In this article, you can find:
- Information about the Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN)
- Learn what is an incident of racist violence and the various forms it can take
- If you've experienced or witnessed an incident, find out how you can report it safely and confidently.
What is the Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN)?
Currently, the Network includes 55 NGOs and civil society organizations that provide legal, medical, social, or other support and come in contact with victims of racist violence, as well as The Greek Ombudsman and the Μigrant and Refugee Integration Council of the Municipality of Athens, as observers. The Network is based at the premises of the GNCHR.
Here, you can find the complete list of the participant Organizations.
The members of the Network ensure that the incident you have experienced or witnessed will be recorded safely and with confidentiality. Recording forms are completed anonymously and used exclusively by the Network to combat racism and hate crimes.
Refugee Info.Greece participates in the Racist Violence Recording Network, and through its participation, aims to raise awareness on the fight against racism and to contribute to the recording of incidents of racist violence.
What is the mission of the Network?
The Racist Violence Recording Network was established in mid-2011, based on the initiative of the Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Greece (UNHCR), with the participation of non-governmental organizations.
The establishment of the Network resulted from two important facts back then:
- The absence of a formal and effective system for recording incidents of racist violence,
- Τhe need to connect the entities that record, on their initiative, incidents that occur against persons who come to their services.
Since its establishment, the Network has been engaged in the systematic recording of racist acts of violence, as the under-reporting of such acts is a pervasive problem due to the fear of victims that they might be targeted again, the implication of law enforcement officials in acts of racist violence, the lack of effective protection and support of the victims and the lack of accountability of perpetrators.
The participants of the Network recognize and pursue as a common goal the fight against racist violence as well as all acts of hate caused by race, color, religion, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, identity gender, gender characteristics, and disability.
In pursuit of the common goal, the Network:
- Makes recommendations to the Greek authorities under Greek, European and international human rights law,
- Promotes information and public awareness in the fight against racism
- Consults on specific issues related to racist violence,
- Strengthens cooperation with other bodies competent to combat racist violence,
- Organizes and participates in training programs for civil society and relevant institutions on issues related to identifying, recording and tackling hate crimes.
What is considered an incident of racist violence?
For the Network, incidents of racist violence are considered criminal acts or violent acts or behaviors against individuals who are targeted based on national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or characteristics, or disability.
These criminal acts encompass a wide range of offences punishable under criminal law, including violence (physical, but also verbal such as putdowns (in private or in front of others), ridiculing, the use of swear words that are especially uncomfortable for the other, saying bad things about the other's loved ones), threats with other forms of violence, either against the victim or against somebody dear to them, harassment, vandalism, property damage, bodily harm, and even murder.
Note that the denial of provision of services or access to a public good or service by a public servant on the basis of criteria such as disability, nationality, race, gender identity and religion is prohibited and can be recorded by the Network.
Similarly, the denial of an employer to pay your salary is, in any case, illegal, but if the denial is based on the reasons mentioned above, it will also consist of a racist crime and can be recorded by the Network.
Discrimination might be direct or indirect:
- Direct is when one person is treated less favorably than another is, has been or would be treated in a comparable situation based on the characteristics mentioned above.
- Indirect is when an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice would put persons of specific characteristics at a disadvantage compared to others.
Harassment shall be deemed to be discrimination when unwanted conduct related to age, disability, nationality, race, gender, and religion takes place with the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person and of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
The principle of equal treatment, regardless of the person's characteristics, applies to the public and private sectors and means that you must have the same access to the provision of goods and services as any other person. This principle applies to access to employment, working conditions, social protection, social advantages, education, and housing.
Please also check our article Racist Crimes-Know your rights to learn more about what you can do and what your rights are if you are the victim or the witness of a racist crime or behavior.
Please note that the Network is recording only incidents that took place during the current year.
How can I report an incident to the Racist Violence Recording Network? What are the steps and what can the Network do for me?
Refugee.Info, as a member of the Network, can help you record the incident and navigate you to have access to services (legal, psychosocial, medical). You can contact us to learn more about the Network and decide whether you would like the racist violence incident that you have experienced to be recorded.
If you decide that you would like to proceed with recording the incident, you will have a direct interview with Refugee.Info staff to give information about what happened. The process is anonymous and is performed with absolute confidentiality.
Reaching out to Refugee.Info will not reveal your identity, expose you to danger, or automatically initiate legal proceedings. Your testimony, along with others, will be used to prove the existence of pervasive racist violence incidents in Greece and justify the phenomenon to Greek authorities to take appropriate measures to ensure accountability of perpetrators and put in place an effective system of protection and support of the victims of racist violence.
If you also want to pursue your case in court, Refugee.Info might help you find professional legal support and refer you to medical and psychosocial services.
If you have more questions or if you want the incident to be recorded via Refugee.Info , please send us a message on Messenger or WhatsApp. You can contact the Network directly via telephone: (+30) 210 7233216, email: racistviolence@nchr.gr or via the contact form.