ÿWPCM â{±ÈÔÿ5UÐZ-UÚZCY\„xM *ÕÅ=ò<4¸®"ë>è”ܧ`Ü¥E•Ì0ýpet6Œ†„쇼őÛBìA.Á‰'‹0 ÚÄ®§í;¯ ®V›mipú€¢kE4œ}]\x ÌRâtÁFÞ3ôÊ Çœ˜ì ¾6ã I‚÷ÌÕ/ƒŽydÜ?îPâeçhm‘ýª¼ä…“„}“tÅß;ˆ–Â|laM¢&÷?ö=‚ ]KVpRæÂF@ôíÞ[¿RNW’õAÎÚZcùUý>0ÓÅÏc<·¤FK5¦2ƒ·I`wñÀ¸¶Åày­r3¥" }Õq ç_;“yHi )½+tä,Tv¸°[úz-e`Ñ¢&±ýÁ…œË¸OÞT ‡§‚\FÛ":ÿ`áíÌ!äš-ãY£LoUËt ”L>-±~±\E9Í8¥^שµ"ùLËy¯çì~ ¡å§ÇåHT+ΨH­„c2v?9ã9Ûìã³] • P „4°Kfä+œö[Å:mHiÂÝK ¨×w]Ïø„.Œ\Ñ%"3+¸RÐÌGÐQ ÈzpI Ê‚_8Ü»4ÓDm‰%üÈš!¨ _·_pÃp1(EY¶ÔuòDg¬›=\l¡t¤ÄcàŠó #ɨUNq %¿ 0:ÅNÿ^ w 4%4 m6˜\\YORK_UNIVERSITY\q_hrts_hp4000tnÒV,,,,ÒV0(@øÐ Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ö\$¡¡ÔCEUS.,ÔJ˜1— ½œ1¸låûø3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒö\!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡¼az»XXÔò òGREECEó óÔ#†X?dX»¼azI#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ=ÓÌÌò òFollow-up€-€ReportingÐ “ã Ѐ€€€€Action€by€State€PartyÐ }Í Ðó óÌò òÔ_ÔCESCRÔ_Ô€€E/C.12/2004/8€(2004)ó óÐ P   ÐÌÓ  ÓòòComments€by€States€parties€on€Concluding€observationsóóÐ # s ÐÌ...€[Ô_ÔT]hisÔ_Ô€document€contains€Comments€submitted€on€21€July€2004€by€the€Government€of€GreeceÐ õ E  Ðon€the€Concluding€observations€(E/C.12/1/Add.97)€adopted€by€the€Committee€at€its€thirty-secondÐ Þ.  Ðsession€(26€April-14€May€2004)€following€its€consideration€of€the€initial€report€of€GreeceÐ Ç  Ð(E/1990/5/Add.56).€Ð °  ÐÌ1.€€Greece€acknowledges€with€appreciation€receipt€of€the€Concluding€Observations€of€the€CommitteeÐ ‚Ò  Ðon€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€following€the€consideration€of€her€initial€Report€by€theÐ k» ÐCommittee€that€took€place€in€Geneva€on€28€and€29€April€2004.Ð T¤ ÐÌ2.€€Greece€wishes€to€reiterate€her€full€support€to€the€Committee's€work€with€a€view€to€promoting€theÐ &v Ðimplementation€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€worldwide.€She€firmly€believes€that€theÐ _ ÐCommittee€should€carry€out€its€entrusted€mandate€through€a€cooperative,€transparent€and€sincereÐ øH Ðdialogue€with€the€States€Parties€involved.Ð á1 ÐÌ3.€€In€accordance€with€Article€37,€third€Ô_ÔalineaÔ_Ô,€of€the€Committee's€Working€Methods€and€in€line€withÐ ³ Ðparagraph€651€of€its€2003€Annual€Report€to€ECOSOC,€Greece€wishes€to€make€a€number€ofÐ œì Ðcomments,€both€of€a€general€character€and€on€specific€paragraphs€of€the€Concluding€Observations:Ð …Õ ÐÌòòGeneral€CommentsóóÐ W§ ÐÌ4.€€In€many€a€case,€the€Committee€based€its€Observations€solely€on€information€provided€mainly€byÐ ) y Ðone€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô,€which€does€not€reflect€accurately€the€real€situation€prevailing€in€Greece.€As€aÐ !b Ðconsequence,€some€Observations€are€not€balanced€nor€are€they€based€on€an€objective€comprehensionÐ û!K  Ðof€the€facts€that€were€provided€both€in€the€initial€Report€and€with€the€answers€to€the€written€and€oralÐ ä"4! Ðquestions€of€the€Committee.€This€goes€in€€particular€with€regard€to€the€non-discriminatory€behaviourÐ Í#" Ðof€the€State€authorities€towards€vulnerable€social€groups,€such€as€Roma,€and€the€enjoyment€by€theÐ ¶$ # Ðlatter€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.€At€the€same€time,€the€Committee€did€not€take€at€all€orÐ Ÿ%ï $ Ðsufficiently€into€account€the€oral€explanations€given€by€the€Greek€Delegation€during€theÐ ˆ&Ø!% Ðconsideration€of€the€initial€Report.€Ð q'Á"& ÐÌ5.