To Greece Human Rights Watch has made extensive and detailed recommendations for improving Greece’s asylum and migration enforcement systems in three other major reports. Most closely related to this report, Human Rights Watch recommends that Greece: • • • • • • Implement the recently adopted asylum reform package as fully and as quickly as possible. Ensure access to asylum procedures at the border and in the border region. Reduce overcrowding by using alternative facilities and alternatives to detention as much as possible. Immediately improve detention conditions, and immediately create open reception centers for asylum seekers and members of vulnerable groups, such as children. Provide protection and safe accommodation for unaccompanied children and other vulnerable groups. Prosecute police and coast guard officials who abuse their authority. To the Fundamental Rights Agency • • Clarify that the scope of the Cooperation Arrangement with Frontex explicitly includes the human rights of migrants, including protection from inhuman and degrading treatment. Seek amendment of Article 3 of the Cooperation Arrangement that only grants FRA access to Frontex Joint Operations “upon request.” To the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) • • • • Develop training in asylum processing specifically designed for Greek personnel posted in Evros (according to Article 6 of EASO’s mandate). Work to improve access to asylum for migrant detainees in the Evros region and the Greek islands by, among other steps, ensuring that trained asylum officers will also be available to interview asylum seekers in locations where Frontex officials are conducting nationality-determination interviews. Assess the impact of inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees on access to asylum in Greece. Report publicly on any violations of the rights of asylum seekers by Greek or Frontex personnel in detention centers in Greece. 57 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | SEPTEMBER 2011

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