What is advocacy?

“The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support.”
— The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
 

Artwork by Hannah Nomis, 2020

At Lighthouse Relief, we bear witness and raise awareness about the increasingly harsh circumstances for people seeking refuge in Greece.

Ultimately, we strive to build a movement to enforce the rights of asylum seekers.

 

Here is a selection of statements and letters we have co-signed in collaboration with the Advocacy Working Group and other civil society partners:

 

2024

  • LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers in Greece - A Letter To the Greek Authorities (read more)

  • Greece Must Ensure The Rights Of Refugees To Family Reunification (read more)

  • Civil Society Statement on the Schengen Borders Code Reform External (read more)

2023

  • NGOs call on Member States and European Parliament: Go no Lower: Reject the Use of Legal Loopholes in EU Asylum Law Reforms (read more)

  • Independent Monitoring of Pushbacks is Essential for the Protection of Fundamental Rights (read more)

  • Hundreds Denied Food at the Lesvos Closed Controlled Access Centre (read more)

  • Calling for Full and Independent Investigations of the Shipwreck near Pylos (Greece) that Claimed up to 600 lives (read more)

  • Joint Statement against the Obstruction of Search and Rescue Operations (read more)

  • Fires, Pushbacks and the Far Right: Misplaced Blame and the Mobilisation of Violence Against People on the Move in Evros (read more)

  • Joint Statement; Three years after Moria burned down, the promise “No more Morias” remains an empty one (read more)

  • Unlawful detention and worsening conditions: Over 4,000 asylum seekers unlawfully detained on Samos and Lesvos (read more)

  • Reception of asylum seekers in Greece: the demand for humane conditions remains (read more)

  • Civil Society Statement on Article 5 of the EU Screening Regulation (read more)

  • Joint letter regarding the publication of statistics on reception facilities for applicants/seekers of international protection in continental Greece and displaced persons from Ukraine (read more)

2022

  • Closing Supported Accommodation for Vulnerable Asylum Seekers leaves many without access to shelter and school.

  • NGOs Welcome the Resumption of Cash Assistance and Call for Gaps to be Urgently Filled (read more).

  • Mental Health is an Invisible Vulnerability for Refugees and Asylum Seekers on Lesvos (read more).

  • Greater Recognition of Vulnerabilities and Protection for LGBTQI+ Asylum Seekers and Refugees (read more).

  • Social Workers Protesting the Closure of the Last Camp in Athens (read more).

  • Protecting Refugee Rights: Opposing EU Asylum Law Changes that Allow Widespread Derogations and Instrumentalisation (read more).

  • Allow Refugees to stay in Camps for more than 30 Days Post-Recognition (read more).

  • Calling for a Humane Treatment of Asylum Seekers Living in Prison-like Camps (read more).

  • Extending Legal Protections for Unaccompanied Children until age 21 (read more).

  • Protecting Undocumented Minors: Ensuring Residence Permits, Travel, and Identification Documents for all Children (read more).

2021

  • Greece deems Turkey "safe," but refugees are not: The substantive examination of asylum applications is the only safe solution for refugees. (read more)

  • Walling off welcome: New reception facilities in Greece reinforce a policy of refugee containment and exclusion (read more)

  • Are you Eligible to Eat? (read more)

  • Denying food - instead of receiving protection people go hungry on EU soil (read more)

  • Stand Against Criminalization: Solidarity and Refugee Rights on Trial in Greece (read more)

  • A big setback in integration: The cut in aid to asylum seekers (read more)