€€Greece€strongly€believes€that€the€input€provided€by€non-governmental€sources€is€very€useful€forÐ C)“$( Ðthe€effective€monitoring€of€States€Parties'€compliance€with€Ô_ÔICESCRÔ_Ô.€However,€the€CommitteeÐ ,*|%) Ðshould€make€an€objective€assessment€of€the€situation€in€the€States€Parties€concerned,€taking€duly€intoÐ +e&* Ðaccount€well€-€documented€and€concrete€explanations€and€clarifications€presented€to€the€Committee,Ð þ+N'+ Ðboth€in€writing€and€orally,€by€the€States€Parties€themselves.Ð ç,7(, ÐÔ_ÔÐ Ð- )- Ð6.€€Endorsement€by€the€Committee€of€one-sided€or€unfounded€information,€especially€that€madeÐ ° Ðavailable€by€certain€Ô_ÔNGOsÔ_Ô,€does€not€promote€a€constructive€dialogue€with€the€States€Parties€nor€doesÐ ™é Ðit€encourage€a€steady€implementation€of€Ô_ÔICESCRÔ_Ô.Ð ‚Ò ÐÌòòComments€on€Paragraphs€10€and€31óóÐ T¤ ÐÌ7.€€In€the€Answers€by€Greece€to€the€Questions€set€by€the€Pre-Sessional€Working€Group€of€theÐ & v ÐCommittee€(see€pages€2-3,€26-27),€as€well€as€in€the€course€of€the€consideration€of€the€initial€ReportÐ  _ Ð(see€paras.€7€and€20,€Summary€Record€of€the€6th€Meeting,€E/C.12/2004/SR.6/4€May€2004),€GreeceÐ ø H Ðclearly€stated€that€she€officially€recognizes€the€existence€of€only€one€minority€in€Greece,€namely€theÐ á 1  ÐMuslim€minority€in€Thrace.€Other€groups€living€on€the€Greek€territory€have€not€been€identified€asÐ Ê   Ð"minorities'',€since€they€do€not€meet€the€objective€criteria€which€are€well€defined€in€international€lawÐ ³  Ðfor€their€identification€as€minority€groups.€However,€as€Greece€stated€before€the€Committee,€personsÐ œì  Ðbelonging€to€these€groups€are€fully€entitled€to€enjoy€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€as€any€otherÐ …Õ  Ðindividual€living€within€the€Greek€State,€regardless€of€whether€they€have€been€granted€the€status€ofÐ n¾  Ð"minorities''.€Ð W§  ÐÌ8.€€This€being€the€case,€it€is€not€clear€on€the€basis€of€what€standards€the€Committee€concludes€thatÐ )y ÐGreece€should€reconsider€her€position€as€regards€the€official€recognition€of€other€ethnic,€religiousÐ b Ðor€linguistic€groups€as€"minorities''.€Moreover,€it€is€not€clear€in€which€way€and€to€what€extent€theÐ ûK Ðnon-recognition€of€a€particular€group€as€a€"minority''€impedes€the€enjoyment€of€economic,€social€andÐ ä4 Ðcultural€rights€of€persons€belonging€to€what€the€Committee€considers€as€"ethnic€groups"€allegedlyÐ Í Ð"seeking€[minority]€status".Ð ¶ ÐÌòòComments€on€Paragraphs€11,€21€,€22€and€44óóÐ ˆØ ÐÌ9.€€The€Committee's€deep€concern€about€the€persistent€discrimination€against€Roma€people€in€theÐ Zª Ðfields€of€housing,€health€and€education€(paragraph€11€of€the€Concluding€Observations)€is€notÐ C“ Ðsupported€either€with€the€relevant€references€in€the€initial€Report€or€by€the€oral€explanationsÐ ,| Ðprovided€by€the€Greek€Delegation€(see€Summary€Records€of€the€6th€and€7th€Meetings,Ð e ÐE/C.12/1/Add.97,€para.€8,€E/C.12/2004/SR.6,€para.€46,€and€E/C.12/2004/SR.7,€paras.€51-52).€As€aÐ þN Ðmatter€of€fact,€Greece€has€elaborated€and€has€been€implementing€an€Integrated€Action€Plan€(IAP)Ð ç 7 Ðfor€the€social€integration€of€the€Greek€Roma€during€2002-2008€aiming€at€the€elimination€ofÐ Ð!   Ðdiscrimination€against€them€in€the€fields€of€education,€health,€housing,€et€al.€Namely€:€Ð ¹" ! ÐÌ10.€€Education:€as€Greece€stated€(see€Summary€Records€of€the€7th€and€8th€Meetings,€E/C.Ð ‹$Û# Ð12/2004/SR.7,€para.€51,€and€€E/C.12/2004/SR.8,€para.