News

Let’s set the record straight: a humane and effective EU asylum system is possible. Solutions that protect refugees and address concerns of EU citizens do exist.

These are UNHCR’s key recommendations for the 2025 Polish and Danish Presidencies of the EU Council:

1. Implementing the Asylum Pact with safeguards benefits both refugees and EU citizens.

Here are some examples:

• Identify vulnerable people like separated children and torture survivors and offer tailored support. Failing to do so will worsen their suffering and ability to integrate.

• Prioritize alternatives to detention such as assigned residences and regular reporting. Evidence shows that these alternatives are not only more humane, but also equally effective and significantly cheaper than detention.

• Provide early access to legal support, because legal aid contributes to fair asylum procedures. This can reduce the likelihood of costly appeals and save time and resources, while it can also help people integrate into society faster.

• Stop human rights violations at EU borders. Forcibly preventing the entry of people seeking asylum is neither legal nor moral. It’s time for independent border monitoring systems to investigate and end these abuses. Let’s ensure Europe maintains its values to protect refugees.

2. The right to asylum is non-negotiable, even when refugees are ‘instrumentalized’ for political gains.

States must control their borders and protect their citizens, but not at the cost of denying safety to those in danger.

No one should ever be sent back to harm.

3. Act before people are forced to risk their lives.

• Prioritize human rights in migration deals with other countries.
• Fight traffickers.
• Expand ways for people to reach Europe safely.
• Invest in root causes and conflict-solving in conflict-affected regions so people aren’t forced to flee in the first place.

4. The EU must maintain its humanitarian leadership in the world.

We urge for more funding to solve displacement crises globally, including those that aren’t in the headlines.

Humanitarian aid isn’t enough; it must be paired with long-term development.

5. Ensure a future for Ukrainian refugees in Europe until they can safely return home.

Key steps that need to be made:

• Extend their residency permits before they expire in March 2026.
• Explore alternative residency pathways within the EU.

6. No one should be forced to return to Syria.

Despite renewed hope for the country, the humanitarian crisis is far from over.

We urge the EU to continue to be patient until the conditions allow for safe, voluntary and dignified returns.

7. Refugees need safer ways to reach Europe.

The way to achieve that is by resettling vulnerable refugees from countries where they sought refuge but remain at risk, through mobility for education and employment purposes, as well as through reunification of refugee families.

Combining Europe’s labour shortage with refugees’ skills and talents creates a win-win situation for everyone.

8. Humane and effective returns first require fair and efficient asylum procedures to quickly identify those in need of international protection.

EU Presidencies must prioritize:

• Voluntary over forced returns
• Reintegration support

You can find UNHCR’s Recommendations for 2025’s EU Presidency here.

Ελληνικά

In the heart of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on the vibrant Valaoritou Street, Shaimaa welcomes a large crowd of men, women, and children with the warmth of a gracious hostess. Today marks the opening of her restaurant, and this charming alley is filled with the enticing aromas of homemade cuisine. Guests eagerly line up, anticipating the delicious flavours Shaimaa has prepared.

The restaurant is named “Ustura”, which means “myth” in Arabic – a choice that holds deep significance.

“The entire journey, from the moment I left Iraq with my children because we were in danger, through our safe arrival in Greece, how my children grew up, and how I managed to open this restaurant – it’s all like a myth”, Shaimaa explains.

The 44-year-old woman arrived in Greece in September 2018, alone with her three children. After being granted refugee status and feeling safe in Thessaloniki, Shaimaa decided to turn her hope for a brighter future into a reality.

“I want to open my own restaurant”, Shaimaa declared with an iron will when she first visited the Employment Service of the Blue Refugee Centre (BRC), run by the non-governmental organization SolidarityNow in Thessaloniki, in the summer of 2023. Shaimaa had been familiar with the Centre since 2019, when she first sought integration services, including Greek language lessons for herself and her son.

During her initial meeting with Mary Asvesta, the coordinator of the SolidarityNow Employability Service, Shaimaa shared her vision. Although she had studied nursing in her home country and attended sewing classes in Thessaloniki, cooking was her true passion. In both Iraq and Greece, cooking is associated with important occasions, and Shaimaa always enjoyed preparing meals for large gatherings. This passion drove her to want to open her own restaurant, where she could offer the flavours of her homeland.

