A United Nations human rights expert has condemned Greece for allegedly failing to identify and assist victims of sex trafficking at a migrant centre on the island of Samos.
The criticism highlights systemic deficiencies in supporting vulnerable individuals seeking asylum in the country.
Siobhán Mullally, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, accused Greek authorities of neglecting 14 women from West and Central Africa who exhibited clear signs of sexual exploitation or forced labour. These indicators included physical injuries, scarring, sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancies. Despite their condition, the women reportedly received inadequate housing, medical care, and psychological support upon their arrival in 2022.
In a letter dated September 2 and made public on Monday, Mullally described the government’s actions as a “systemic failure” to recognise and support trafficking survivors. She also criticised the Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) on Samos, describing it as unsuitable for victims of sexual violence and trafficking.
Survivor Accounts Reveal Harsh Neglect
The letter detailed the case of one woman who gave birth shortly after arriving at the Samos facility. Despite the ordeal of sexual violence and labor, she was not provided a change of clothes for four weeks, leaving her in blood- and sweat-stained garments.
Mullally warned that up to 285 additional asylum seekers who passed through the Samos facility in 2022 might also be victims of trafficking, although the basis for this estimate was not disclosed.
Rising Migration Pressures
Greece, a frontline state during Europe’s 2015-2016 migration crisis, has seen an uptick in migrant arrivals, with approximately 56,000 irregular crossings recorded so far this year, according to U.N. data. The Samos camp, heavily surveilled and surrounded by barbed wire, was established in 2021 to replace the notorious Vathy camp, which once housed thousands in dire conditions.
The Greek government has not yet responded to Mullally’s findings, which have reignited concerns about the country's handling of trafficking victims and the broader migration crisis.
UN Advocacy on Trafficking
Mullally, part of the U.N.’s network of independent human rights experts, emphasised the urgent need for reforms to ensure that trafficking survivors receive proper identification and support within Greece’s asylum system. While her views are independent and not representative of the U.N. as a whole, they bring attention to significant gaps in the protection of vulnerable migrants.
(Source: Reuters)