€2),€Roma€children€are€induced€into€theÐ t%Ä $ Ðeducational€system€through€special€measures€adopted€within€the€IAP€framework€(priority€axe€2).Ð ]&­!% ÐAs€mentioned€from€the€outset€in€the€initial€Report,€there€is€no€discrimination€against€Roma.€On€theÐ F'–"& Ðcontrary,€the€latter,€as€Greek€citizens,€fully€enjoy€the€right€to€education.€The€Ministry€of€NationalÐ /(#' ÐEducation€and€Religious€Affairs,€in€charge€of€the€field€of€education€within€the€IAP€context,€in€itsÐ )h$( Ðeffort€to€reinforce€the€school€attendance€of€children€coming€from€this€specific€Ô_ÔsocioÔ_Ô-culturalÐ *Q%) Ðbackground€has€introduced€a€series€of€measures,€which€were€mentioned€in€the€initial€Report€(para.Ð ê*:&* Ð60(b))€and€presented€during€its€consideration.€In€particular,€the€drop€ð!ð€out€rate€of€the€Roma€childrenÐ Ó+#'+ Ð(paragraph€28€of€the€Concluding€Observations)€for€the€academic€year€2002-2003€was€approximatelyÐ ¼, (, Ð24%,€while€the€respective€rate€for€the€academic€year€1996-1997€was€75%.€These€figures€show€thatÐ ¥-õ(- Ðthe€programme€for€Roma€integration€at€school€has€had€a€positive€effect€on€the€school€attendance€ofÐ ° ÐRoma€students.€According€to€the€statistics,€the€number€of€these€students€has€increased€six€-€foldÐ ™é Ðduring€the€last€decade.€The€drop€-€out€rate€creates€a€false€impression€due€to€a€number€of€factors€(e.g.Ð ‚Ò Ðdecrease€in€the€birth€rate).€€€Ð k» ÐÌ11.€€Health:€Besides€the€information€provided€with€Greece's€Answers€to€Questions€29€and€31€set€byÐ =  Ðthe€Pre-Sessional€Working€Group€of€the€Committee,€it€is€evident€from€the€Summary€Records€of€theÐ & v Ð7th€and€8th€Meetings€(E/C.12/2004/SR.7,€paras.€49-51,€and€E/C.12/2004/SR.8,€para.€3)€that€theÐ  _ Ðestablishment€of€Ô_ÔsocioÔ_Ô-medical€centres€in€the€IAP€housing€intervention€areas€to€provide€Roma€withÐ ø H Ðelementary€and€preventive€health€services,€such€as€PAP€test,€blood€tests,€vaccination,€socialÐ á 1  Ðintervention€for€abandoned€and€disabled€children,€family€planning€etc.,€as€well€as€the€operation€ofÐ Ê   Ðmobile€medical€units€for€enabling€access€of€itinerant€Roma€to€health€services€have€€€contributedÐ ³  Ðeffectively€to€the€elimination€of€discrimination€against€Roma€in€the€field€of€health.Ð œì  ÐÌ12.€€Housing:€The€updated€quantitative€data€provided€to€the€Committee€on€the€housing€loansÐ n¾  Ðprogramme€and€the€actions€undertaken€under€priority€axe€1€of€the€IAP€prove€that€the€Greek€StateÐ W§  Ðdeals€effectively€with€the€issue€(see€Summary€Records€of€the€6th€and€7th€Meetings,Ð @ ÐE/C.12/2004/SR.6,€para.€46,€and€E/C.12/2004/SR.7,€paras.€51-52).€Ð )y ÐÌ13.€€The€expressions€used€"reported€instances€of€police€violence€against€Roma,€sweeping€arrests,Ð ûK Ðand€arbitrary€raids€of€Roma€settlements€by€the€police"€(paragraph€11,€second€Ô_ÔalineaÔ_Ô,€of€theÐ ä4 ÐConcluding€Observations)€are€unfortunate€and€based€on€arbitrary€conclusions.€As€Greece€statedÐ Í Ðamong€others,€according€to€her€Constitution,€all€Greeks€are€equal€before€the€law,€therefore€the€GreekÐ ¶ Ðpolice€does€not€differentiate€when€dealing€with€Roma.€On€the€contrary,€Roma's€delinquency€isÐ Ÿï Ðhandled€with€great€sensibility€by€the€police.€It€should€be€noted€that,€according€to€the€GreekÐ ˆØ ÐConstitution€and€the€laws€and€regulations€on€the€operations€of€the€Greek€police,€its€presence€isÐ qÁ Ðmandatory€whenever€there€is€a€need€to€guarantee€public€order€and€security.Ð Zª ÐÌ14.