The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders will carry out an official visit to Greece from Monday 13 June to Wednesday 22 June 2022. The visit will include meetings with government officials, human rights defenders, civil society representatives, journalists, representatives of the international community and other relevant stakeholders. The aim of the visit will be to document good practices and investigate challenges regarding the situation of human rights defenders in the country, including their right to freedom of expression, association and assembly, and the environment in which they carry out their activities.

The Special Rapporteur will present a public report on this country visit to the June 2023 session of the Human Rights Council.

In preparation for the visit, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, journalists and other interested parties are encouraged to submit general inputs and specific proposals with regard to the questions below. Please feel free to provide inputs to any of the questions and to share this call for submissions with anyone who may be interested in contributing. You do not need to answer all of the questions.

1. General context
   • What are the main domestic laws and policies in place that affect the work of human rights defenders and civil society?
   • How are these laws and policies implemented in practice?
   • Are there any good examples or practices in this regard?
   • What are the main barriers, interferences or restrictions that human rights defenders, civil society organisations and journalists covering human rights issues face in their work?
2. Issues of concern
   • What are the main/most urgent issues affecting the work of human rights defenders?
   • How can these issues be addressed?
   • Are any human rights defenders working on specific rights facing particular challenges? If so, how?
   • Are women human rights defenders facing differentiated challenges?
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3. Potential areas to visit, including outside Athens
4. Relevant authorities, organizations, and individuals to meet in the context of the Special Rapporteur’s visit to Greece
5. Please let us know if there are any other issues, specific questions or recommendations that you would like the Special Rapporteur to look into or raise with a particular authority.