CAT/C/CR/33/2
page 3
(f)
The contributions, made since 1983, to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for the
Victims of Torture;
(g)
The ratification by the State party, on 15 May 2002, of the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court.
C. Subjects of concern
5.
The Committee notes that many of the concerns it expressed during the consideration of
the third periodic report (A/56/44, para. 87) have not been adequately addressed, and will be
reiterated in the present concluding observations. Consequently, the Committee expresses its
concern at:
(a)
The absence of data with respect to the practical application of the numerous new
legislative acts and the seemingly insufficient steps undertaken to reduce the gap between
legislation and practice;
(b)
Procedures related to the expulsion of foreigners which may in some instances be
in breach of the Convention. It is also concerned at the low percentage (0.06 per cent) of persons
who were granted refugee status in 2003. The Committee acknowledges that owing to its
geographic location Greece has become an important passageway into Europe for many
immigrants and asylum-seekers, the number of which has increased significantly in the past
decade. The importance of providing an adequate response is therefore all the more pressing;
(c)
Training provided to public officials which may be inadequate to provide an
appropriate response to the numerous challenges they are faced with, including undocumented
migrants and asylum-seekers and victims of trafficking, many of whom are women and children;
(d)
The slow progress in adopting a code of ethics and other measures governing the
conduct of police interrogations to supplement the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code,
with a view to preventing cases of torture and ill-treatment, in accordance with article 11 of the
Convention;
(e)
The lack of an effective independent system to investigate complaints and reports
that allegations of torture and ill-treatment are not investigated promptly and impartially;
(f)
The alleged reluctance of prosecutors to institute criminal proceedings under
article 137A of the Criminal Code. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned at the deficiencies
in according protection from ill-treatment or intimidation to victims to which they may be
exposed as a consequence of filing a complaint or giving evidence;
(g)
The insufficient information available relating to redress and fair and adequate
compensation, including rehabilitation available to victims of torture or their dependants, in
accordance with article 14 of the Convention;