{"id":25162,"date":"2025-07-17T12:26:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T10:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/ekthesi-2024-tou-michanismou-katagrafis-peristatikon-atypon-anagkastikon-epistrofon\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T12:56:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T10:56:25","slug":"2024-annual-report-of-the-recording-mechanism-of-informal-forced-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/2024-annual-report-of-the-recording-mechanism-of-informal-forced-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Annual Report of the Recording Mechanism of Informal Forced Returns"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"25162\" class=\"elementor elementor-25162 elementor-25155\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ed071e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5ed071e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4148bfb elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4148bfb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2024 Annual Report of the Recording Mechanism of Informal Forced Returns<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13745bd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"13745bd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6afcb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f6afcb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2024_Recording_Mechanism_cover_EN.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"Publication of the 2024 Annual Report of the Recording Mechanism of Informal Forced Returns\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4705eb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4705eb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Below you can find the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nchr.gr\/en\/news\/2113-publication-of-the-2024-annual-report-of-the-recording-mechanism-of-informal-forced-returns.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Press Release<\/a> of the Recording Mechanism of Incidents of Informal Forced Returns of the Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7e01b6 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"e7e01b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a8707f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6a8707f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Recording Mechanism of Incidents of Informal Forced Returns<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Press Release<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Publication of the 2024 Annual Report<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>The Recording Mechanism of the GNCHR documents the consolidation of the characteristics of the modus operandi and identifies new components in the operations of informal forced returns (IFRs) reportedly taking place at the borders<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Athens<\/strong><strong>, 17\/07\/2025<\/strong><\/p><p>The\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nchr.gr\/en\/recording-mechanism.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Recording Mechanism of Incidents of Informal Forced Returns<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<strong>(Recording Mechanism)<\/strong>\u00a0established by the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nchr.gr\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Greek National Commission for Human Rights<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<strong>(GNCHR)<\/strong>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nchr.gr\/en\/news\/2113-publication-of-the-2024-annual-report-of-the-recording-mechanism-of-informal-forced-returns.html#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[1]<\/a>\u00a0to enhance the\u00a0<strong>guarantees of objectivity and reliability<\/strong>\u00a0in reports concerning incidents of informal forced returns<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nchr.gr\/en\/news\/2113-publication-of-the-2024-annual-report-of-the-recording-mechanism-of-informal-forced-returns.html#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[2]<\/a>\u00a0from the Greek territory,\u00a0<strong>publishes today its 2024 Annual Report<\/strong>.<\/p><p>The\u00a0<strong>2024 Annual Report<\/strong>\u00a0is based on\u00a0<strong>61 testimonies<\/strong>\u00a0and documents\u00a0<strong>52 incidents<\/strong>\u00a0reportedly occurring between\u00a0<strong>January 2022 and December 2024<\/strong>. The total number of\u00a0<strong>alleged victims<\/strong>\u00a0involved in these incidents is estimated at\u00a0<strong>a minimum of 1,517 individuals<\/strong>, including at least\u00a0<strong>300 women, 225 children, and 133 persons with specific needs<\/strong>.<\/p><p>The Report presents\u00a0<strong>comprehensive statistical data<\/strong>\u00a0and a\u00a0<strong>qualitative analysis<\/strong>\u00a0of the findings drawn from the testimonies of the alleged victims, recorded in accordance with the\u00a0<strong>Methodology of the Recording Mechanism<\/strong>.<br \/>For the\u00a0<strong>third consecutive year<\/strong>, the Recording Mechanism records a significant concentration of testimonies concerning incidents of informal forced returns sharing\u00a0<strong>common features<\/strong>, demonstrating the\u00a0<strong>entrenchment of specific operational practices<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0<strong>repetition of serious human rights violations<\/strong>\u00a0at Greece\u2019s borders.<\/p><p>Key findings:<\/p><ul><li>The\u00a0<strong>alleged victims<\/strong>\u00a0originate predominantly from countries whose nationals are frequently recognised as\u00a0<strong>beneficiaries of international protection<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Among them are\u00a0<strong>three individuals<\/strong>\u00a0who claim to have been\u00a0<strong>recognised as refugees in Greece<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>one person<\/strong>\u00a0who reports having been\u00a0<strong>registered as an asylum seeker<\/strong>\u00a0by the Greek authorities.<\/li><li>The presence of\u00a0<strong>eleven Turkish asylum seekers<\/strong>\u00a0among the alleged victims indicates\u00a0<strong>direct breaches of the principle of non-refoulement<\/strong>.<\/li><li>The testimonies describe acts that point to\u00a0<strong>serious violations<\/strong>\u00a0of the\u00a0<strong>principle of non-refoulement<\/strong>\u00a0under the\u00a0<strong>1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees<\/strong>, as well as breaches of the\u00a0<strong>prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>the<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>rights to liberty and life<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>the<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>right to asylum<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>the<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>prohibition of collective expulsions<\/strong>, as safeguarded by the\u00a0<strong>European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0<strong>EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (CFREU)<\/strong>. These acts also constitute\u00a0<strong>criminal offences under Greek law<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Such acts reportedly\u00a0<strong>target individuals in situations of particular vulnerability<\/strong>, including people with serious illnesses or disabilities,\u00a0<strong>pregnant women<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>elderly persons<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>children<\/strong>.<\/li><li>The testimonies recorded by the Recording Mechanism refer to the involvement of\u00a0<strong>both uniformed personnel and individuals in civilian clothing<\/strong>. In some testimonies relating to incidents in\u00a0<strong>Evros<\/strong>, it was reported that\u00a0<strong>third-country nationals<\/strong>, speaking the victims\u2019 languages and\u00a0<strong>acting in cooperation with or under the instructions of uniformed officers<\/strong>, also took part in the removal operations.