Solicitud directa (CEACR) - Adopción: 2015, Publicación: 105ª reunión CIT (2016)

Convenio sobre las peores formas de trabajo infantil, 1999 (núm. 182) - Grecia (Ratificación : 2001)

Otros comentarios sobre C182

Solicitud directa

Respuestas recibidas a las cuestiones planteadas en una solicitud directa que no dan lugar a comentarios adicionales

2018

Visualizar en: Francés - EspañolVisualizar todo

Article 5 of the Convention. Monitoring mechanisms. Directorate of Cybercrime. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes from the Government’s report that the Sub-directorate for the Prosecution of Cybercrime has been upgraded and is now termed as Directorate for Cybercrime (DCC). It notes that the DCC constitutes a central unit under the Hellenic Police Headquarters and is responsible for combating child pornography through the Internet. The Committee notes, however, that while the Government provides detailed information on the measures taken to advise students and parents on safe browsing of the Internet and to avoid Internet addiction of students, no information on measures taken to combat child pornography through the Internet has been provided. The Committee, therefore, requests the Government to provide information on the specific measures taken by the Directorate of Cybercrime to monitor and combat child pornography through the Internet and the results achieved.

Articles 5 and 6. Monitoring mechanisms and programmes of action. The Police and Anti-Crime Policy Programme 2015–19. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that the new Anti-Crime Policy Programme 2015–19 (ACPP 2015–19) has been elaborated with the aim of protecting minors. It notes the Government’s indication that in the context of the ACPP 2015–19, the key priority of the Hellenic Police is the fight against trafficking in persons, including children. Accordingly, the development of several action plans has been envisaged, including the strict enforcement of the provisions prohibiting trafficking of persons; conducting awareness-raising programmes on the phenomenon of trafficking for officials and personnel dealing with the cases of trafficking in persons as well as officers at border points; conducting inspections and investigations in order to identify all forms of trafficking in persons and to provide for proper assistance to victims of trafficking; and special measures to handle cases of trafficking involving minors. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that the Police Division has prepared 15 special operational plans to combat trafficking in persons. In addition, a comprehensive and multifaceted strategy has been developed by the Hellenic Police aimed at combating the trafficking of minors, including: updating of the interdepartmental operational action plan with a view to addressing the sexual exploitation of minors; holding training sessions for police officials on issues of trafficking in persons; and participating in training organized by the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union–Frontex, on training border guards in combating trafficking in persons. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that the Hellenic Police Division detected three cases of trafficking of minors in 2013, and 14 cases in 2014. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the number of cases of trafficking of minors detected by the Hellenic Police Division, investigations carried out, prosecutions and penalties applied. It also requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken within the framework of the Anti-Crime Policy Programme 2015–19 on combating the trafficking of children.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour, and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Child victims of trafficking. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that the Office of the National Rapporteur (NRO), which acts as the national coordinating authority for combating trafficking in persons, established the National Referral Mechanism and a permanent Consultation Forum with the aim of ensuring access of child victims of trafficking to support services. According to the Government’s report, the National Referral Mechanism collects requests for protection made by victims of trafficking from the competent public authorities and thereafter develops and puts in place a system to report, refer and monitor the handling of requests which will be forwarded to the National Rapporteur. The Committee also notes that the national helplines accept requests for social assistance and protection of minors who are in danger, including child victims of trafficking, and cooperates with the competent prosecution and other authorities for the immediate protection of such minors. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the number of requests received by the National Referral Mechanism and the national helplines for the protection of child victims of trafficking and the number of such children who have been provided with appropriate protection and assistance for their rehabilitation and social integration.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at risk. 1. Street children. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s statement that child labour in the streets was a social problem, and therefore all institutions dealing with families and children (including local government agencies, the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Education) must be committed to the prevention and resolution of the problem, in addition to the efforts made by the Hellenic Police.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that a Mobile School Programme has been implemented in the Thessaloniki region in order to reintegrate into the school environment children aged 5 to 18 years who spend most of their day on the streets, selling small items, or children belonging to socially excluded groups. The Government also states that special units established within the Hellenic Police develop targeted actions and conduct continuous inspections at institutions or of persons who have the custody of children, as well as to identify and prosecute adults exploiting children. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the number of street children who have benefited from the Mobile School Programme as well as the number of children who have been withdrawn from the streets and provided protection following the actions of the special unit of the Hellenic Police. It also requests the Government to pursue its efforts to protect street children from the worst forms of child labour and to provide for their rehabilitation and reintegration.

