ABTTF attended Fundamental Rights Conference 2012

Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) has participated in the annual fundamental rights conference of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). The Fundamental Rights Conference 2012 discussed the very subject of this year’s agenda as ‘Justice in Austerity: Challenges and Opportunities for Access to Justice’ under the premises of the European Parliament in Brussels. On behalf of ABTTF, the conference was attended by Seyhan Sarica, member of the International Affairs and Lobby Group.

Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament: Economic crisis threatens the basic and fundamental rights of having access to justice and fair trial

Schulz pointed out that the heavy austerity measures and cuts on public spendings implemented in the vast majority of the EU Member States in order to counterfight the prevailing economic crisis threaten access to justice and fair trial, which are in fact the very basic rights and freedoms of the EU citizens as guaranteed by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Nils Muiznieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights: Legal aid should not be seen as charity but as an obligation of community

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, in his opening speech on the second day of the conference, 7 December, underlined the European approach to fundamental human rights by stating that the legal aid should not be seen as charity but as an obligation of community.

Jonas Grimheden, FRA Team Coordinator Access to Justice, presented the Fundamental Rights Report “Access to Justice in Cases of Discrimination in the EU: Steps to further equality”. Grimheden informed the audiance on the works of FRA regarding an EU directive which comprises legal support in access to justice, mediatory mechanism and the role of NGOs in access to justice.

Hellenic Commission for Human Rights: In economic crisis, hate crimes have become invisible

In the Working Group IV on “Strengthening access to justice through bodies with a human rights remit”, attended by Seyhan Sarica Member of the International Affairs and Lobby Group of ABTTF, Stamatia Stavrinaki from the Hellenic Commission for Human Rights acknowledged the increase in hate crime cases in Greece due to the economic crisis while stressing the tendencies to render hate crimes invisible. Victims’ avoiding to report the hate attack and the perpetrator caused a delayed intervention by the state, expressed Stavrinaki her endavours in the case. Following long-lasting efforts of the Hellenic Human Rights Commission, a newly developed reporting machenism is in place.