I. Background Information Europe has seen a large influx of asylum seekers over the past few years, particularly in Greece. Greece is a Member State of both the Council of Europe and the European Union (“EU”) and therefore bound by both CoE and EU law. Since the mass influx of asylum seekers, there have been many issues relating to the detention of these asylum seekers. Overcrowding in detention centers is a serious problem, with the conditions of the detention centers a key area of concern.1 Detention centers are often cramped spaces, almost entirely absent or lacking in education, access to the outside and fresh air – wholly inappropriate for migrants and refugees traveling in families.2 Moreover, national laws and regulations are often insufficient (leaving too much discretion to immigration officials), detention policies are not transparent (leaving individuals open to abuse or arbitrariness), and detainees’ access to lawyers is limited and empirical data concerning detention lacking.3 Currently in Greece, there are about 4,200 individuals being detained.4 Initially, both the Paranesti and Amygdaleza detention facilities started as reception centers with would be asylum seekers, however March 20, 2016 marked a drastic change for the once “reception centers.”5 The Greek government made the switch to prison-like conditions in the face of changes between the EU and Turkey's migration statement.6 The decision to detain the migrants and asylum seekers 1 EUR. PARL. ASS. Detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants in Europe, 7th Sitting, Res. 1707 (2010) Id. 3 Id. 4 Greece: Refugees detained in dire conditions amid rush to implement EU-Turkey Deal, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL (Apr. 7. 2016), https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/04/greece-refugees-detained-indire-conditions-amid-rush-to-implement-eu-turkey-deal/. 5 Greece: Migrant Children Held in Deplorable Conditions, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH (Sept.8, 2016), https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/09/08/greece-migrant-children-held-deplorable-conditions. 6 Id. 2