2. Unaccompanied minors. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) expressed concern about the great number of migrant and asylum-seeking children, including unaccompanied children, arriving daily at Greece’s borders, the lack of reception facilities and the poor quality of the existing ones.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that identification and support of unaccompanied minors is a major priority, as it is the main group at risk of being trafficked and exploited. Towards this end, potential victims of child trafficking are protected in 11 shelters, while the National Centre for Social Solidarity (EKKA) manages all relevant applications. The Committee further notes the Government’s information with regard to the system of handling of requests for housing made by asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors by the EKKA. The Government indicates that according to EKKA statistics, 823 requests for housing of unaccompanied minors have been recorded in 2012, 1,150 requests in 2013 and 2,390 requests in 2014. The Committee further notes from the Government’s report that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been running a programme for voluntary return and reintegration for unaccompanied minors funded by European Union (EU) countries. In addition, the IOM provides funding to three NGOs which run a total of four centres for unaccompanied minors. These centres provide legal and psychosocial support as well as health services. However, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that due to the large number of requests for housing of unaccompanied minors, there is a long waiting period since the available accommodation centres are not enough to meet the needs. The Committee requests the Government to continue to take the necessary measures to provide appropriate support and assistance to unaccompanied minors so as to prevent them from engaging in the worst forms of child labour. It also requests the Government to provide information on measures taken in this regard as well as on the number of unaccompanied children who had been provided protection and assistance at the accommodation centres or provided with appropriate shelter.

3. Roma children. The Committee previously noted that in its concluding observations of 13 August 2012, the CRC, while noting that efforts were made by Greece to ensure equal enjoyment of rights for Roma children, expressed deep concern at the negative attitudes, prejudices and discrimination against children of minorities and in particular Roma children, especially with regard to their disparities, poverty and equal access to health and education. The CRC was further concerned at the low school enrolment rates and high school drop-out rates and the segregation of Roma children in schools.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the implementation of the project “Education Roma Children” within the context of the Operational Programme “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs has contributed to the increase in the enrolment of Roma children at pre-school and elementary levels. This project aims at enhancing access by Roma children to schools and their regular attendance in line with clear integration guidelines. The Committee notes, however, from a report on discrimination of Roma children in education by the European Commission of October 2014, that according to the findings of a 2012 survey by the Fundamental Rights Agency, World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, more than 35 per cent of Roma children are not attending school in Greece. Considering that education contributes to preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to strengthen its efforts, within the framework of “Education Roma Children”, to facilitate access of Roma children to free basic education. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard and on the results achieved, particularly with regard to increasing their school enrolment rates and reducing their school drop-out rates.

Article 8. International cooperation. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that in the context of the bilateral and multilateral relations of the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reconstruction, about 25 Police Cooperation Agreements, including to combat the trafficking of minors, have been concluded with the competent authorities of European and third world countries. The Hellenic Police also participates in implementing the EU Policy Cycle with a special focus on trafficking of minors, and in activities organized by the EU Member States under the auspices of the European Commission aimed at designing procedures for the protection of minors. The Committee also notes the following initiatives through international cooperation undertaken by the NRO: (i) several awareness-raising campaigns, including audio-video and theatrical performances relevant to trafficking in persons have been organized in collaboration with the EU institutions, IOM and other NGOs; (ii) a public workshop on sexual exploitation has been organized in partnership with the French Embassy in Greece, with the participation of French, Greek and EU officials as well as NGOs with the main focus on issues related to trafficking in persons; and (iii) a transnational meeting between Greece–Bulgaria–Albania–Romania, with the title “Joint actions for the protection of children on the move” was organized in collaboration with the NGO ARSIS from 16–17 March 2015; and a Conference on prostitution and trafficking in Greece, hosting ministers, officials and heads of international organizations and representatives of NGOs and migrant communities, was organized in Greece on 29 April 2015.

Judicial decisions and practical application of the Convention. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the statistical information from the Hellenic courts on the number of cases and convictions for offences related to the worst forms of child labour. The Committee notes that, in 2014, there were eight prosecutions and four convictions for crimes relating to the sale and trafficking of children; 17 prosecutions and four convictions for child prostitution; and 73 prosecutions and 33 convictions for crimes relating to child pornography.