A/HRC/32/50/Add.1 perpetrators of such crimes with imprisonment of three months to three years and a fine of €5,000 to €20,000. Since 2008, hate crimes are punished by criminal legislation. Penalties were further stiffened when new article 81A was introduced in the Criminal Code. In 2005, Law No. 3304/2005, on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment regardless of race or national origin, religion or other belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, was adopted. This law prohibits both direct and indirect discrimination (art. 3, para. 7) and strengthens the Greek Ombudsperson’s Office by entrusting new competences to it. According to article 20, paragraph 2, of the new law, the Greek Ombudsperson’s Office is no longer excluded from the investigation of complaints related to the service status of civil servants when these concern cases of discriminatory treatment, and the Office may broaden and intensify its mediation and investigation. It may also actively participate in coordination of and awareness-raising among state authorities and civil society.6 17. Additionally, Law No. 3304/2005 provides the Committee for Equal Treatment and the Labour Inspectorate Body with responsibility for addressing discrimination by the private sector. It also criminalizes discrimination by private actors as hate-motivated crimes. 18. In addition to Law No. 3304/2005, which is also aimed at combating discrimination in employment, mainly on the grounds of sex and racial or ethnic origin in the private sector, there are several other pieces of legislation that are aimed at protecting employees against discriminatory practices by employers. 19. In April 2014, Law No. 4251/2014, enacting the Code of Immigration and Social Integration, entered into force. The Law, which codified the relevant legislative provisions, limited the categories of residence permit, simplified the conditions for access to the labour market, created favourable investment conditions, promoted long-term resident status and introduced favourable terms and conditions of stay for the “second migrant generation” under specific integration criteria for third-country nationals who have developed strong links with Greece and Greek society. A third-country national who violates the deadline for voluntary departure or otherwise illegally resides in the country for a period of less than 30 days shall pay on departure four times the relevant fees for an annual residence permit (currently €150). If the duration of such illegal residence exceeds 30 days, he or she shall pay eight times the relevant fees for an annual residence permit (art. 23 of Law No. 4251/2014). Law No. 3907/2011 provides for the creation of an independent asylum service and an appeals authority, the establishment of a first reception service and the adaptation of Greek legislation to directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals. Additionally, Law No. 3772/2009 enforces stricter administrative and penal sanctions on smugglers, and treats their activities as a felony. 7 Law No. 3852/2010, in its article 78, proceeded with the establishment of migrant integration councils within the territorial limits of municipalities. Their role consists in identifying integration problems encountered by third-country nationals and subsequently submitting relevant proposals for the smooth integration of local migrant populations. The migration integration councils are composed of municipal counselors, representatives of local immigrant communities and members of other social entities. Migrant integration councils have been established and are operating in the big urban centres of Greece, such as Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as in other municipalities. Their establishment and 6 7 6 The Greek Ombudsman’s First Year as a Specialized Body for the Promotion of the Principle of Equal Treatment (Greek Ombudsman, 2005), p. 3, available from www.synigoros.gr/resources/docs/ 200_synig_2005_32sel_engl_intern.pdf. Ibid.