€€Regarding€the€Committee's€grave€concern€about€numerous€reports€on€forced€evictions€of€RomaÐ ,| Ðfrom€their€settlements€(paragraph€21€of€the€Concluding€Observations),€it€is€pointed€out€that€GreekÐ e ÐRoma€fall€under€€the€same€legislation€applying€for€all€Greek€citizens€on€evictions€from€private€plotsÐ þN Ðof€land€and€the€relevant€compensation€(see€initial€Report,€para.44(c)(iii),(ix)).€Greece€considersÐ ç 7 Ðinaccurate€the€alleged€by€the€Committee€pretext€of€constructions€for€the€2004€Olympic€Games.€AsÐ Ð!   Ðexplained€by€the€Greek€Delegation,€even€in€cases€where€Roma€are€not€settled€at€self-owned€plotsÐ ¹" ! Ðof€land€or€in€absence€of€the€required€settlement€decision,€there€is€no€forced€eviction,€but€relocationÐ ¢#ò" Ðto€alternative€settlement€areas.€Such€arrangements€are€held€in€co-operation€with€€the€local€authoritiesÐ ‹$Û# Ðand€the€Roma€representatives.€Therefore,€when€the€need€arose€for€Roma€families€to€move€from€theÐ t%Ä $ Ðarea€where€they€had€settled€in€(Ô_ÔMaroussiÔ_Ô€Municipality)€due€to€Olympic€Games€constructions,€theyÐ ]&­!% Ðwere€relocated€with€€their€own€participation€and€agreement€in€houses€rented€for€them€by€theÐ F'–"& ÐMunicipality,€on€the€basis€of€arrangements€for€an€alternative€housing€rehabilitation€proposal€(seeÐ /(#' ÐSummary€Records€of€the€6th€and€8th€Meetings,€E/C.12/2004/SR.6,€para.€43,€and€E/C.12/2004/SR.8,Ð )h$( Ðpara.€7).Ð *Q%) ÐÌ15.€€With€reference€to€the€Committee's€deep€concern€about€reports€on€sub-standard€living€conditionsÐ Ó+#'+ Ðof€many€Roma€(paragraph€22€of€the€Concluding€Observations),€it€is€reiterated€(see€Summary€RecordÐ ¼, (, Ðof€the€8th€Meeting,€E/C.12/2004/SR.8,€para.€8)€that,€in€cases€officially€reported€(Municipality€ofÐ ¥-õ(- ÐÔ_ÔAspropyrgosÔ_Ô)€to€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior€as€co-ordinator€of€the€IAP,€the€Ministry€€financed€theÐ ° Ðconstruction€of€infrastructure€works€(access€to€drinking€water,€electricity,€playgrounds,€etc.)Ð ™é Ðnecessary€to€improve€the€living€conditions€in€areas€of€temporary€housing€settlement,€till€a€permanentÐ ‚Ò Ðhousing€rehabilitation€arrangement€was€managed€by€the€local€authorities€and€the€RomaÐ k» Ðrepresentatives.€Again,€the€Committee's€concern€for€the€sanitary€services€provided€in€such€settlementÐ T¤ Ðareas€is€not€accurate,€since,€as€already€said,€the€mobile€medical€units€operating€within€the€IAPÐ =  Ðcontext€are€established€in€order€to€serve€itinerant€Roma€who€live€in€temporary€encampments.Ð & v ÐÌ16.€€Relating€to€the€Committee's€recommendation€to€ensure€participation€of€Roma€representativesÐ ø H Ðin€the€IAP€assessment€(paragraph€€44€of€the€Concluding€Observations),€it€is€repeated€that€SpecialÐ á 1  ÐAssessment€Committees€were€established€upon€the€IAP€adoption€by€Joint€Ministerial€Decision,€Ð Ê   Ðthrough€which,€apart€from€the€representatives€of€the€central,€regional€and€local€government,€theÐ ³  ÐRoma€representatives€(ROM€network)€also€participate€in€the€assessment€and€integration€of€localÐ œì  Ðauthorities€proposals€on€infrastructure€works€for€the€improvement€of€Roma's€living€conditions€(seeÐ …Õ  ÐSummary€Records€of€the€6th€and€7th€Meetings,€€E/C.12/2004/SR.6,€paras.€44-45,€andÐ n¾  ÐE/C.12/2004/SR.7,€para.€13).Ð W§  ÐÌòòComments€on€Paragraphs€12€and€33óóÐ )y ÐÌ17.€€Greece€is€not€in€a€position€to€share€the€Committee's€concern€that€some€economic,€social€andÐ ûK Ðcultural€rights€which€are€normally€also€guaranteed€to€non-citizens€are€reserved€to€Greek€citizensÐ ä4 Ðunder€the€Greek€Constitution.