Open letter against racism and discrimination

For yet another year, we, the undersigned, find ourselves in the uncomfortable position of expressing our deep concern over the normalization of far-right rhetoric across Europe. Unfortunately, this reality is reinforced by the election of Trump in the US where racist, homophobic, misogynistic, and generally intolerant discourse is a central element of the new US administration’s implemented policies, most notably the repeal of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

This new reality has also affected the European Union (EU), with the so-called Trump effect leading EU governments to express positions that previously seemed unthinkable.

The result of the latest European elections and national political developments confirm that the EU stands at a dangerous crossroads, yet we see no adequate political or institutional response from the EU institutions with the fundamental principles of the Union being in imminent danger.

The new geopolitical landscape contributes to the rise of nationalism and intolerance. Theories of cultural supremacy, population replacement, isolationism, xenophobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-Roma discrimination, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, resentment, historical revisionism, tend to become the new normal.

In 2024, the world saw more wars and armed conflicts than at any time since World War II, with global displacement surpassing 120 million people.

The answer to this is more restrictive asylum policies, increased military spending and hate-filled rhetoric against the victims of wars.

Governments worldwide treat migration as a threat, focusing exclusively on preventing it rather than recognising it as a natural and enduring social phenomenon. Rather than promoting integration and protection, governments have criminalized migration, transforming it into a security issue. Billions of euros are spent on building walls, developing military infrastructure, and deploying advanced surveillance technologies, while those who defend migrant and refugee rights face suppression and persecution.

The escalating climate of hate speech against all that is different and against difference itself, highlights the need for the EU, a union of principles and values, to take more initiatives to against far-right rhetoric.

In Greece, we remain deeply concerned about the rule of law, recalling that the European Parliament and the European Commission have repeatedly called for improvements in the country in areas such as discrimination against LGBTI+, Roma communities, and other minorities, as well as issues related to domestic violence and police brutality. We emphasize the need to develop a comprehensive Action Plan Against Racism and Intolerance for Greece, since the previous one has expired 2 years ago, which will aim at creating an effective national system of support and protection for people experiencing discrimination and racist violence.

Meanwhile, the Greek judiciary systematically continues to fail in holding the executive accountable for illegal actions and abuse of power, many of which involve racist behaviour committed by state institutions. In a landmark decision in January 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) condemned Greece for the first time in the A.R.E. v. Greece case, on pushbacks, justifying the organisations that for years had been calling on EU authorities to intervene and end this “systematic practice” which violates international law and fundamental rights. Additionally, the judiciary remains ineffective in controlling police violence, with a new condemnation by the ECtHR in the recent Panagiotopoulos v. Greece case. The Court condemned the country, contrasting with national authorities’ persistent dismissal of such complaints due to alleged “insufficient evidence”.

Discrimination against vulnerable groups remains a persistent issue and is deeply tied to Greece’s broader rule of law crisis. We call on Greek and European authorities to take initiatives in every possible way to bring about real change in the issues of racism and discrimination.

The fight against discrimination and racism in Greece and Europe is a timely battle that can be won. A battle that must be won.

Athens, March 2025 

Co-signed by the following civil society organizations & communities from Greece and other European countries.

1. Αιθιοπικό Κοινωνικό – Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο “Αιθίοψ” – Cultural Centre Ethiops
2. Αλληλεγγύη Λέσβου ΑΜΚΕ- Lesvos Solidarity
3. ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΗ – Κέντρο Πληροφόρησης και Τεκμηρίωσης για τον Ρατσισμό, την Οικολογία, την Ειρήνη και τη Μη Βία
4. ΑΝΤΙΡΑΤΣΙΣΤΙΚΟ ΔΙΚΤΥΟ ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟΥ ΑΙΓΑΙΟΥ (Α.Δ.Π.Α.)
5. ΑΡΣΙΣ Κοινωνική Οργάνωση Υποστήριξης Νέων – ARSIS Association for the Social Support of Youth
6. Αφγανική κοινότητα Μεταναστών και Προσφύγων στην Ελλάδα – Afghan Migrants and Refugees Community in Greece
7. ΒΑΒΕΛ – Κέντρο Ημέρας Βαβέλ/Συν-ειρμός ΑμΚΕ Κοιν. Αλληλεγγύης – Babel DC Mental Health Unit for Migrants Day Care
8. Δίκτυο για τα δικαιώματα του παιδιού – DDP / Network for children’s rights
9. ΔΙΟΤΙΜΑ Κέντρο για τα έμφυλα δικαιώματα και την ισότητα – DIOTIMA Centre for gender rights and equality
10. Ελληνική Ένωση για τα Δικαιώματα του Ανθρώπου-ΕλΕΔΑ – Hellenic League for Human Rights HLHR
11. Ελληνικό Δίκτυο για την Καταπολέμηση της Φτώχειας – Hellenic Antipoverty Network
12. Ελληνικό Δίκτυο Γυναικών Ευρώπης, ΕΔΓΕ, European Network of Women-Greece, (ENOWGreece)
13. Ελληνικό Συμβούλιο για τους Πρόσφυγες – Greek Council for Refugees
14. Ελληνικό Φόρουμ Μεταναστών – Greek Forum of Migrants
15. Ελληνικό Φόρουμ Προσφύγων – Greek forum of Refugees
16. Ενωμένη Ουκρανική Διασπορά – Ukrainian Diaspora Union
17. Ένωση Ουκρανών Γυναικών – Ukrainian Women in Greece / Українки в Греції
18. Ίριδα-Κέντρο Γυναικών – Irida Women’s Center
19. Κοινωνική Παρέμβαση Δυτικά
20. Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο Αφρικανικής Τέχνης και Πολιτισμών ΑΝΑΣΑ – Anasa Cultural Centre
21. ΣΗΜΕΙΟ για τη μελέτη και την αντιμετώπιση της ακροδεξιάς – SIMEIO researching and confronting the far right
22. Σύλλογος Νιγηριανών Γυναικών Ελλάδας – Nigerian Women Organization of Greece
23. Σχεδία Κέντρο Παιδαγωγικής και Καλλιτεχνικής Επιμόρφωσης
24. Σωματείο Υποστήριξης Διεμφυλικών ΣΥΔ – Transgender Association in Greece SYD
25. Χάρτα της Ειδομένης – Charter of Idomeni
26. AMKE SYMPLEXIS
27. ART AND ACTION NETWORK GREECE – Δικτύου Τέχνης και Δράσης
28. Athens Pride – Φεστιβάλ Υπερηφάνειας Αθήνας
29. Changemakers Lab
30. Cosmos of Culture/ Κοσμο-πολιτισμός
31. Defence for children – Greece DCI
32. El sistema Greece
33. Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality & Diversity
34. Golden Dawn Watch
35. HIAS Greece
36. HumanRights360
37. I HAVE RIGHTS. Samos
38. INTER ALIA
39. INTERSOS Hellas
40. Jesuit Refugee Service Greece (JRS)
41. Legal Centre Lesvos
42. Lighthouse Relief
43. MOBILE INFO TEAM
44. PRAKSIS
45. SCI Hellas
46. Solidarity ΝΟW
47. United African Women Organization – Ένωση Αφρικανών Γυναικών
48. Velos youth center
49. We Need Books