This will require additional budget for the increased cost of transport to and from such a facility, increased hours spent by Greek lawyers, etc. 

MAINLAND GREECE

The closure of government-funded housing schemes and of Elionas RIC causes increased hardship, particularly for the more vulnerable who were, to date, provided with housing outside the RICs. Applicants were threatened by the authorities with the closure of their case, if they refused to be relocated.  This is legal under the letter of the law as the authorities can close cases based on ‘non-cooperation’.

Several beneficiaries of the housing program in Athens have been served with eviction notices. The government is making some exceptions and providing housing to the most vulnerable in camps, but others will be homeless unless the non-profits providing accommodation - already overwhelmed - can assist them. 

The untenable situation of many people having failed in their application for international protection and, and indeed, for many who are now beneficiaries is very clearly stated and best understood in the following reports:

RSA: https://rsaegean.org/en/beneficiaries-of-international-protection-in-greece-report/

Fenix, March 2022 “Caught in a Loop” https://www.fenixaid.org/articles/caught-in-a-loop-the-narrowing-access-to-asylum-in-greece-since-the-eu-turkey-statement

Essential services are also less accessible from RICS: cost of transport to urban centres, poor internet connections and other restrictions only increase the difficulties faced than in Athens or another urban centre. Noticeably more technical difficulties are encountered with clients at some sites on the mainland.  Difficulties faced by clients to complete a Power of Attorney, to access support for the web-based electronic forms, completing required steps in accessing both legal aid and the relevant authorities.  

Revised procedures for the making an initial claim for international protection on the mainland have changed.  From six RICs where registration of a claim was once accepted this is now reduced to two centres. On the Islands with RICs, there is no changes.   (See Section on Legal Aid Challenges below.)

THROUGHOUT GREECE.

As previously reported, on 10 June 2022 the new Law No. 4939/2022: “Ratification of the Code of Reception for the reception, the international protection of third country nationals and stateless persons and the temporary protection in case of mass influx of displaced foreigners” came into force.  (See Section on Challenges below.)

Pushbacks

We continue to learn of pushbacks through social media as well as from the testimonies of those now on Chios who have survived them and finally managed to arrive and seek international protection. Many incidents of people landing on the Islands and fleeing inland for fear of being pushed back to Turkey are reported.  In some instances, there has been loss of life.  On the mainland, information about the brutal treatment of attempted arrivals at the land border is well documented by ECRE, RSA and others.

No deportations … as yet.

The Greek authorities have confirmed that they are not sending readmission requests to the Turkey authorities.  Media reports state also that the Turkish government is not accepting ‘returnees’ from Greece. 

Force Returns from other EU Countries to Greece have started.

While we find no reports or statistics on this, A.Ss.I.S.T. has several clients now in detention upon their forced return or left to their own resources upon arrival in Athens.  So far, our clients have been sent back from Germany and Switzerland.  Some returnees failed initial appllications in Greece; others received protection in Greece but overstayed their Schengen rights (90 days). With the cooperation of the Detention Centre, detainees may be able to provide to A.Ss.I.S.T., duly signed Powers of Attorneys to permit A.Ss.I.S.T. to submit subsequent applications or have them released on other grounds. Those returned having already received protection in Greece are not detained but face other issues, for example, expired Greek IDs.   Returnees from Switzerland receive 2 days accommodation in a hotel plus Euros 20 cash.  Thereafter, without the intervention of non-profits, they are left to their own resources - being none. Accommodation non-profit services are already overwhelmed due to the closure of government-funded housing programs. 

A.Ss.I.S.T. SERVICES - CHALLENGES AND PROGRESS

INFORMATION SERVICES.

The main challenge was and remains adapting our information services to the many changes that occur: Law 4939/June 2022, a change in registration procedures on the mainland and the introduction of e-services by the Ministry of Migration, to name the most recent.  There are also directives issued by the Ministry to the Asylum Services of which A.Ss.I.S.T. lawyer remain unaware until the directives are implemented and, from experience, such directives are implemented either differently or begin implementation at different times and at different branches of the Asylum Services and police.

