A/HRC/10/11/Add.3 page 4 I. INTRODUCTION 1. The Independent Expert on minority issues visited Greece between 08 and 16 September 2008, inter-alia to promote implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (hereafter “the 1992 Declaration on Minorities”). She conducted extensive consultations with senior government representatives, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Justice, Parliamentarians and numerous public officials at the national and regional level. She consulted civil society organizations, religious leaders, academics and community leaders. The Independent Expert visited Athens and its environs, including Roma settlements, the region of Thrace and the city of Thessaloniki and the Prefecture of Florina in the Macedonia region of northern Greece. 2. The Government provided exemplary cooperation, support and openness throughout the preparation and conduct of the mission. Senior officials gave generously of their time and answered questions fully. Numerous individuals, non-governmental organizations and civil society groups provided valuable information, and facilitated additional aspects of her visit. 3. The Independent Expert’s evaluation of minority issues in Greece is based on the 1992 Declaration on Minorities and other relevant international standards, from which she has identified four broad areas of concern relating to minorities globally. These are: (a) the protection of a minority’s survival, through combating violence against them and preventing genocide; (b) the protection and promotion of the cultural identity of minority groups and the right of national, ethnic, religious or linguistic groups to enjoy their collective identity and to reject forced assimilation; (c) the guarantee of the rights to non-discrimination and equality, including ending structural or systemic discrimination and the promotion of affirmative action when required; and (d) the guarantee of their right to effective participation of members of minorities in public life, especially with regard to decisions that affect them. II. LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND IMPLEMENTING INSTITUTIONS 4. Greece is a state party to the major international human rights instruments of particular relevance to the rights of minorities including: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide, and the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 28.1 of the Constitution provides that international treaties ratified by Greece have supra-statutory force and take precedence over other Greek law. 5. Greece became a member of the European Union in 1981 and subject to its Race Directives1 in regard to non-discrimination and equality. Greece is a member of NATO and of 1 The Racial Equality Directive and the Employment Framework Directive, aim to prevent people in the European Union from being discriminated against on grounds of race and ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.