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Coe: Greece should return bill with human rights standards

Law would hinder the life-saving work carried out at sea

03 September, 20:26
(ANSA) - BELGRADE, SEP 3 - Greece should reconsider a legislative proposal currently being discussed that "would seriously hinder the life-saving work carried out at sea by NGOs, and their human rights monitoring capacities in the Aegean", said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, today.

Article 40 of the so-called 'Deportations and Return Bill' would introduce restrictions on the activities of civil society organisation in areas of competence of the Greek Coast Guard, and non-observance of these will be subject to heavy sanctions, Mijatovic noted. "Civil society organisations are instrumental in protecting the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, and play a major role in reporting and documenting pushbacks or other human rights violations," the Council of Europe recalled. (ANSA).

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