Ð Í ÐÌ18.€€As€Greece€pointed€out,€both€in€her€initial€Report€(paras.€5-6,€page€12)€and€in€the€course€of€itsÐ Ÿï Ðconsideration€by€the€Committee€(see€para.€37,€Summary€Record€of€the€6th€Meeting,Ð ˆØ ÐE/C.12/2004/SR.6/4€May€2004),€the€Constitution,€in€the€cases€mentioned€above,€does€not€prohibitÐ qÁ Ðthe€exercise€and€enjoyment€of€individual€and€social€rights€by€foreigners,€but€it€refers€instead€theÐ Zª Ðpertinent€matters€to€the€legislator.€In€any€case,€the€legislator€is€bound€to€take€into€account€and€toÐ C“ Ðfully€respect€and€implement€the€constitutional€provisions€relating€to€the€protection€of€human€dignityÐ ,| Ð(Article€2)€and€the€protection€of€life,€honour€and€freedom€of€all€persons€living€within€Greek€territory,Ð e Ðwithout€making€any€distinction€whatsoever€as€to€citizenship€(Article€5,€para.€2),€as€well€asÐ þN Ðinternational€treaties€on€the€protection€of€human€rights€to€the€extent€that€these€treaties€do€not€makeÐ ç 7 Ðany€distinction€between€nationals€and€foreigners.€Ð Ð!   ÐÌ19.€€Furthermore,€as€explained€in€paragraphs€5€and€6€of€the€initial€Report,€in€accordance€with€ArticleÐ ¢#ò" Ð4€of€the€Civil€Code,€a€foreign€national€enjoys€the€same€civil€rights€that€are€accorded€to€GreekÐ ‹$Û# Ðcitizens.€In€the€same€vein,€foreign€nationals€who€are€holders€of€a€residence€permit€enjoy€the€sameÐ t%Ä $ Ðlabour€rights€and€have€the€same€obligations€as€Greek€workers€relating€to€remuneration,€workingÐ ]&­!% Ðterms€and€conditions,€their€social€security€rights€and€other€financial€obligations€prescribed€by€theÐ F'–"& Ðlegislation€in€force.Ð /(#' ÐÌ20.€€It€is€significant€that,€in€the€framework€of€the€revision€of€the€Greek€Constitution€completed€inÐ *Q%) Ð2001,€neither€the€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€community€nor€constitutional€lawyers€or€other€actors€of€the€civil€societyÐ ê*:&* Ðraised€the€issue€identified€by€the€Committee€in€the€said€paragraphs.€Ð Ó+#'+ ÐÌ21.€€In€this€context,€the€example€of€the€right€to€free€education€mentioned€by€the€Committee€isÐ ¥-õ(- Ðunfortunate.€In€fact,€as€described€in€para.€60(b)€of€the€initial€Report,€foreign€students€enjoy€the€rightÐ ° Ðto€free€education€in€the€same€way€as€Greek€citizens€do.€Moreover,€every€child€living€in€Greece€isÐ ™é Ðentitled€to€education€regardless€of€his/her€parent's€/€guardian's€legal€status€in€the€country.€€In€viewÐ ‚Ò Ðof€the€above,€it€is€regrettable€that€the€Committee€Ô_ÔfocusedÔ_Ô€only€on€the€text€of€the€relevantÐ k» Ðconstitutional€provision€and€did€not€take€into€account€firmly€established€Greek€law€and€practice€inÐ T¤ Ðthis€field.€Ð =  ÐÌòòComments€on€Paragraph€14óóÐ  _ ÐÌ22.€€The€latest€available€statistical€data€on€employment€in€the€primary€sector€do€not€confirm€theÐ á 1  ÐCommittee's€concerns€about€the€high€unemployment€rate,€especially€affecting€female€and€youngÐ Ê   Ðpersons€in€rural€areas.€€According€to€labour€surveys€carried€out€for€the€years€2001-2002€by€theÐ ³  ÐNational€Statistical€Service,€unemployment€rates€in€agriculture€(agriculture,€animal€breeding,Ð œì  Ðhunting€and€forestry)€and€fishery,€when€compared€to€total€rates,€are€low€for€male€and€female€alike.Ð …Õ  ÐThus,€for€the€year€2001,€unemployment€in€the€primary€sector€accounted€for€2,86%€of€totalÐ n¾  Ðunemployment.