PROGRESS

The number of inquiries received on A.Ss.I.S.T. office phones from asylum seekers and BIPs more than doubled from 2372 (Jan-Mar 2022) to 5002 (Apr-Jun 2022) with 4185 (July to September2022).   The initial increase in the first two quarters can be attributed to the addition of an additional phone line as of March with the creation of the Athens-Team:  currently, one lawyer, on Client Services Coordinator and one volunteer Legal Advisor.   Another VLA joined in November.

The Team lawyers and volunteer legal advisors continue to revise the Information Session scripts to comply with Law 4939/June 2022 and the many procedurals changes that were made from July to the present.  There were sufficient significant changes since June 2022 to require the retranslation of all scripts and information materials.  Translations of revised scripts into Arabic, Dari/Farsi, French, Lingala and Somali are nearing completion.

FAQ are being corrected and recorded to facilitate responses to queries on our help lines. 

Fact checking of all information received is of paramount importance to protect our clients and others within the AS & BIP communities.  We are accountable for the accuracy of the information and for the relevance and quality of all our services, for our every action involving our clients as they may well base life-changing decisions on this.

LEGAL AID

CHALLENGES

in August, two significant procedural changes.

1. On the mainland, to claim international protection, one can only register at 2 RICS (https://apps.migration.gov.gr/international-protection-registration?lang=en) To do so they must first make an appointment via the Ministry of Migration website.
2. The digitisation of access to the Greek Asylum Services. For a detailed understanding of the difficulties created for both lawyers and applications: see Equal Legal Aid's September 2022 report "Digistisation of Asylum Services in Greece".

A.Ss.I.S.T. is supporting people to register for both initial claims and for subsequent applications.  It is not uncommon for one of the two sites to respond that no appointments are available or for the site not to be working. Some appointments are not until April/May 2023.  Delayed registration for those seeking international protection means no material assistance from the Greek state. The certificate e-mailed to applicants confirming the appointment is not sufficient to protect people from arrest and detention.

The challenges faced by all legal actors - private and non-profit - are too many to list.  Those mentioned in our Report January to June continue and more recent barriers have been raised by the Authorities as mentioned above.  

CASE STUDIES OF PROCEDURAL FAILURES

Example of challenges faced by applicants for international protection even in the presence of their lawyer.

The first case concerns the registration of a subsequent application for international protection. It was observed that if the applicant had not been properly prepared at an earlier stage and accompanied in the procedure, the questions asked in the registration were very misleading . This raises doubts about the lawfulness of the registration procedure, as the questions were of such a nature that were answered with yes or no (if you had not been prepared), with the result that no new and substantial evidence emerged and the subsequent application would have to be rejected. In the case we handled, the subsequent request was deemed admissible and the applicant will be interviewed on the merits in September. Serious confidentiality issues were noted, as the recording in Alimos was done in an open area, with all interested parties (applicants, lawyers and interpreter) that were more than 20 persons present at the same time.

The second case concerns accompaniment and representation at the interview at the Asylum Service. The woman had been prepared , but we faced many and serious difficulties during the procedure. The interview lasted only two hours and took place under conditions that clearly do not respect of the applicants' rights. First of all, the interview took place remotely, with very serious technical and sound problems.  These problems were pointed out by the case officer.  As a result, the applicant and survivor of multiple forms of GBV was forced to speak very loudly about her case giving rise to serious concerns about respect of  the right to confidentiality. In addition, a two-year-old child, who was crying and screaming all the time was present and breastfeeding on camera. Such conditions are not appropriate for a personal interview critical to the outcome of the case: an interview which requires absolute concentration on the part of the application.   Had the A.Ss.I.S.T. lawyer not built a relationship of trust and security (and was present at the interview), the woman would not have been able to complete the interview. Following the interview, the A.Ss.I.S.T. lawyer submitted  a memorandum setting out in writing all the difficulties that the applicant faced and the legal justifications to grant this woman international protection.

