or armed conflict), and an adequate standard of living for asylum seekers.29 It supports regional social services as well as NGOs in providing such services. Juvenile prosecutors or prosecutors of first-instance courts act as temporary guardians for all unaccompanied children, regardless of whether they apply for asylum.30 There are a number of other institutions that have roles in monitoring the protection of children’s rights in Greece. These do not have operational responsibilities within the protection or immigration regimes, but can act as watchdogs on behalf of children within wider sets of responsibilities for monitoring the implementation of human rights measures: these include the Greek Ombudsman, entrusted to protect the rights of citizens and non-citizens, with a separate department on children’s rights,31 and the Greek National Commission for Human Rights, with a mandate to monitor the protection of human rights, raise public awareness, and advise the Greek government on human rights protection.32 29 Presidential Decree 90/2008, “Adjusting Greek legislation to the provisions of Directive 2005/85/EC of the Council of 1st December 2005 on minimum standards on procedures in member states for granting and withdrawing refugee status (L326/13.12.2005),” Official Gazette A 138, art. 2(g); Presidential Decree 96/2008, “Adjusting Greek legislation to the provisions of Directive 2004/ 83/ EC of the Council of 29th April 2004 on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection for other reasons (L 304/30.09.2004),” Official Gazette A 152, art. 2(h); Presidential Decree 220/2007, arts. 6(2), 13, 18. Ministry of Interior Circular, Prot. No.: 5401/1–261100, February 23, 2008. 30 Presidential Decree 61/1999, Refugee Status Recognition Procedure, Revocation of the Recognition and Deportation of an Alien, Entry Permission for the Members of his Family and Mode of Cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Official Gazette A 63, art. 1(4); Presidential Decree 220/2007, art. 19; Ministry of Interior Circular, Prot. No.: 5401/1–261100, February 23, 2008. For a full discussion of the Greek guardianship system, see chapter II. 31 Its powers include the right to act upon individual complaints or upon its own initiative. It investigates cases and communicates its findings and recommendations to the government entity in charge, and it may choose to make its findings public. The Ombudsman reports annually to the Prime Minister and the Parliament. Law 3094/2003, The Ombudsman and other Provisions, January 22, 2003; Presidential Decree 273, Regulations of the Ombudsman, October 22, 1999, http://www.synigoros.gr/en_index.htm (accessed October 10, 2008). 32 The National Commission for Human Rights publishes reports, issues resolutions, positions, opinions and proposals. It also advises the government on legislative amendments and undertakes public awareness initiatives. Its members, which are appointed by the Prime Minister, consist of trade unions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), political parties, scientific associations, the Greek Ombudsman, academics and representatives from Ministries. The latter do not have a right to vote. Law 2667/1998, “Establishment of the Greek National Commission for Human Rights and National Commission for Bioethics,” Official Gazette A 281, http://www.nchr.gr/category.php?category_id=3 (accessed October 10, 2008); Human Rights Watch interview with Kostis Papaioannou, chairman, Greek National Commission for Human Rights, Athens, June 5, 2008. A National Children’s Rights Observatory was established in 2001 under the Ministry of Education’s Secretariat for youth to monitor and promote the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The body, however, is barely functioning. In response to a Human Rights Watch letter, the Secretariat could not specify how many permanent staff it employed, nor would it summarize its activities in 2007, provide any national data relating to the situation of children in Greece, or specify its current areas of research. Letter from V. Manola, director children’s rights observatory, general 17 Human Rights Watch December 2008