THREAD/1: In April and May @migrationgovgr introduced regulations on NGOs working on migration, asylum & integration. Today @amnesty analysis of the rules concludes that they violate the right to freedom of association, threatening civic space in Greece https://bit.ly/2CYp0FD 

2/The new Joint Ministerial Decision No 3063 on the registries of Greek and foreign NGOs and their members and Art 58 of law no. 4686/2020 require all NGOs working in migr/asylum to undergo a burdensome registration process in order to continue carrying out operations in Greece.

3/These provisions are both discriminatory, as they impose additional requirements without apparent justification and only on NGOs working with people on the move, and at odds with international principles on the registration of NGOs and freedom of association.

4/Registration is mandatory for NGOs to take part in ‘implementation of activities in the areas of international protection, migration and social integration within the Greek territory’ (Art 58)
This is despite international principles clearly protecting unregistered associations

5/Registration requirements are burdensome and, in some cases, explicitly exclusionary of more recently created NGOs. Registering authorities are in some cases afforded discretionary powers to deny registration, which are liable to be used abusively or arbitrarily.

7/One emblematic example? Based on the new rules NGOs members may be denied registration based on a discretionary decision of the registering authority, who can take into account “data concerning the PERSONALITY and the actions” of the individuals.

8/A different JMD rule provides that NGOs and members can face de-registration and de-certification if changes about staff are not communicated in 24 hrs.

9/An additional ‘certification’ requirement is set for NGOs working in state-sponsored facilities or seeking European, national or other funding for specific activities. This is in contrast with NGOs' rights to “seek and secure funding and resources” irrespective of registration.

Don't take my word for it United Nations Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai - 2012

10/ The rules do not come in a vacuum. Over the past year, @amnesty noticed an increasingly antagonistic attitude of the Greek authorities towards NGOs working with people on the move, demonstrated through both institutional actions and in the tone assumed in public discourse.

11/The new International Protection Act, of November 2019, already restricted asylum-seekers' and migrants’ rights as well as NGOs’ activities - https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur25/1280/2019/en/

12/The public discourse has also been increasingly divisive, with labelling of so called ‘good’ and ‘bad’ NGOs and whipping up sentiment against those who are perceived to help migrants and refugees to the detriment of national interests.

13/Remember @GKoumoutsakos calling NGOs 'leeches' or @SteliosPetsas referring to some NGOs operating “in a faulty and parasitic manner”. https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/greece-passes-new-law-to-better-monitor-ngos-dealing-with-migration/

14/Restrictions on NGOs risk limiting the services for #refugeesgr, who often rely on them for basic services.

This is all the more harmful as the government extends lockdown in camps up to 31/08, limiting people's ability to access services outside -> https://bit.ly/39IvxQw 

15/Many international and domestic NGOs like @HIASGreece, @rspaegean and @chooselove spoke against the rules. @CoE_NGO also issued an opinion saying that rules "should be substantially revised so that they are brought into line with European standards.” https://www.coe.int/en/web/ingo/-/greek-legislation-on-ngo-registation

16/Ultimately, the rules risk paralysing the work of NGOs assisting asylum seekers and migrants, especially when it comes to smaller or more recently established NGOs, by creating a silencing and chilling effect on civil society organizations and #humanrightsdefenders

What @Amnesty asks: Repeal the rules and legislation or make it compliant with European and international standards on freedom of association, privacy, funding. Ensure that they are not discriminatory of NGOs working with migrants and asylum seekers/END