On 23 March 2020, a group of 31 migrants arrived by boat on Symi, a small Greek island, seeking asylum in Europe. Instead of being registered, they were detained in an unofficial detention site, their possessions were confiscated, and after approximately 48 hours, they were forced on to a Greek Coast Guard vessel, which abandoned them in the middle of the sea in a motorless life raft.
The Legal Centre Lesvos represents ten of the survivors in proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights for the human rights violations suffered. The Symi cases were finally communicated to Greece in October 2024 – and now, we need your support to continue litigating the case.
Why This Case Matters?
The European Court of Human Rights has become a court of last resort for a growing number of survivors of European border violence, in Greece and beyond. This case is particularly significant as it is the first Greece pushback case in which the parties’ submissions follow the Court’s decisions in A.R.E. and G.R.J. v. Greece, which set additional practical and evidential hurdles for each individual case. Despite the Court’s limitations, its precedents can nonetheless be used as a tool in the struggle against Fortress Europe – and in the context of continent-wide impunity for criminal atrocities against migrants, the pursuit of all available remedies remains urgent. Our team has extensive knowledge and experience litigating cases in front of the Court. Together with your support, we can continue to fight for justice for the Symi pushback survivors.
Who we are
Since 2016, the lawyers, interpreters, and human rights defenders at the Legal Centre Lesvos have provided free legal assistance to migrants arriving in Lesvos. We document violations of migrants’ rights and engage in advocacy and strategic litigation to hold the Greek government, Member States of the European Union, and European institutions to account.
We do not accept donations from the EU, states or institutions complicit in human rights violations or environmental destruction. Our independence is our strength. To maintain it we need the support from individual donors like you.
How Your Support Will Make a Difference
Litigating a case at the ECtHR requires time and resources. To sustain our work, we are seeking to raise €10,000. Your donation will directly fund:
- Dedicated Legal Work: Covering the hours for our team of lawyers who are working intensively on research and legal submissions.
- Essential Travel: We have already incurred costs of over €5,000 to travel to meet with our clients and build their case with them directly.
- Case-Specific Costs: Translation of documents, extensive hours of interpretation, and expert consultations.
How can you help?
Any support, big or small, will help:
- Donate: The most direct way to support this case is with a financial contribution.
- Online: You can donate to our online fundraiser here.
- Bank Transfer: You can send an email to: info@legalcentrelesvos.org and we can provide our bank details if you would prefer to make a direct bank transfer.
- UK or US based donors: if you would like to make a tax-deductible donation with a registered UK charity or US nonprofit organisation, we have partners in the UK and US who can receive donations on our behalf. Contact us at info@legalcentrelesvos.org for details.
- Organise: If you can’t donate, consider organising an event in your community to raise awareness about the situation in Greece and to raise funds in support of the Symi case.