The third case concerns a supplementary oral hearing before the Appeals Authority . The applicant was interviewed by telephone (this is unacceptable and should always be in person or at the very least via secure video-conference connection and recorded). The applicant stated that he was under the influence of psychiatric medication which manifestly affected his concentration and ability to recall memories and yet the competent officer was shouting at him on the telephone and taunting him. After many attempts, the applicant's examination was postponed, but there is no longer any optimism about the positive progress of the case. The applicant had been preparing for more than one and half month, but his mental state is particularly strained.  It is clear that such an important procedure has no chance of success in such circumstances for people with fragile mental health.

PROGRESS

From April to September 2022, A.Ss.I.S.T. provided free legal services to 656 people of 24 nationalities providing interpreter services in 15 languages other than Greek and English. Statistics for the final quarter of 2023 are not yet available.

Compared to January to March 2022, when there were 158 consultations, from April to June there were 329 consultations and from July to September 2022, there were 427 consultations. Each month as by each quarter, the number of consultations increased.  Similarly, the number of Athens-based clients rose from 61 to 246 to 284 across the 3 quarterly periods.  Consultations with clients elsewhere in Greece increased from 4 to 29 to 39, several of whom were clients now seeking our assistance from abroad.  Statistics for October/November are not yete available.

The number of clients served in Chios tends to mirror the number of arrivals as the residents of Vial RIC go through the procedure.  When there is a sudden increase in the number of arrivals, given the speed with which the Asylum Services proceed after Registration, sometimes results in A.Ss.I.S.T. calling on our lawyers and interpreters to do ‘emergency’ interview preparations on weekends. For example, released from quarantine and registered on Thursday, appointment on Monday is announced on Friday, allowing no time for the applicants to seek legal services.

 The number of representations made by our Greek lawyers with relevant authorities on behalf of A.Ss.I.S.T. clients over the first three quarters increased significantly from 420 to 622 to 734 contacts (calls, emails and visits to Asylum Services and police). 

Regrettably A.Ss.I.S.T. can no longer track the outcome of appeals and subsequent applications submitted by our lawyers.  The Greek Asylum Service (GAS) now provides decisions directly to applicants only via email, or in Chios, both in person and by email.   Not all clients, for a variety of reasons, inform our office of the outcome of the appeals. To our knowledge, since January 2022, 27 appeals have been won for applicants from Afghanistan (10), Somalia (10) and West Africa (7).   Since May 2022, 11 subsequent applications were successful: of which 3 were Afghan applicants; 1 Somali and 1 Syrian; 1 Iraqi and 5 West African applicants. 

The results of A.Ss.I.S.T.’s legal work can be life-changing.  656 people received free legal consultations and many more free information and responses to their inquiries that may assist them in their applications for international protection. 

TRAINING - CHALLENGES AND PROPOSAL FOR 2023

Due to funding constraints, no formal training workshops were held in 2022.  A video-conference “Do’s and Don’ts interpreting for lawyers’ was held in June and  regular in-house workshops led by A.Ss.I.S.T. lawyers were held to update the Team on the changes in the law and in procedures to revise information materials and update the Information Session scripts.  

In collaboration with Emantes and the Babel Day Care project team, it is proposed to make a joint grant application for Team training on Trauma-informed legal practice in the context of working with asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection.  This is currently being discussed and designed.   The structure proposed at present incorporates much of the training previously provided underpinned by the theme of ‘trauma-informed practice’.  

STATISTICS

A glitch in the Client Records spreadsheet used as a basis for our statistics has delayed the presentation of the Quarterly Statistics for July to September 2022 in the format usually published in our Reports. Those that appear in the current text have been calculated directly from the Client list.   A data specialist is currently reviewing the spreadsheet to identify the problems for the second half of 2022.  It is hoped that the problems will be resolved very soon. April to June statistics were provided in our previous Report. 