However, the project seemed daunting. While Shaimaa had some experience working in a restaurant kitchen, she lacked knowledge of other crucial aspects of running a business, particularly financial management. Moreover, she didn’t have the financial resources and struggled to secure the necessary funding.

“Despite all the hurdles, Shaimaa attended our meetings consistently for an entire year without interruption. She had will power, stability, determination, and an unwavering desire”, Mary recalls.

The BRC Livelihoods Programme, implemented at the Blue Refugee Centre in partnership with UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency*, aims to provide holistic support to refugees and asylum-seekers helping them integrate into the labour market and, ultimately, into social and economic life. The programme’s team of consultants, employability and legal counsellors, social workers, and accountants, supported Shaimaa through her challenging journey into entrepreneurship. They helped her create a business plan, find the ideal location for the business, and identify potential funding sources. Additionally, they guided her through administrative and accounting procedures and supported her in accessing welfare benefits, such as applying for rent allowance. Their ongoing support has been crucial for Shaimaa in rediscovering hope in Thessaloniki.

Shaimaa’s restaurant is decorated with colourful lights and a wooden sign wishing prosperity and good neighbourliness. She also invited an artist from her homeland to paint murals of her favourite locations in Thessaloniki on the walls, including the place along the promenade where she used to spend time with her children in the past.

“The cuisine may be Arabic, but I want to forge a connection with Thessaloniki, where the restaurant is located, because I feel that the city gives me strength”, she shares.

Both in Iraq and in Greece cooking is associated with important occasions, and Shaimaa always enjoyed preparing meals for large gatherings. ©UNHCR/Socrates Baltagiannis

News about Shaimaa’s restaurant spread quickly, and on opening day, many residents, both Greeks and refugees, eagerly lined up to try her homemade dishes, prepared with fresh ingredients. Many excitedly expressed their intention to return as regular customers.

“Shaimaa exemplifies that anyone of us can get back on our feet, choose which dreams to chase, and become an integral part of the community. However, for this to happen, we must be given opportunities and essential support”, explains Lefteris Konstantopoulos, Head of UNHCR’s Field Office in Thessaloniki.

Despite the numerous challenges in its implementation, Shaimaa’s idea carries a powerful message she wants to share with every woman.

“Have courage, don’t lose hope, and keep fighting until you achieve your dreams”, Shaimaa says and her face is brightened by a smile as her dream comes true.

———————–

“Hope Away from Home” is a global UNHCR campaign calling for renewed solidarity and firm commitments from states to uphold the rights of people seeking safety from war, violence and persecution. Granting access to asylum, family reunification, access to employment and education are all ways states can show people fleeing war, violence, and persecution that there is hope away from home.

* UNHCR’s programmes are implemented thanks to the flexible funding received from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United Stated of America.

Greek

Discrimination, bureaucratic challenges, and a lack of knowledge of the Greek language are significant barriers that refugees must overcome in their attempts to integrate into the Greek labour market. Despite these obstacles, many receive vital support from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and through integration and employability programmes conducted in partnership with specialized organizations.

Bruce, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is one such individual who, after receiving appropriate support, secured a job in the flour industry “Dakos Mills” and now dreams of a brighter future.

When Bruce fled his home country, he had two main priorities: to reach safety and to find a job that would allow him to live with dignity.

“Work is a core part of my life here in Greece. You can learn many things, make new friends, communicate with people of all nationalities and integrate into society”, Bruce says.

Initially, Bruce encountered setbacks in his job search, including unpaid wages, lower wages than promised, and discrimination. His fortunes changed when he sought assistance from the Adama Centre in Athens, operated by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Caritas Hellas, in partnership with UNHCR.

At the Adama Centre, Bruce found comprehensive support. He received assistance in creating his resume, understanding his rights and responsibilities as an employee, connecting with suitable employers and coaching for interviews. Even after Bruce secured a job with his current employer, Adama continued to support him throughout the recruitment process.

Bruce is now one of 580 individuals who have found employment through the Adama Centre. He is employed in the supply chain at Dakos Mills, organizing and loading orders for delivery. Bruce approaches his work with responsibility, understanding the importance of precision and contributing to effective customer service. He is part of a diverse and supportive team that helps each other, including with learning Greek.

Stavros Fotopoulos, plant director at Dakos Mills, emphasizes the collective benefits of supporting integration: “It’s a win-win situation for every business, the economy, and society at large. Exclusion helps no one.” The company has employed nine refugees and asylum-seekers over the past year in collaboration with the Adama Centre.

