NGOs and volunteers helping refugees in Greece to be placed under state control
19.2.16 Follow us:
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19.2.16 Follow us:
| | Tweet- only in the Soviet Union and under the STASI in East Germany were NGOs expected to hand over lists and personal details of all their members/volunteers
- "In particular there should be no attempts by public authorities to make NGOs effectively agencies working under their control.." (Council of Europe)- the registration of volunteers has no place in a democracy (Director of Statewatch)
The General Secretariat of Aegean and Island Coordinating Committee have finally produced two forms that all NGOs working on the Greek islands to help refugees will have to complete and register with the police in order to carry on their work. NGOs and volunteers have been helping arriving refugees for more than a year - when for most of the time the EU and international agencies were conspicuously absent.
Tony Bunyan, Statewatch Director, comments:
"There is no better example of the crucial role of independent NGOs and volunteers than in the Greek islands over the last year and for long before that.
Now the Greek state at the behest of the EU is seeking to get all volunteers to "register" with the police and hand over lots of personal data including previous "activities" - they are being asked to spy on themselves. And NGOs are being asked register their organisations and hand over personal details of all their volunteers/members to the police.
Demands that NGOs hand over personal details of all their members to the state has no place in a democracy. The exceptional measures being taken in Greece may become the norm across the EU if not challenged now by NGOs and civil society."
NGO and volunteer "registration" forms
The "Organisation Profile" form (pdf) requires NGOs to give:
- personal details of all volunteers working with them
- naming their "Source(s) of income"
- affiliation with other groups active in Greece
- proposed place of action and type of voluntary work
- Proposed analytical program / Action Description
- naming their "Source(s) of income"
- affiliation with other groups active in Greece
- proposed place of action and type of voluntary work
- Proposed analytical program / Action Description
The "Personal Profile" (pdf) form apart from name, address, date of birth and passport number asks for:
- "Professional capacity"
- "Previous actions" (all activities it would appear)
- date of arrival and departure
- "Affiliation/cooperation with organisation(s) already active in Greece"
- "Proposed voluntary action in Greece"
- "Curriculum/Description Action
- "Proposed place of action and type of voluntary work"
- "Previous actions" (all activities it would appear)
- date of arrival and departure
- "Affiliation/cooperation with organisation(s) already active in Greece"
- "Proposed voluntary action in Greece"
- "Curriculum/Description Action
- "Proposed place of action and type of voluntary work"
Why this is an attack on freedom of expression and action