The past year has brought seismic changes to the legal landscape in Greece. Refugees face a hardening of attitudes at domestic and EU level and an increasingly strict asylum process that emphasises speed and threatens the rule of law. In this context, comprehensive assistance from a qualified asylum lawyer can make all the difference. With your support, ELIL can continue to defend refugees' rights by assisting them with their cases and helping reunite families across borders.
Over the last year, almost 15,000 people have been transferred to mainland Greece at short notice. The vast majority are vulnerable and need legal assistance to navigate the complex asylum procedure. In June, Greece designated Turkey as a 'safe third country' for people arriving from five countries. Meanwhile, thousands of Afghans are seeking to make new asylum applications, in light of the drastic deterioration of the situation in their home country. All these people require legal support.
ELIL was founded in 2016 to meet the need for free, independent legal assistance for refugees in Greece. Through our work, we help defend the rule of law and access to justice. We offer support in relation to asylum interviews, help reunite families across borders, provide tailored support to unaccompanied children and contribute to knowledge-sharing across Europe. In response to a shifting context, we recently opened a new project in Athens, where we have already assisted hundreds of people.
Since 2016, ELIL has provided legal assistance to more than 13,000 people. Of these, 74.5% have been granted asylum, compared to an average of 46.5% in Greece, meaning they are granted protection and do not have to return to face war, violence or persecution. This holiday season, ELIL is seeking support to meet the increased need for flexible legal aid for refugees across Greece. Your support can help us expand our team and make a difference to the lives of thousands of people.
