-5EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The primary purpose of the CPT’s April and July 2016 visits to Greece was to examine the situation of refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants who were held in Reception and Identification Centres (RICs) on the Aegean islands following the entry into force of the European Union-Turkey Statement on 20 March 2016. The visits also examined the particular situation of foreign national children deprived of their liberty in Greece. In July 2016, the CPT also assessed the situation of foreign nationals held under aliens’ legislation in Athens and Thessaloniki, and examined the treatment of criminal suspects held in police custody and the safeguards afforded to them. The cooperation received by the Greek authorities was generally very good; however, no response was received to the three immediate observations made by the delegation at the end of the July visit. Reception and Identification Centres (so-called “hotspots”) In April 2016, shortly after the establishments of the RICs, the CPT’s delegation visited the Moria and VIAL Centres on the islands of Lesvos and Chios respectively. Some isolated allegations of illtreatment by police officers were received, notably in respect of unaccompanied children in Moria Centre, and inter-detainee violence was particularly high and a number of foreign nationals complained of feeling unsafe. Further, the conditions of detention deteriorated rapidly as the Centres became overcrowded and had to accommodate people for weeks on end rather than a few days as intended. There were problems with the quality of drinking water, food, basic health care provision and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups. The conditions in the closed Section B of Moria Centre were particularly poor and could be considered as inhuman and degrading. The legal safeguards in place were deficient and the legality of the detention of some detainees questionable. At the time of the July 2016 visit, the Moria and VIAL Centres and the Vathi Centre on the island of Samos were no longer closed centres. Nevertheless, the situation remained highly explosive and many of the problems identified in April persisted, such as increasing anxiety and frustration due to uncertainty about the future; a perception of insecurity; inadequate material conditions and severe overcrowding; lack of coordination of health-care services and insufficient provision of information and legal aid. Foreign national children deprived of their liberty In the course of the 2016 visits, the CPT noted that the structural problem of a shortage of suitable accommodation for unaccompanied or separated children (UASC) in dedicated open shelters had become acute. As a result, several hundred children continued to be routinely held for lengthy periods in detention. The CPT acknowledges the efforts being undertaken by the Greek authorities to find additional places. Nevertheless, it considers that the Greek authorities should review their approach with regard to “protective custody” of UASC and take the necessary measures to end immigration detention of UASC. This stance is reinforced by the findings of lack of care and protection and the poor living conditions afforded to UASC in the RICs. Further, proper age assessments should be carried out and appeal procedures put in place. The CPT is again critical of the care and poor living conditions offered to UASC children held at the Amygdaleza and Petrou Ralli Special holding facilities. The Amygdaleza holding facility with its warehouse environment is totally unsuitable to meet the needs of UASC and the Petrou Ralli holding facility, which operates like a large police detention facility, is even less well equipped to look after them. Placing UASC, many of whom have undergone traumatic journeys and experiences, in these detention facilities for several weeks or months is difficult to comprehend. The CPT recommends that the Greek authorities immediately stop using Petrou Ralli for holding UASC and it reiterates that Amygdaleza should no longer be used for detaining UASC.