€If€sex€Ô_ÔdisaggregatedÔ_Ô,€male€unemployment€of€the€sector€accounted€for€3,55%€of€theÐ W§  Ðtotal€unemployment,€while€the€same€percentage€for€female€amounted€to€2,3%.€For€the€year€2002,Ð @ Ðthe€relative€rates€were€1,85%,€2,48%€(male)€and€1,43%€(female).€€Ð )y ÐÌòòComments€on€Paragraph€15óóÐ ûK ÐÌ23.€€Greece€considers€groundless€the€Committee's€concern€€on€€the€potential€non-access€of€Roma,Ð Í Ðdocumented€and€undocumented€migrants€and€their€families€to€social€services.€As€stressed€already,Ð ¶ ÐRoma€are€Greek€citizens€whose€access€to€social€services€is€not€subjected€to€any€form€ofÐ Ÿï Ðdiscrimination.€The€issue€of€their€inability€to€access€the€social€services€was€related€to€the€lack€of€theÐ ˆØ Ðnecessary€identification€documents,€birth€certificates,€etc.€However,€the€issuing€of€such€documentsÐ qÁ Ðwas€dealt€effectively€by€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior€through€special€directives€to€the€local€authorities,Ð Zª Ðadoption€of€additional€administrative€procedures,€parallel€action€of€the€Ministry's€housing€loansÐ C“ Ðprogramme,€given€€the€applicants'€obligation€to€register€with€the€municipal€rolls€and€issue€theÐ ,| Ðnecessary€identification€documents€(see€Summary€Record€of€the€7th€Meeting€E/C.12/2004/SR.7,Ð e Ðparas.€49-51).Ð þN ÐÌ24.€€On€the€issue€of€migrants€which€in€actual€fact€concerns€migrants€illegally€residing€in€Greece,€itÐ Ð!   Ðis€reiterated€that€€€they€are€legally€entitled€to€access€the€social€services€for€humanitarian€purposes,Ð ¹" ! Ði.e.€need€for€urgent€medical€assistance€(Article€51,€Law€No.2910/2001€on€Migrant€Policy).€In€lightÐ ¢#ò" Ðof€the€provisions€of€this€Law,€the€Committee's€concern€is€not€relevant€for€those€legally€residing€inÐ ‹$Û# ÐGreece€(see€Summary€Record€of€the€6th€Meeting€E/C.12/2004/SR.6,€paras.€35,47).Ð t%Ä $ ÐÌòòComments€on€Paragraph€17óóÐ F'–"& ÐÌ25.€€The€Committee's€concern€that€physical€and€sexual€abuse€of€children€seem€to€occur€at€a€relativelyÐ )h$( Ðhigh€rate€is€€an€arbitrary€conclusion,€which€does€not€result€either€€from€what€has€been€stated€inÐ *Q%) ÐGreece's€initial€Report€or€from€the€oral€answers€that€were€given€during€its€consideration.€€ThisÐ ê*:&* Ðconcern€is€based€on€occasional€and€isolated€data,€€and€not€on€the€results€of€research€andÐ Ó+#'+ Ðmeasurements€undertaken€at€the€national€level.Ð ¼, (, ÐÐ ¥-õ(- ÐòòComments€on€Paragraph€18óóÐ ° ÐÌ26.€€The€Committee's€concern€about€the€high€numbers€of€trafficked€women€and€children€who€areÐ ‚Ò Ðsubjected€to€forced€labour€and€sexual€exploitation€is€based€on€a€misinterpretation€of€the€statisticalÐ k» Ðdata€that€were€provided€during€the€consideration€of€the€initial€Report€(see€para.€46,€Summary€RecordÐ T¤ Ðof€the€7th€Meeting,€E/C.12/2004/SR.7/4€May€2004).€As€it€was€then€clarified€by€Greece,€these€dataÐ =  Ðrefer€to€the€results€of€two€operations,€"MIRAGE€2002"€and€"MIRAGE€2003",€which€were€jointlyÐ & v Ðorganized€by€-€and€took€place€on€the€territories€of€-€all€the€countries€participating€in€the€SoutheastÐ  _ ÐEuropean€Cooperative€Initiative€(Ô_ÔCECIÔ_Ô)€based€in€Bucharest,€and€not€only€by€Greece.Ð ø H ÐÌ27.