Greek Council for Refugees

General information

The Greek Council for Refugees was founded in 1989 with the purpose to provide social counseling and legal aid to asylum seekers, recognized refugees and other vulnerable groups in need of protection (unaccompanied minors, women with children and trafficked persons). Currently, GCR employs 57 lawyers, political scientists, social workers, psychologists, interpreters etc. and is the largest non-governmental organization in Greece exclusively dedicated to refugee issues. In its 22 years of existence more than 55000 asylum seekers and refugees have registered with the organization and benefited from its services.
The main objectives of the organization are to
• Provide legal assistance and social support to asylum seekers and refugees and facilitate their social integration
• Promote the legal and social rights of asylum seekers in Greece
GCR is:
- The only Greek non-governmental, non profit organization that deals exclusively with people seeking asylum in Greece and are considered refugees,
- registered in the records of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity as an Organization recognized as especially Charitable,
- one of the six Non Governmental Organizations protecting human rights in Greece that are members of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) according to the law regarding the National Commission for Human Rights 2667/98. The President of the Board of Directors of GCR has been voted vice-chairman of such commission,
- an implementing partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as
- a member of the European Council for Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)

GCR has:
- Special Advisory Status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and