<\/li><\/ul><p>The\u00a0<strong>2024 Annual Report<\/strong>\u00a0also presents and analyses\u00a0<strong>new findings<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>further insights<\/strong>\u00a0into the\u00a0<strong>modus operandi<\/strong>\u00a0of IFRs. Specifically:<\/p><ul><li>For the first time, the Report analyses the practices of\u00a0<strong>successive detention<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>convergent removal<\/strong>, highlighting their role as\u00a0<strong>core operational patterns<\/strong>\u00a0in IFRs.<\/li><li>Testimonies relating to incidents in the\u00a0<strong>Evros region<\/strong>\u00a0indicate the existence of an\u00a0<strong>operational network of secondary actions within the mainland<\/strong>\u00a0(notably\u00a0<strong>Thessaloniki and Komotini<\/strong>), meaning that victims were reportedly apprehended\u00a0<strong>beyond the border zone<\/strong>. This pattern, documented for the\u00a0<strong>third consecutive year<\/strong>, reveals the\u00a0<strong>breadth and organisational structure<\/strong>\u00a0of these operations.<\/li><li>A clear distinction is observed between\u00a0<strong>land incidents in Evros<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>maritime incidents<\/strong>. The former are characterised by\u00a0<strong>networks of operations extending from the border into inland areas<\/strong>, while the latter focus mainly on\u00a0<strong>maritime operations preventing approach or disembarkation on Greek islands<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Testimonies point to\u00a0<strong>qualitative differences in the use of violence<\/strong>. In incidents in\u00a0<strong>Evros<\/strong>, violence reportedly had a\u00a0<strong>punitive character<\/strong>\u00a0and involved\u00a0<strong>greater physical intensity<\/strong>, whereas in\u00a0<strong>sea incidents<\/strong>, it mainly took the form of\u00a0<strong>actions obstructing navigation and disembarkation<\/strong>, marked by\u00a0<strong>increased danger to life<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>recorded fatalities<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong><u>The 2024 Annual Report of the Recording Mechanism is available\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nchr.gr\/images\/rec_mechanism\/Annual_Report_2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>The Recording Mechanism for Incidents of Informal Forced Returns brings together civil society organisations active in the field, providing legal, medical, psychosocial and other services to third-country nationals. All participating organisations have legal personality and representation in Greece. The UNHCR Representation in Greece supports the Recording Mechanism as a cooperating partner, providing technical assistance and expertise on issues related to refugee protection.<\/p><p>The testimonies recorded by the Recording Mechanism come from individuals who are not related to each other, except in the case of families or members of the same group. These individuals come into contact with civil society organisations while seeking assistance and voluntarily consent to the recording of their testimonies by the Recording Mechanism.<\/p><p>The Recording Mechanism does not take part in legal proceedings that may be initiated either by alleged victims and their legal representatives or by the prosecuting authorities. Through the safe identification and documentation of alleged victims, the Recording Mechanism encourages them to seek redress from the competent authorities and the judiciary.<\/p><p><strong><u>\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nchr.gr\/en\/news\/2113-publication-of-the-2024-annual-report-of-the-recording-mechanism-of-informal-forced-returns.html#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[1]<\/a>\u00a0The Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR), as the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) of Greece and the independent advisory body to the Greek State on issues relating to the promotion and protection of human rights, in accordance with the United Nations Paris Principles and Law 4780\/2021, has, among its institutional mandates, the continuous monitoring of human rights issues, public awareness-raising, and the promotion of related research.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nchr.gr\/en\/news\/2113-publication-of-the-2024-annual-report-of-the-recording-mechanism-of-informal-forced-returns.html#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[2]<\/a>\u00a0The term informal forced returns refers to both the alleged pushbacks of asylum seekers and refugees and other forms of forced removal of third-country nationals from Greece that are reportedly carried out irregularly and without due process \u2014 in other words, without following the legal procedures required for such removals. By law, any forced return of a third-country national must be based on an individual decision, be subject to judicial review and effective remedies, and be implemented with full respect for fundamental human rights.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac09e85 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ac09e85\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;mobile&quot;],&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd9c853 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"dd9c853\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Annual_Report_2024.pdf\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download the annual report (2024)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f667bee e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f667bee\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f9286b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f9286b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Recording Mechanism of Incidents of Informal Forced Returns published its annual report for 2022.<\/p><p>The Recording Mechanism was founded by the Greek National Commission for Human Rights (GNCHR) in September 2021, which is the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in Greece and the independent advisory body to the Greek State for the promotion and protection of human rights.<\/p><p>Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) is a member of the Recording Mechanism together with other civil society organizations, working in the field and offering services to third-country citizens.<\/p><p>The Recording Mechanism aims to monitor, record and report incidents of informal forced returns of third country nationals from Greece to other countries. It seeks to promote and consolidate respect of the principle of non-refoulement as well as to safeguard guarantees and compliance with legal procedures. It aims to boost accountability for reported human rights violations alleged to have occured during informal forced returns of third country nationals from Greece to other countries.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Publication of the 2024 Annual Report<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":25177,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,5,142,137,254],"tags":[336,18,306],"class_list":{"0":"post-25162","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-press-releases","8":"category-publications","9":"category-push-backs-collective-expulsions","10":"category-topics","11":"category-violations-at-the-borders","12":"tag-2025-2","13":"tag-featured","14":"tag-recording-mechanism-of-incidents-of-informal-forced-returns"},"menu_order":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25162"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25162\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25184,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25162\/revisions\/25184"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}