€€Again,€regarding€the€Committee's€concern€about€trafficked€women€and€children€who€are€oftenÐ Ê   Ðbeing€deported€to€their€countries€of€origin,€it€should€be€stressed€that€the€deportation€of€victims€whoÐ ³  Ðare€foreign€citizens€staying€illegally€in€the€country€and€denounce€acts€of€prostitution€may€beÐ œì  Ðsuspended€by€order€of€the€competent€Public€Prosecutor€of€the€Magistrate€Court,€with€the€approvalÐ …Õ  Ðof€the€Public€Prosecutor€of€the€Court€of€Appeal,€until€the€pronouncement€of€an€irrevocable€judgmentÐ n¾  Ðat€the€criminal€trial€against€the€perpetrator€of€the€illegal€acts.€This€can€also€happen€in€case€thatÐ W§  Ðforeign€citizens€staying€illegally€in€the€country€are€victims€of€slave-trade,€of€trafficking€of€humanÐ @ Ðbeings,€of€pimping,€and€of€lewd€acts€against€minors€for€payment.€As€it€was€stated€by€Greece,€apartÐ )y Ðfrom€the€suspension€of€deportation€and€for€the€length€thereof,€a€stay€permit€in€Greece€is€granted€toÐ b Ðvictims€of€all€the€above€criminal€acts€by€resolution€of€the€Secretary-General€of€the€Region.Ð ûK ÐÌòòComments€on€Paragraph€20óóÐ Í ÐÌ28.€€The€Committee's€expression€of€regrets€about€the€lack€of€statistical€data€on€poverty€and€theÐ Ÿï Ðabsence€of€a€poverty€line€does€not€correspond€to€the€reality,€since€in€Greece,€as€in€the€rest€of€the€EUÐ ˆØ ÐMember-States,€it€is€possible€to€evaluate€the€progress€made€in€the€combat€against€poverty€and€socialÐ qÁ Ðexclusion€through€the€indicators€list€in€the€field€of€Social€Exclusion€and€Poverty.€€These€indicators,Ð Zª Ðknown€as€"Ô_ÔLaakenÔ_Ô€Indicators",€are€estimated€mainly€on€the€basis€of€data€taken€from€the€EuropeanÐ C“ ÐPanel€for€the€Research€on€Family€Budgets€ð!ð€Ô_ÔECHRÔ_Ô€(replaced€in€2002€by€the€new€research€forÐ ,| Ð"Statistics€on€the€Income€and€Living€Conditions€in€the€EU"€ð!ð€EU-Ô_ÔSILCÔ_Ô).€Data€are€also€used€fromÐ e Ðthe€Labour€Force€Researches,€which€are€conducted€by€the€statistical€services€of€each€EUÐ þN ÐMember-State€at€national€level.€Ð ç 7 ÐÌ29.€€Regarding€the€absence€of€a€poverty€line,€in€Greece,€as€in€the€rest€of€the€EU€Member-States,€theÐ ¹" ! Ð60%€of€the€"national€mid-income"€(term€used€in€the€basic€ð ðÔ_ÔLaakenÔ_Ô€Indicatorsð ð)€€is€usually€used€€inÐ ¢#ò" Ðthe€above€statistical€researches€€as€a€threshold,€below€which€a€person€is€considered€to€be€"at€risk€ofÐ ‹$Û# Ðpoverty"€(term€selected€as€more€correct€than€that€of€"poverty"€when€these€indicators€are€used).€€TheÐ t%Ä $ Ðabove€limit€is€used€in€statistics€and€must€not€be€confused€with€respective€administrative€criteria,€asÐ ]&­!% Ðthe€case€may€be,€established€by€law.€€€€Ð F'–"& ÐÌòòComments€on€Paragraphs€28€and€50óóÐ )h$( ÐÌ30.€€The€Committee's€concern€about€the€alleged€impossibility€for€students€€belonging€to€the€MuslimÐ ê*:&* Ðminority€in€Thrace€to€receive€bilingual€instruction€at€the€primary€level€is€based€on€entirely€falseÐ Ó+#'+ Ðpremises.€In€fact,€in€Thrace€there€are€currently€operating€215€primary€minority€schools,€with€a€totalÐ ¼, (, Ðnumber€of€6,694€students,€where€Greek€and€Turkish€are€taught€as€main€languages.€Further€detailsÐ ¥-õ(- Ðwere€provided€to€the€Committee€both€in€the€initial€Report€(see€para.€60(b))€and€during€itsÐ ° Ðconsideration€(see€para.€48,€Summary€Record€of€the€8th€Meeting,€E/C.12/2004/SR.8/4€May€2004).Ð ™é ÐIt€is€regrettable€that€the€Committee€completely€disregarded€factual€information€provided€by€theÐ ‚Ò Ðcompetent€authorities,€thus€giving€€a€distorted€picture€of€the€situation€prevailing€in€Greece.€€It€is€alsoÐ k» Ðnoted€that€€in€Thrace€there€are€four,€and€not€two,€private€minority€high€schools€(two€junior€and€twoÐ T¤ Ðsenior€high€schools).Ð =  ÐÌ31.