Greece: WRI Submission to the UPR

In March 2021, War Resisters’ International has submitted a report in the context of the 3rd Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of Greece by the UN Human Rights Council.

The report details numerous violations of human rights of conscientious objectors in Greece, including:

• the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
• the right to freedom from discrimination;
• the right to the presumption of innocence;
• economic and social rights including the right of the worker to earn his living in an occupation freely entered upon;
• the right to liberty;
• the right to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law;
• the ne bis in idem principle;
• the right not to be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice;
• the right not to be subjected to degrading treatment;
• the right to be tried in his presence; the right to vote and to be elected;
• the right to be free to leave any country, including his own;
• the right to work;
• the right to protection of property.

The report concludes with two suggested recommendations, one based on a recommendation made by Slovenia to Greece during the previous UPR cycle, and another referring to the relevant recommendations on conscientious objectors of the Human Rights Committee and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.

You can see the full report here, or download below.