A remote volunteer is currently developing a data base on AirTable for 2023 which will be tested for its effectiveness and efficiency for A.Ss.I.S.T. recording purposes.  It is anticpated that AirTable has the capability to incorporate our Client Referral Registries - in-coming and out-going - as well as the feedback forms - sent and received - by clients.  

It is proposed to incorporate the following statistics in future reports.

1. Support in using e-services through the Ministry of Migration’s website; (https://applications.migration.gov.gr/en/ypiresies-asylou/ and https://applications.migration.gov.gr/ypiresies-asylou/ )
2. Referrals made to other services (medical, psycho-social, material assistance, education and employment)

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Financial situation

Fund-raising in 2022 is down by almost 50% as at the same time in 2021.  A significant grant received in late 2021 for expenditure in 2022 supported A.Ss.I.S.T. Athens-Chios Co-location Project and a sizeable amount was carried forward from other sources into 2022. Several grant applications are pending, most with anticipated responses in or before mid-November.  Several crowdfunding events will take place in November and December 2022. Two recent successful grants awarded assure our continuation, if only at present to March 2023.

The factors contributing to the decrease in funds raised are shared by most NGOs, the impact of COVID19 on the general public, the war in Ukraine and the forecast recession with most countries already experiencing increasing rates of inflation and, from non-Euro donors, the fall of currencies’ rate of exchange against the US$ and the Euro. Several of our previous regular donors are no longer supporting programs in Europe other than the border countries to the Ukraine.  Funds are less and spread more widely, therefore thinner.

In 2023, savings against budgets will be made by replacing current paid administrative positions by volunteers. Prior to March 2022,  the position in Chios was filled very effectively by volunteers.  Two long-term volunteers have already accepted to join A.Ss.I.S.T. in January 2023 and a third, short-term (6 weeks) will provide administrative support to the new Office & Client Services Managers in both Chios and Athens. 

Office location in Athens

A.Ss.I.S.T. will share an office with Refugee Legal Support (UK) at Alexandras 14, Athens.  The office is central and easily accessible by public transport.  A.Ss.I.S.T. will have one office for a lawyer and legal advisors, an administration office shared with RLS, an open space for holding meetings, trainings and information sessions and bathroom and kitchen facilities.  

On behalf of the Team 2022 - we wish you all a Happy holiday season, a healthy and safe 2023 and most of all that conflicts and wars will end and that there will be peace. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this Report.  

Links:

• Access to the Greek Asylum Services
• Beneficiaries of International Protection in Greece
• Caught in a loop: the narrowing of access to asylum in Greece

Context Update

CHIOS ISLAND

In the first Quarter, unofficial sources inform of several boats arriving and reports of pushbacks continued throughout the quarter.  Several organisations report receiving messages and photo evidence  from people who landed on Chios and were then ‘pushed back’ to Turkey. 

During this second quarter of 2022, from official figures provided to 26^th June: the total number of people arriving on Chios by boat from Turkey seeking international protection and registered at the Vial RIC was 137 people.  There were very few arrivals in April/May, less than 20 persons. Between 01 and 26  June 2022^[1], 107 persons arrived seeking international protection, more than 50% of whom are Somalis. By 26^th  June there were  385 asylum seekers and beneficiaries were living on Chios Island of whom 157 were living in the Vial RIC (Reception Identification Centre: containment facility),  169 self-accommodated in and around the town of Chios and the balance hosted in other facilities.

From 26^th June to the time of writing this Report (12 July 2022) 170 people arrived on Chios by boat from Turkey seeking international protection.  

Proposed New ‘Closed’ Facility On Chios Island.

