C. Safeguarding human rights The challenge of the refugee crisis need for special attention regarding the protection of the populations transported by facilitators, human trafficking networks, or existing phenomena of financial exploitation. The independent authority had also developed a cooperation with peer institutions in all the neighbouring countries on the basis of their mission to protect human rights and the basic principles of the rule of law in the context of the challenges of the refugee crisis. In view of this collaboration it notes and continues to note the need to formulate a joint operational plan and to improve the coordination, especially between neighbouring states.213 Despite the fact that in 2016, as mentioned above, the circumstances changed, the issues related to the security of individuals continued to be particularly important. These matters were recorded in the Ombudsman’s Annual Report which summarises the debate on the situation prevailing in the reception and accommodation facilities, as well as the temporary shelter or accommodation sites, as follows: “The better coordination of the services operating in the hotspots remains the goal regarding the information, security of the residents, the pre-registration and lodging of asylum applications, as well as regarding the full operation of the reception services in them, with medical and psychosocial services to all the new arrivals for the assessment of any vulnerability (victims of torture or human trafficking, beneficiaries of international protection, pregnant women, unaccompanied minors, the elderly, persons with health problems, etc.). The issue of the appointment of permanent directors of the hotspots, reinforcement of the first reception services with members and funds as well as their more integrated operation according to the mandates of the law continues to be therefore a critical issue for the rational management of mixed flows”.214 Similar findings on the shortages in the RICs (hotspots) and the temporary accommodation sites, as well as the risks to security in these areas have been identified by EU agencies215 and international organisations.216 Special reference is made to the need to improve the reception conditions, which is estimated to also help with the prevention and fight against sexual and gender violence, to which many vulner213 Ibid. 214 Annual Report 2016 at: https://www.synigoros.gr/resources/ee2016-04prosfigiko.pdf. 215 European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights –FRA, Monthly data collection on the migration situation in the EU, February 2017 Highlights, 1–31 January 2017. 216 UNHCR, Press Release, 27.03.2017, “UNCHR: stronger cooperation crucial to ensure sustainable refugee response in Greece”. 68 able asylum applicants are exposed, including women and children, in the accommodation facilities. The UNHCR continues to support the establishment of suitable identification, referral and support systems for the victims, including the provision of legal, medical and psychosocial care and secure accommodation (see also Chapter B1.1.).217 As arises from complaints published from time to time, children, young people, women who are alone or with minor children, appear to be the most vulnerable link in the chain of individuals who could become victims of violence, sexual exploitation, attack or harassment, primarily in non-organised camps (Piraeus, Elliniko), without being able to exclude the phenomenon also in organised temporary accommodation sites. The Ombudsman is engaging in a continuous dialogue with the Hellenic Police, in order to ensure the protection of the migrants and refugees also from phenomena of gender violence, sexual abuse or exploitation inside the hotspots. The other side of assuring the personal right to absolute protection of life, honour and liberty (Article 5(2) of the Constitution), is related to the Greek society which is experiencing in recent years its own refugee crisis. In this light, the sense of (deficient) security or phenomena where personal safety and property are at risk could not be ignored when addressing this subject. The sense of safety enjoyed by citizens, or to the contrary, the insecurity and fear of victimisation that are attributed to the presence of refugee and migration populations, are to a great extent a consequence of the relationships created in the places of the temporary or more permanent stay of these populations, as well as the frequently (xeno)phobic public debate. The argument in fact of the risk to the security of the citizens due to the increased refugee-migrant presence was used at times also to legitimise decisions and practices with a repressive and liberty-restricting nature, such as those described above. 4. Relationship with local community 4.1. Key factors During the period under review and up to this date, the picture formed regarding the shortcomings, problems or good practices, and in general the functional conditions of co-existence of the new arrivals with the permanent residents, is not uniform. The contact of the refugee/migrant populations with the local 217 Ibid.