In July, Equal Rights Beyond Borders and the University of Münster submitted a Third-Party Intervention to the European Court of Human Rights in K.A. and Others v. Greece. The case concerns the detention of a Syrian family in multiple locations in 2020. The intervention argues that immigration detention must be viewed differently from criminal detention and that asylum seekers face unique barriers in accessing justice. Equal Rights is committed to ensuring that human rights protections remain effective and accessible for all.

Following a complaint on behalf of two recognised refugees who, after being evicted from the Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) of Kos, found themselves in precarious living conditions and unable to exercise many of their rights, the Ombudsman called on the administration to immediately issue the complainants’ residence permits. In a letter to the authorities concerned, the Ombudsman also criticised the absence of a ministerial decision providing for the extension of the stay of certain categories of beneficiaries of international protection in the CCAC beyond a month after the delivery of a positive asylum decision, as well as the lack of a provision shortening the procedure for the issuance of residence permits.

We challenge the appalling approach to externalize the asylum procedure and within the project the unlawful rejections of asylum applications based on the EU-Turkey statement. We represent clients before Greek administrative bodies and courts as well before the European Court of Human Rights.

We monitor the situation of people on the move who are exposed to deplorable living conditions in Greece, and take actions on their behalf before national and international courts and human rights bodies.

We challenge unlawful detention practices before Greek, European, and international courts, as well as through independent complaints mechanisms. We raise awareness about these unlawful practices through advocacy reports.

We challenge the return of people on the move to Greece from other EU countries, which often take place within the framework of informal deals among member states, and which amount to human rights violations due to the deficient state of Greece's asylum system and the dire living conditions for people on the move in general in Greece. We fight for the rights of those who are subject to these illegal deportation practices.

We provide legal support to people in the asylum procedure in Greece who want to reunite with their family members or relatives in other EU countries. We provide support throughout the entire family reunification procedure. In particular, we challenge unlawful rejections of Dublin family reunification requests by the German asylum service before administrative courts in Germany.

We challenge the unlawful administrative practices of German embassies in family reunification procedures. We primarily represent family members residing in East Africa and the Middle East, with a particular focus on unaccompanied minors.

We raise awareness towards the situation of women* on the move and built support networks. Through individual legal representation we support survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). We follow a holistic approach, which includes not only representation in the asylum procedure but also in criminal proceedings and matters of family law.