Though there are a large number of international, regional and domestic laws and policies adopted by
Governments, including Greece to address discrimination and the inequalities experienced by persons
belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, there is still discrimina tion and inequality in
participation of these minorities in economic life. Greece has signed but still not ratified the Framework
Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, though ECRI, in its 4th monitoring cycle report in
2009, strongly recommended that Greece ratify, as soon as possible, the Framework Convention for the
Protection of National Minorities
By virtue of Law 3647/2008, Greece introduced a 0.5 % quota for persons belonging to the Turkish
Minority of Western Thrace in the civil service where there is high level of unemployment. Though, this
special measure has not been implemented in Greece. The European Commission against Ra cism and
Intolerance(ECRI), in its 4th Monitoring Cycle Report on Greece in 2009 highlighted that a comprehensive
long-term programme has not yet been established by the authorities to improve the integration of the
Turkish Minority of Western Thrace (Muslims from Western Thrace in the original report) into the labour
market, and it notes that reports indicate that the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace continue to be
under-represented in the public sector and state-owned corpora-dons. The Independent Expert noted that
the government should quickly implement its program of positive measures to ensure that 0.5% of all
government jobs are filled by persons belonging to the Turkish(Muslim in the original report) minority.
In the situation of deep economic crisis, unemployment rate in the region of Eastern Macedonia and
Thrace, where the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace reside have raised 12.9 % in September 2010,
which recorded one of the highest unemployment rate in the country. This deep economic crisis that
resulted the closure of 24 factories out of 68 in Rhodope, and economic conditions of the Turkish Minority
of Western Thrace has deteriorated during this period. Furthermore, unequal distribution of resources and
services prevents the persons belonging to this minority from enjoying their economic and social rights.
ECRI has noted that a special attention to the situation of the Turkish Minority women in Western Thrace.
Surveys which were made in different villages in Rhodope and Xanthi have proved that the level of
education of the minority women in Western Thrace is at a very low level. Only 5.3% of women
participated in the survey are university graduate or university student, 4.7% of them are high school
graduate or student, and 6.6% of them are secondary school graduate or student. The very low level of
education prevents the minority women to participate in economic life in a meaningful way.
Recommendations:
1.
Greece should review all legislation and practice with regard to access to employment, and identify
and eliminate whatever discrimination may exist, with a further consideration of awareness-raising
among civil servants in all public departments regarding the prohibition of discrimination and fight
against discrimination of any form and at all levels.
2.
Governments should ensure that persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic
minorities have equal access to quality education in either public schools or private educational
institutions and are enabled to complete education without discrimination.
Greece should take further measures to improve the integration of the Turkish Minority of Western
Thrace and should give priority to the education of the women belonging to na tional or ethnic,
religious and linguistic minorities, and should carry out a program and/or project on the problems and
the needs of these women in order to strengthen their participation in economic life.
3.
2