Exodus Newsletter #3

 

National Action Plan Against Racism and Intolerance (2020–2023): The Ministry of Justice at the forefront for a discrimination-free Greece and its participation in the EXODUS Project

The Ministry of Justice of the Hellenic Republic, a fundamental pillar of the rule of law with a history dating back to 1833, is primarily responsible for ensuring the effective organization and functioning of the judiciary, developing policies that guarantee unimpeded and inclusive access to justice for all, and delivering justice swiftly and with quality. Furthermore, it oversees the harmonization of national legislation with international and European law, defends and promotes human rights, and fosters transparency through the design and implementation of policies that strengthen justice, combat crime, and safeguard equality and equal treatment for all citizens.

Between 2020 and 2023, the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with other stakeholders, implemented the National Action Plan Against Racism and Intolerance. This Plan was funded by the European Union under the initiative “Developing a comprehensive strategy against racism, intolerance and hate crime” within the “Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme”, and provides a comprehensive framework to effectively address racism, intolerance, racist violence, and all forms of discrimination in Greece, with the ultimate goal of upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms.

 

Key Pillars and Objectives of the Action Plan:

The National Action Plan focused on critical areas such as:

• Combating racist crimes: Enhancing the reporting and recording of incidents, while providing specialized training to prosecutors and law enforcement officials on issues of racist violence and hate motives.

 

• Prevention and awareness: Promoting systematic public awareness campaigns on various forms of discrimination, stereotypes, and prejudice. Special emphasis is placed on educating young people and helping them understand the consequences of phenomena such as antisemitism and other forms of intolerance, thus promoting mutual understanding and respect.

 

• Inclusion and empowerment: Aiming to ensure the seamless integration and empowerment of vulnerable groups by securing their equal access to essential services and resources.

 

• Improving statistical data: Striving to collect comprehensive statistical data on incidents of racist violence, which contributes to better understanding and more effective responses to the phenomenon.

 

Our Participation in the EXODUS Project:

As part of its ongoing commitment to combat racism and intolerance, particularly antisemitism, the Ministry of Justice is actively participating in the EXODUS project. This project aims to combat antisemitic crimes in Greece and Europe through a comprehensive criminal justice and victim support framework, with full respect for human rights.

The EXODUS project is developing practical tools to support frontline professionals in identifying and effectively responding to antisemitic crimes. Participation in such initiatives enhances the efforts of the National Action Plan by creating synergies and drawing on European practices to build a fairer and more inclusive society, free from racial, religious, ethnic, and all forms of discrimination.

The National Action Plan and the participation in projects, like EXODUS, serve as important tools in building a more cohesive, tolerant, and safe society in Greece, where respect for diversity and zero tolerance for any form of intolerance, including antisemitism, are core values and cornerstones of our democracy.