The Municipality of Chios has won the court case against the central government over the ownership and use of the current Vial RIC property.  And, RIC employees were informed that the current Vial facility  will be handed back to the Municipality at the end of December and that a new 'closed' facility will open at the end of 2022 at the  previously proposed site on a rocky barren peninsular next to a fishing village, about 25 minutes’ drive north of Chios town on the east coast of the Island.  In direct contradiction to this information,  local people were expressing  the belief that the government’s  plan to build another 'closed'  facility on Chios has been dropped due to popular demand.  There were many demonstrations in early 2022 against the proposed new facility. More recently, local people express the view that the new Facility will not go forward before the next elections are held: due in June 2023.  Some also affirm the belief that, due to the downturn in the economy,  COVID and the Russian war in Ukraine, the government will bring forward the elections for 2023 to reduce the risk of losing the elections.   

It is a fact that the Municipality won the court case to recover the Vial property from the Ministry of Migration. The remainder of this information remains to be seen and is either proposed, conjecture or rumour.

There were no further reduction is services to asylum seekers in Vial RIC or marked improvements in services, to our knowledge[2].  It is however muted that a transportation service to and from the hospital will be re-introduced in the next Quarter: July to September 2022.

With the lifting of COVID9 restrictions, the issuance of fines to new arrivals has ceased and fewer reports of mobile phones being confiscated or not returned.  Quarantine of new arrivals is said to have also been reduced to 5 days and PCR tests are no longer required to access essential services.   

Deportations Or Legal Forced Removals

The EU-Turkey agreement appears to have been suspended indefinitely.  Although land and sea borders reopened on 01 March 2022, the Greek authorities have confirmed that they are not sending readmission requests to the Turkey authorities.^[3]  Media reports state also that the Turkish government is not accepting ‘returnees’ from Greece. 

ATHENS AND THE MAINLAND.

Our lawyers continue to face the same problems in Athens and on the mainland more generally.  

1. Fast tracked interviews are being held only days after the registration and/or release from detention; these interviews are being arranged without proper access to medical and vulnerability screening and without legal counselling about the procedure and without the possibility to exercise the right to have representation at the time of the interview.
2. Many applicants also mention difficulties in submitting electronically (via email) additional documents presenting evidence for their case after their interview.  This is their right and these documents could be crucial to their asylum claim.
3. The systematic rejection based on admissibility of almost all applicants leaving them in limbo, without access to basic rights and they are not being returned to Turkey
4. Applicants have also been deprived de facto of their right to receive legal aid and submit an appeal
5. Due to systematic delivery of first instance decision via email, many applicants report that without legal assistance they are not able to file electronic applications before the Asylum Service: for example, applications for booking an appointment, requesting copies of their personal file and, very important, to change the personal data and contacts.  If the latter is not completed, the Asylum Service could close their case.
6. While there is a state run free legal aid scheme for the  2nd instance procedure, applicants are ill-informed and in reality, they have no clear idea  as to the reasons for submitting an appeal or of the shortcomings of the procedure.
7. Applicants report that there is no introduction to  the procedure of an admissible subsequent application.
8. Access to health, social security, welfare allowances have been problematic without legal aid assistance.
9. Beneficiaries of international protection (BIPs) report that they have not been informed of the procedure for booking an appointment for finger prints at the local police station.  This is the initial requirement for receiving a resident’s ID.

The closure of government-funded housing schemes and  of  Elionas Camp is cause for  serious concern, particularly for the more vulnerable having been to date provided with housing in apartments outside the RICs.

NEW LAW PASSED

Another new law came into force on 10 June, 2022: Law No. 4939/2022 “Ratification of the Code of Reception for the reception, the international protection of third country nationals and stateless persons and the temporary protection in case of mass influx of displaced foreigners”. 

This is the fourth major legislation in Asylum and Migration Law in Greece in as many years:  each law harsher than the last.  The amendments to these laws and the constant revisions to procedures and regulations announced by the authorities complicates the provision of legal services and compounds the difficulties faced by applicants for international protection.

PROGRESS AND ACTIVITIES.