The headlines highlighting a shortage of personnel have been increasing in recent years. Hundreds of thousands of job positions in key sectors of the Greek economy, such as tourism, agriculture, and constructions, remain vacant. At the same time, thousands of refugees have the skills and willingness to integrate into the labour market. Their employment is a sustainable and inclusive solution that benefits everybody.

For UNHCR, the private sector is pivotal in integrating refugees into both the labour market and broader society, meeting labour demands, and ultimately strengthening the national economy.

“Only through collaboration and partnership can we create an environment that supports the integration of refugees, to the benefit of all”, says Maria Clara Martin, UNHCR Representative in Greece.

Hundreds of businesses, like Dakos Mills, have joined the expansive network that UNHCR has developed through its employability programmes. The online Adama Job Platform, which connects job-seeking refugees in Greece with potential employers nationwide, has also been instrumental in these efforts.

Bruce describes how much more independent he feels and how the stable job he found, along with the support he received from Adama, has changed his daily life.

“Today, I am not the same person I was a long time ago. I am thrilled that I have found a job in Greece with good working conditions. It’s something I never thought possible, after all the hardships I have endured”.

Now aspiring to become a chef, Bruce dedicates his free time to improving his culinary skills, reflecting his newfound confidence and ambition.

As Bruce reflects on his journey, he realizes that his story is not just about finding a job—it’s about resilience, hope, and the transformative power of opportunity. With determination and the support of organizations, like Adama and UNHCR, and compassionate employers like Dakos Mills, Bruce has not only secured employment but has also unlocked a world of possibilities for himself.

About UNHCR’s Hope Away From Home Campaign

“Hope Away from Home” is a global UNHCR campaign calling for renewed solidarity and firm commitments from states to uphold the rights of people seeking safety from war, violence and persecution. Granting access to asylum, family reunification, access to employment and education are all ways states can show people fleeing war, violence, and persecution that there is hope away from home. In Greece, UNHCR works with the government, municipalities, civil society, refugee communities and the private sector to promote policies and programmes facilitating refugee integration and their access to employment and livelihoods, so that refugees can thrive in and contribute to their new home.

Ελληνικά

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply saddened by the recent tragic loss of life in the Aegean Sea. Most recently, at least 12 people, all women and children, have perished in two separate incidents off Samos island this week.

On 25 November, 39 people were rescued and eight people – six children and two women, all from Afghanistan – lost their lives at the sea northeast of Samos amidst adverse weather conditions. Amongst the victims were babies, the youngest just four months-old. A mother lost three of her children while another man lost both his wife and daughter.

On the morning of 28 November, a new incident resulted in the death of at least four people, two women and two children. A total of 28 people have been located. The circumstances surrounding this incident are yet to be determined.

UNHCR teams have been on the ground, supporting survivors from both incidents and assisting authorities in the heartbreaking aftermath. For survivors and their families, this includes the long and painful process of establishing family links, identifying bodies, arranging burials, coping with immense grief and trauma while navigating the reception and asylum procedures.

“Our thoughts are with all the survivors who are enduring unimaginable psychological distress. We stand ready to offer any additional support they may need.” said Maria Clara Martin, UNHCR Representative in Greece.

“These repeated tragedies highlight the urgent need for long-term responses and safer and credible alternatives for those fleeing conflict, persecution, violence, or gross human rights violations. We need serious efforts towards peacebuilding, conflict resolution and addressing root causes of flight; more aid to countries along the displacement routes; and of course, cooperation among states to achieve all the above. Counting lives lost at sea cannot become a norm – we should not get used to it”, she added.

The recent shipwrecks follow four other fatal incidents in the Aegean Sea: on 6 November, four lives were lost off southern Rhodes; on 10 November, a child was reported missing off Samos; on 23 November, a woman was reported missing near Farmakonissi; on 25 November, the body of a man was found on an inaccessible shoreline on Lesvos.

In total, this November, at least 17 people have died in the Aegean in their attempt to reach Greece and 45 since the beginning of the year.

UNHCR notes with concern the increase in fatalities in the Aegean Sea. For many, boarding unseaworthy vessels appears to be the only option to escape conflict or persecution. These journeys come with immense risks, including injury, exploitation by smugglers and loss of life. Additionally, we are concerned that some deterrence actions may involve risky practices and pursuits that may further endanger lives. .

