As of November 2023 the MoMA continues to publicly list⁹² the provision of protection services for children, legal services and IT/computer training provided by IOM at Diavata RIC, despite the withdrawal of IOM from all Greek reception facilities on 20th March 2023.⁹³ At a meeting for CSOs working in the field of refugee and migrant rights in March 2023, UNHCR reported that following the withdrawal of IOM from accommodation facilities on the mainland managed by the RIS, provision of legal counselling and legal aid has been repeatedly reported as lacking in these facilities. UNHCR delivers information sessions for applicants on arrival in the RICs during twice weekly visits. As per information shared by UNHCR, these sessions include provision of basic information on the stages of the reception and identification and asylum procedures, applicants’ rights and obligations, how to flag a vulnerability, and information relating to applicants’ stay in the RIC and access to services and material support while there. However, 83% of respondents who underwent the screening procedure and were not represented by a lawyer said that they did not receive information regarding their rights and obligations during the procedure and the internal functions of the RIC. 17% reported receiving partial or misleading information, including one case in which the respondent reported that he was told by the authorities at Malakasa RIC that the screening would be completed within 7-10 days, but was subsequently detained for the legal maximum of 25 days. In practice our research shows that 100% of respondents reported lack of access to information, translation or legal support while undergoing the procedure within the mainland RICs, significantly impacting their ability to navigate the asylum procedure, understand the reasons for their de facto detention, or access legal assistance. 29% of respondents who registered their asylum claim at Malakasa RIC reported that their primary source of information during their de facto detention in the RIC was a translator, leading to feeling uninformed about the reception and identification procedure and de facto detention period. In one case a survivor of torture was left for two weeks without any contact with the authorities at Malakasa RIC. “There wasn’t anybody trying to explain anything to people. There are translators but they don’t really answer these kinds of questions [about the asylum procedure] - they just said you will stay here for 1 day up to 29 days. Nobody helped answer these questions.” Male respondent from Syria, 34 years (E) Accelerated procedures within RICs Under Greek law (Art. 42, 4939/2022) applications may be prioritised within RICs, including those deemed manifestly unfounded or from applicants from countries which are considered safe countries of origin by the Greek authorities. Three respondents underwent an accelerated procedure within the RICs which included their full asylum interview; in all cases, they reported issues relating to accessing adequate information and legal support prior to their interview, which was exacerbated by their de facto detention within the RIC and the lack of actors present within the facility to assist with their asylum case. Concerningly, one respondent reported that their full asylum interview carried out at Malakasa RIC lasted just 10-15 minutes. Reports of truncated procedures in which applicants do not receive adequate legal assistance prior to their full asylum interviews has been reported by RSA.⁹⁴ 34

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