€€With€regard€to€the€drop-out€rate€of€the€Muslim€minority€children,€Greece€would€like€to€stressÐ  _ Ðthat€the€Greek€State€has€taken€a€series€of€measures€in€order€to€encourage€school€attendance€ofÐ ø H ÐMuslim€children€in€Thrace,€and€has€also€introduced€the€institution€of€supporting€teaching€for€allÐ á 1  Ðsubjects,€as€well€as€for€teaching€the€Greek€language.€The€attendance€of€Muslim€students€inÐ Ê   Ðsecondary€compulsory€education€reaches€68%.€According€to€the€available€statistics,€the€number€ofÐ ³  Ðstudents€mentioned€above€have€increased€six-fold€during€the€last€decade.Ð œì  ÐÌ32.€€As€stressed€under€Article€13,€paragraph€60(b),€of€the€initial€Report,€the€Greek€law€provides€forÐ n¾  Ða€special€quota€of€0,5%€for€the€admission€of€Muslim€minority€students€to€Greek€universities€withoutÐ W§  Ðhaving€to€pass€exams.€This€policy€has€resulted€in€the€increase€of€the€number€of€Muslim€minorityÐ @ Ðstudents€attending€senior€high€schools€in€Thrace€and€has€considerably€enhanced€the€enrolment€ofÐ )y Ðminority€students€in€Greek€universities.€€It€is€to€be€regretted€that€this€widely€acclaimed€illustrationÐ b Ðof€best€practices€actively€pursued€by€the€Greek€authorities€has€not€been€reflected€in€the€ConcludingÐ ûK ÐObservations€of€the€Committee.€Ð ä4 ÐÌ33.€€Besides,€it€has€to€be€clarified€that€the€special€measures€concerning€minority€education€areÐ ¶ Ðimplemented€only€within€Thrace,€since€the€officially€recognized€Muslim€minority€lives€only€in€thisÐ Ÿï Ðarea.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ34.€€Lastly,€with€regard€to€the€Committee's€recommendation€concerning€the€teaching€of€the€motherÐ Zª Ðtongue€of€children€belonging€to€"minority€linguistic€groups",€including€regional€dialects,€at€school,Ð C“ Ðit€should€be€reiterated€(see€pages€80-81€of€Greece's€Answers€to€the€Questions€set€by€theÐ ,| ÐPre-Sessional€Working€Group€of€the€Committee)€that€there€are€some€dialects€spoken€in€Greece,€mostÐ e Ðof€which€have€not€even€a€written€form.€It€is€obvious€that€it€is€not€possible€for€a€State€to€introduce€inÐ þN Ðits€educational€system€the€teaching€of€these€dialects,€which€are€only€spoken€orally€and€by€a€smallÐ ç 7 Ðnumber€of€persons.€Moreover,€the€persons€speaking€such€dialects€have€never€expressed€the€wish€orÐ Ð!   Ðsought€an€official€request€to€learn€these€dialects.€It€should€be€underlined€that,€even€in€the€case€ofÐ ¹" ! Ðregional€or€minority€languages,€existing€international€standards€with€regard€to€the€obligation€of€theÐ ¢#ò" ÐState€to€introduce€the€teaching€of€such€languages€within€the€framework€of€its€educational€systemÐ ‹$Û# Ðleave€a€wide€margin€of€appreciation€to€the€relevant€authorities.€In€this€regard,€States€are€entitled€toÐ t%Ä $ Ðtake€into€account€a€series€of€criteria,€such€as€the€existence€of€sufficient€demand,€the€availability€ofÐ ]&­!% Ðresources,€the€specific€features€of€their€educational€system,€the€conditions€of€the€language,€the€wishÐ F'–"& Ðof€the€persons€belonging€to€such€groups,€etc.Ð /(#' ÐÌ35.€€Greece€kindly€requests€the€Committee€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights,€in€line€withÐ *Q%) Ðthe€said€paragraph€651€of€its€2003€Annual€Report€to€ECOSOC,€to€publish€her€comments€asÐ ê*:&* Ðsubmitted€as€an€official€Committee€document,€to€reference€them€and,€as€appropriate,€to€attach€themÐ Ó+#'+ Ðto€the€Committee's€2005€Annual€Report€to€ECOSOC.Ð ¼, (, ÐÓuÓ