A Board Meeting was held on 15^th June 2022 in preparation for the Annual General Meeting (AGM)  to discuss and review the forward strategy and budget for the period July to December 2022.   Forwarded in advance to all participants invited to  the AGM held on 27^th June 2022, after some clarifications and discussion, the forward strategy and budget were duly approved.  

The audit of 2021 accounts was completed.

INFORMATION SERVICES.

As shown by the contact log record,  A.Ss.I.S.T. continues to respond to queries from many asylum seekers and (BIPs). The number of queries received by A.Ss.I.S.T. office phones more than doubled this Quarter (from 2372 queries/requests for service to 5002). The number of contacts made by our lawyers to the authorities on behalf of our clients also increased significantly from 420 to 622 contacts.  This again may be attributed to  the introduction of an additional helpline operating  in Athens and growing awareness of A.Ss.I.S.T.’s presence there.

Four Q&A sessions led by A.Ss.I.S.T. lawyers were held at the request of organisations in Athens in May and June 2022.

With the new law: Law No. 4939/2022 ”Ratification of the Code of Reception for the reception, the international protection of third country nationals and stateless persons and the temporary protection in case of mass influx of displaced foreigners”  came into force on 10 June 2022,  A.Ss.I.S.T. must defer the recommencement of Information Sessions as anticipated.   All audio-visual presentations need to be reviewed in light of any changes identified within this new Law and additions may also be required.  This will mean considerable work for the whole Team: review of the legislation by the lawyers, their recommendations implemented by other Team members, scripts and voiceovers amended and the translations and voice overs in 5 languages redone.

An in-house workshop led by the lawyers with the participation of the whole Team, lawyers, administrative staff and interpreters.  Some VLAs who continue to offer their services for interview preparation in emergencies will also be invited to attend.  It is essential that all Team members are aware of current and accurate information prior to delivering A.Ss.I.S.T. services.

LEGAL AID

In the second Quarter, there was a significant increase in the number of clients served and consultations.

January to March 2022   158 consultations 

April to June 2022            329 consultations. 

 In the second quarter,  from April to June 2022, the number of  Athens-based consultations rose from 61 to 246  with an increased number of referrals also from other sites in Greece, from 4 to 29 consultations. There was an increase in the number of Subsequent Applications, of Interview Preparations and of administrative services provided.  While the number of appeals and legal question consults remained fairly stable. Within this three month period,  A.Ss.I.S.T. served 269 clients from 24 nationalities requiring interpreter services in 13 languages other than Greek and English. 

The increase in legal aid services can be attributed to the contributions of an additional Greek lawyer and Client Services Coordinator who have established and have been developing A.Ss.I.S.T.’s presence in Athens since mid-March 2022 resulting in an increased awareness of A.Ss.I.S.T. services in Athens and more widely on the mainland. It is important to understand however that  this caseload would not have been possible without the remote support and continued services of our Chios-based lawyers, the Office & Client Services Manager and our Team of on-call volunteer interpreters/translators.

The Team 

Our volunteer interpreter (English-French) and coordinator of social media and publication design left Greece but continues to offer her services remotely.

One of our long-term volunteer interpreters (English-Arabic-Somali) has been appointed to a full-time paid position on Samos Island.  He volunteered with A.Ss.I.S.T. for over two years and he will be much missed.  In July 2022, A.Ss.I.S.T. will lose the invaluable services of a key Team member, after one year of volunteering, she was appointed to the new employee position of Office & Client Services Manager on a six month contract.  To our chagrin, she has decided not to renew her contract and leaves towards the end of July.   The replacement Manager will join the Team mid-July to assure a thorough handover of the position.  At the end of June, the Coordinator -Athens resigned to take up another position.  The replacement Coordinator will also commence in mid-July 2022.

 Two volunteers, both bilingual English: French and both with legal studies backgrounds will join the Team in July 2022. They will take up mixed duties of interpreters and information materials redevelopment and delivery.  As always training will be provided after induction and orientation with the Team in Chios.

