V 3. Ill-Treatment against migrants and refugees by state agents iolence and ill-treatment by law enforcement officers in Patras includes wanton physical force, verbal attacks and psychological i ntimidation. Victims of such violence often belong to relatively powerless groups, such as minorities, the disabled, the young, and the poor, as well as refugees and migrants. In his annual report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture noted that: “(W)hile there is no evidence to suggest that members of racial or ethnic groups are generally subjected to particular forms of torture or ill-treatment applied uniquely to them in their status as members of these groups, it must be noted that they are particularly vulnerable to torture in various context and their status may also affect the consequences of their ill treatment. It would appear that members of racial or ethnic groups are disproportionately subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Indeed, ethnic differences may often contribute to the process of dehumanisation of the victims, which is often a necessary condition for torture and ill-treatment to take place.” 19 In its contribution to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR), the United Nations Committee Against Torture stated that: “Discrimination of any kind can create a climate in which torture and ill-treatment of the «other» group subjected to intolerance and discriminatory treatment can more easily be accepted, and that discrimination undermines the achievement of the realization of equality of all persons before the law”. 20 3.1. What has been done so far about police violence in Patras Police violence and ill-treatment are not new phenomena in Patras. They have been also documented and condemned in the past by Greek (both local and national) and international non-governmental organizations, as well as by activist networks. Nevertheless, only few cases have managed to reach the courts. 12 19 E  /C.N.4/2001/66, 25/01/2001 20 See: http://www.unilu.ch/files/schattenbericht_omct.pdf The local solidarity group “Kinisi” – Motion for the defence of refugees’ and migrants’ rights – has repeatedly condemned police violence since the group came into existence in October 2007. 21 In early 2008, members of the group filed a lawsuit against the Greek coastguard and police at the port of Patras, regarding several cases of migrant’s mistreatment on February. On February 22, 2008 six policemen surrounded and beat with sticks a group of young Afghan migrants, breaking the arm of Ali Mohamed, a 16 year-old minor. One of the Afghans, 28 year-old Sotzaat Rezai escaped the police assault only to be found later on by policemen, who beat him again with sticks and fractured his thumb. On February 25, 21 year-old Kader Bahri was arrested by two coast guards. The two coast guards first escorted the victim out of the Patras port. Then they beat him up and twice threw in the sea. On February 26, 20 year-old Morteza Moranti was chased by three uniformed men who kicked him in the back. On the same day four coast guards surrounded two Afghan asylum seekers at the port of Patras. They arrested 16 year-old Ramazan Karemi and pushed him into the sea and beat his friend, 26-year-old Mamatela Niazi, causing injuries to his face. On October 11, 2011 members of the local solidarity group, together with representatives from Patras’ Afghan Community and five alleged victims of police violence (among them a 12 year old boy) 22 held an official meeting with the port police, in order to complain about the general escalation of the violence by state officials in the port of Patras, as well as specific cases of ill-treatment. In a recent Press Release “Kinisi” stated: “Regardless of who is the perpetrator each time, unfortunately the victims are 21 Some recent Press Releases of “Kinisi” concerning police violence in Patras (in Greek): 05.01.12: http://www.kinisipatras.gr/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=78%3A--512012&catid=15%3A-2012&Itemid=8&lang=el 22.12.11: http://www.kinisipatras.gr/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=76%3A--22122011&catid=14%3A2011&Itemid=62&lang=el 13.10.11: http://www.kinisipatras.gr/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=69%3A--13102011&catid=14%3A2011&Itemid=62&lang=el 27.09.11: http://www.kinisipatras.gr/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=68%3A-27092011&catid=14%3A2011&Itemid=62&lang=el 06.04.11: http://www.kinisipatras.gr/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=62%3A--642011&catid=14%3A2011&Itemid=62&lang=el 22 In the end the port authorities did not allow to the victims to attend the meeting.