The tragic loss of life in the Aegean must serve as a call to action to prevent further tragedies and uphold our shared commitment to protecting those fleeing conflict, persecution, violence, and human rights violations.

Ελληνικά

Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed by a partner or a family member.  Violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide, affecting almost one in three women. The most extreme manifestation of this violence – femicide – claimed the lives of at least 51,100 women in 2023. These numbers reveal that the systems and structures meant to protect women and girls are failing.

Women fleeing conflict, war, persecution or human rights violations are even more vulnerable to gender-based violence. Today, over 60 million forcibly displaced and stateless women and girls are at particular risk of gender-based violence during displacement. They face a 20% higher risk of intimate partner violence, while conflict-related sexual violence was reported to have surged by 50% in 2023 alone. Displacement can also increase tension within families, multiply triggers of abuse and confine women and girls to shelters with their abusers.

This year’s 16 Days of Activism  campaign, under the theme “Every 10 Minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women”, will be launched on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and will run until 10 December, International Human Rights Day. The campaign calls for urgent action, an end to impunity and funding to address the root causes of violence and support women’s rights movements, including those led by refugee women.

In Greece, UNHCR is joining forces with national authorities, municipalities, civil society, partners, refugees and asylum-seekers, with a view to prevent, mitigate and respond to gender-based violence, to advocate for actions and solutions and raise awareness through events and discussions.

The colour orange remains a key UN symbol for unifying global activities and drawing attention to the campaign’s message. It represents hope for a brighter future, free from violence against women and girls.

Programme of public events in Greece:

• Athens: 24 November: Public reading and discussion with refugee communities in the framework of the festival “Orange Week Athens” held by the Municipality of Athens.
• Chios: 24 November:  Race in cooperation with Chios Running Association | 29 November: Screening of the film “C’è ancora domani” by Paola Cortelessi in cooperation with Chios Cinema Club.
• Evros: 19 & 20 November: Training on gender-based violence for representatives of authorities, service providers and civil society by UNHCR and the General Secretariat for Equality and Human Rights of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs with the support of Orestiada Municipality.
• Kos: 5 December: Screening of the film “She said” by Maria Schrader.
• Lesvos: 27 November: Theatre, music performances and discussion organized by Mytilene Municipality in cooperation with UNHCR, the Municipal Equality Committee, the Research Centre for Equality of Mytilene, the University of the Aegean, the Union of Theatrical-Cultural Associations of Lesvos “Thesis” and Mytilene’s Music School.  29 November: Screening of the film “C’è ancora domani” by Paola Cortelessi in cooperation with Mytilene Municipality. 10 December – Women’s empowerment and awareness raising event by Diotima Centre and the Migrants’ Integration Center (KEM) of Mytilene Municipality.
• Samos: 1 December: Theatre performance “My Name Is” staged by locals and refugees under the coordination of “Omikron” Theatre Group and screening of the film “C’è ancora domani” by Paola Cortelessi.
• Τhessaloniki: 28 November: Discussion on prevention and empowerment with refugee women in cooperation with Diotima Centre.

In addition to the above events, UNHCR, in cooperation with local authorities, partners and refugee-led organizations, will run across the country a series of participatory awareness sessions, screenings, art workshops and focus group discussions with refugees and asylum-seekers in reception centres and urban areas across the country.  All events are free to all.

• Refugees and asylum-seekers in Greece who are exposed to sexual, physical or psychological violence may find useful information and helplines at UNHCR’s HELP platform here.
• Diotima Centre, in cooperation with UNHCR, provides psychosocial and legal aid services in Athens and Thessaloniki to forcibly displaced people who have suffered gender-based violence (women, men, and LGBTQI+ individuals). See more here.

Greek

“The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.”
Article 16, paragraph 3, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is pleased to announce ahead of World Children’s Day the 28^th Annual National Student Contest in Greece for the 2024-2025 school year. This year’s theme, “Family Means Together”, aligns with UNHCR’s global “Hope Away from Home” campaign.

Today, almost 123 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes due to escalating conflicts, violence and human rights violations. Many are violently separated from their families. They may spend years without seeing each other, or even never reunite.