ATHENS-CHIOS CO-LOCATION PROJECT

Office space

Currently we have exclusive access to a private office within the premises of Safe Place Greece. The office is on the mezzanine floor with a small waiting area at the door and we have shared access to facilities on the ground floor. The Athens Team continues to have access every Friday to an office in the ANKAA Project with the possibility to book an office with advanced notice.  A.Ss.I.S.T. is currently seeking independent office premises in central Athens.

 Increased  and expanded services to clients based in Athens and surrounds

The Athens-based Team members are now facilitating specific services for clients in Athens. For example, the requisite processing of documents (Powers of Attorney, submission of client documents to the authorities), the operation of an Athens-based enquiry line and, as appropriate, representing our clients directly with the authorities, police or asylum services. Under the above-mentioned project, it is proposed, subject to finding office premises to employ a Social worker to serve A.Ss.I.S.T. clients.

NETWORKING  & MEETINGS

A.Ss.I.S.T.  is represented at both national and Chios-based coordination meetings, most of which are held on a monthly basis:   UNHCR Protection Working Group and UNHCR Legal Working Group (Chios) and Legal Aid network (national).

Chios Coordination Group is currently limited to WhatsApp exchanges.  It is proposed to recommence meetings in

On 3rd June in Chios and on 4^th June in Athens, A.Ss.I.S.T. lawyers met the ASGI research teams  

A.Ss.I.S.T.  representatives participated in the UNHCR Seminar on Racism held in Chios on Friday, June 16^th, 2022.

All Team Members continue to maintain and strengthen our networks bearing in mind the diverse services much needed by asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection. 

FUND RAISING

Funding opportunities in legal aid are limited when operating from within Greece and some of our regular small grant donors are now turning their attention towards the plight of refugees from Ukraine in eastern Europe. A.Ss.I.S.T. has been working on several grant applications, will be submitting several in July and September. A.Ss.I.S.T.’s Legal Representative visited Switzerland and made some promising contacts through our partner Organsiation, Choosehumanity-CH for both awareness and fund raising.

A.Ss.I.S.T is participating in the GlobalGiving Bonus Day campaign on 20^th  July. A letter promoting our participation was forwarded to all donors registered on our mailing list and social media posts will announce our participation closer to the day.  

Looking Forward..

July

• New  Office & Client Services Manager- Chios and Office & Clients Service Development Coordinator -  Athens join the Team.
• Two volunteers with legal training and language skills join the Team.
• GlobalGiving 20 July Bonus Day Campaign.
• End of Year 2021 Report published on website
• Quarter 2 Report ready and posted on website (mid-July 2022).
• Information materials review and amendments begin.
• Search for Independent office premises begins late July if funds available.

 August

• In-house workshops:  Law 4939/2022 and “Do’s and Don’ts Interpreting for Lawyers”
• renewal of Athens lawyer and Coordinator contracts  (pending funds available by September 2022).
• Some Team members may take summer break.
• recruitment of Social Worker if office premises available.

September

• Information Sessions may commence in Athens and Chios.
• Athens lawyer contract extended for 3 months (ACCP grant funds

Renewed  and sincere thanks to all who support our endeavours to contribute to the welfare of asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection in Greece.

Thank you for taking the time to read this Report.

^[1] UNHCR Chios Weekly Snapshot dated 26 June 2022.

[2] See A.Ss.I.S.T. Second Quarter Report at https://assistchios.info

[3] Fenix, March 2022 “Caught in a Loop” p. 10 #47  available at https://www.fenixaid.org/articles/caught-in-a-loop-the-narrowing-access-to-asylum-in-greece-since-the-eu-turkey-statement

• Statisticss - A.Ss.I.S.T. Jan to June 2022 (PDF)
  
• Contact Log A.Ss.I.S.T.'s Helplines Jan-June 2022 (PDF)