VIOLENCE IN DETENTION KERATEA, PETROU RALLI, PARANESTI For this report, BVMN examined multiple incidents of violence within state run facilities, particularly detention centres, in Greece. Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights explicitly states that “no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment.” This is an absolute, non-derogable right - even if the individual concerned has entered the country illegally - and contains the positive obligation that prison conditions are consistent with human dignity. This is further emphasised in the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) which necesssitates police cells be a reasonable size, clean and in decent conditions, alongside that at least one meal is provided. Reports collected by BVMN indicate the reality of detention in Greece consistently contravenes such obligations. The Paranesti Pre-Removal Detention Facility (PRDF) in Drama, northeastern Greece, is notoriously harsh. Testimonies collected by the Network reveal that ‘mass beatings’ of detainees by the police, individual assaults and deplorable conditions, including insufficient access to food, are commonplace inside the facility. One respondent reported that he was hospitalised 5 times in violent altercations with the police over the course of 45 days. BVMN has identified similar patterns of violence in the Petrou Ralli PRDF near Athens, a long standing hotbed of human rights violations. Besides breaking his shoulder and rib in a fierce beating, one respondent described how several police officers inside the camp insulted his religion and nationality. He later resorted to self-harm because of the traumatic conditions. 15 % of the individuals affected by violence within Greece‘s borders are Minors Under both national and international law, such acts constitute a hate crime. However, evidence suggests that, due to deeply rooted institutional racism within Greece, law enforcement authorities do not take reports of racist crime seriously or believe the victims of such offences. Elsewhere in Athens, Are You Syrious (AYS) disclosed inhumane conditions at the Keratea police station, where basic needs and human rights - to hot water, beds, hygiene facilities, natural light, access to the outside world, medical treatment and legal support - were denied. Following a hunger strike by 12 inmates over the terrible state of affairs inside Keratea, AYS received a message reaching out for help and demanding the fulfilment of their right to a dignified life. These cases are indicative of the broader patterns of state violence as detailed across this report.