Family separation affects the mental health of refugees, complicating their efforts to adapt and integrate into the host society. In addition, in the absence of safe alternatives, it may push family members who stayed behind to risk their lives by following dangerous routes to reunite with their loved one. States have a responsibility to protect and restore the family life of refugees, including through family reunification processes.

UNHCR, together with its partners, helps to ensure the fundamental right to family unity, supports separated refugee families and strengthens their access to reunification processes.

The UNHCR Student Contest invites primary and secondary school students, across Greece, to reflect on what family means to them. Through sketches, posters or postcards, students can express their ideas on family unity and address messages to separated refugee families or decision-makers. Where do people find comfort in their hardest times? How could children’s fundamental need for belonging be better protected?  How would it feel to be forced to leave your homeland and family behind? What changes would students ask to those who have the power to bring families together? What message would they like to share with separated refugee families who wait for years to reunite with their loved ones?

Students may work individually or in groups and submit their entries by 28 February 2025, through this webpage: https://www.unhcr.org/gr/student-contest-2024. 

Α special committee will review all entries based on their originality and creativity and will award two entries per school level (Kindergarten, Primary school, Junior High School, High School). The committee consists of representatives from the Greek Council for Refugees, the Hellenic Theatre/Drama and Education Network, the Network for Children’s Rights, UNRIC – the UN Regional Information Centre (Office for Greece), Athens Comics Library and UNHCR. In addition, Popi Kyrdi, teacher and head of the Cultural Programmes at the Primary Education Directorate of A’ Athens and Naemi Solomon, a young refugee whose family was reunited in Greece after a long struggle, will take part in the evaluation process.

Awarded students will receive commemorative gifts from UNHCR, including canvas bags and T-shirts from the exclusive collection resulting from UNHCR’s global “Youth with Refugees” art contest with the theme “Hope Away From Home”. All participants will also receive digital commemorative diplomas for their participation in the Contest.

For detailed information about the rules and conditions of participation in the Contest, please visit: www.unhcr.org/gr/student-contest-2024.

A few words about UNHCR’s Hope Away From Home Campaign

“Hope Away from Home” is a global UNHCR campaign calling for renewed solidarity and firm commitments from states to uphold the rights of people seeking safety from war, violence and persecution. Granting access to asylum, family reunification, access to employment and education are all ways states can show people fleeing war, violence, and persecution that there is hope away from home.

Ελληνικά

“Ustura”, which means “myth” in Arabic, is the name of the restaurant that Shaimaa Al Kinani is opening, and she is celebrating with an opening party on October 31st at 15:30, 29 Valaoritou Street, in the center of Thessaloniki.

After four years in Greece, Shaimaa’s love for cooking and her need to create her own space led her to seek support from the Employability Service of the Blue Refugee Centre (BRC) of SolidarityNow in Thessaloniki.

There, through the BRC Livelihoods programme, implemented in collaboration with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the employability counselors stood by Shaimaa’s side, step by step, helping her turn her dream into reality.

From obtaining the necessary permits and documents, to communicating with the relevant authorities, offering advice on entrepreneurship in Greece, and providing daily emotional support to a woman striving for autonomy through her work, the Employment Service counselors were Shaimaa’s allies.

Therefore, together, Shaimaa and the partners from SolidarityNow and UNHCR invite the residents of Thessaloniki to a celebration for the opening of her restaurant, which is also an invitation to a celebration of cultures, acceptance, and recognition!

We look forward to seeing you!

Αbout SolidarityNow

SolidarityNow is a non-governmental organization established in 2013 to respond to the needs and ensure the rights of the most vulnerable social groups. The organization’s vision is to improve people’s lives and empower them to fight for a more justice and inclusive society. From 2013 until today, SolidarityNow has supported through its actions and programs (housing, psychosocial support, legal assistance, interpretation, education, child protection) more than 350,000 of our vulnerable fellow human beings to claim a life with dignity and prospects.

About UNHCR

UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We are present in Greece since 1952, trying to ensure the protection and integration of refugees and asylum-seekers in the country. UNHCR has developed initiatives and tools to link refugees in Greece with the labour market, implements vocational training, education and livelihoods programmes. The Office in Greece also focuses on awareness-raising activities and works with the Greek authorities, civil society actors, cities and municipalities, the private sector and the local and refugee communities to promote inclusion policies at local and national level so that refugees can thrive in and contribute to their new home.

Ελληνικά