A/HRC/32/50/Add.1 B. Hate speech 42. While being mindful of the challenges posed by the economic crisis, the Special Rapporteur recalls that hate speech cannot be tolerated on the pretext of economic hardship of a population. 43. The Special Rapporteur was informed that hate speech in day-to-day public life had increased since 2009, in particular in the context of the rise of Golden Dawn. Hate speech is directed mainly against migrants, Muslims and Roma, but also against Jews and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Examples include derogatory comments made on public transport, in schools, in shops or in the streets. These developments are closely linked to the rise of political extremism, as well as the current financial, economic and social crisis, which has eroded social cohesion and the ability of the State to counter its consequences. 44. The Special Rapporteur was also informed that hate speech was present in the media, and on the Internet and social media platforms; it usually went largely unchecked and unpunished, as effective self-regulatory mechanisms seemed to be lacking. The rise of Golden Dawn, facilitated by TV stations broadcasting interviews with its leadership, had led to its normalization, rather than providing in-depth information on its racist and violent ideology and activities. 45. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups have reported that homophobic and transphobic hate speech, verbal harassment and inappropriate comments are allegedly routine in the general public discourse, resulting in them feeling constantly discriminated against and excluded in day-to-day life. The Special Rapporteur was informed, however, that the Parliament had passed Law No. 4356/2015, which since 24 December 2015 had recognized same-sex unions by allowing such couples to enter into cohabitation agreements, in compliance with a European Court of Human Rights judgment of January 2013. 46. The Special Rapporteur was also informed that some senior clergy of the Orthodox Church of Greece had publicly expressed homophobic and anti-Semitic views. The Special Rapporteur is particularly concerned by this information, as the Orthodox Church continues to play a prominent role in Greek society with a strong moral authority. C. Racist and xenophobic violence 47. The Special Rapporteur was informed about an increasing number of incidents involving racist and xenophobic violence, especially since 2011, coinciding with the unfolding of the country’s financial and economic crisis. 48. The Special Rapporteur was briefed extensively by the Racist Violence Recording Network, according to which 65 incidents had been recorded in the first nine months of 2014, 166 incidents in 2013, 154 in 2012 and 63 in the final three months of 2011. Around 60 per cent of victims in incidents recorded by the Network were beneficiaries of international protection, asylum seekers or undocumented persons from countries in which many refugees originate. Such incidents of racist and xenophobic violence involved mostly physical attacks in public places against migrants and refugees on the basis of their skin colour or ethnicity. Until mid-2013, the majority of such attacks were performed in a systematic and organized manner by self-proclaimed vigilante groups, dressed in black and at times wearing military trousers, “patrolling” neighbourhoods on motorcycles. These attacks were mostly beatings and stabbings but also included attacks on residences and shops, as well as arson attacks on places of worship. Most victims of racist attacks refrained from reporting the attacks to the police. 13