On the International Day Against Racism and Racial Discrimination, we walk all together for a better future. The Walk Against Discrimination aims to raise awareness about actions against discrimination, exclusion and racism faced by vulnerable groups. The Action itself aims to contribute to social cohesion, to promote good practices of vulnerable groups and to enhance their networking capacity.
Vulnerable groups (people with special needs -PWD, Roma, Migrants, Refugees, HIV positives, elderly, drug addicts, mentally ill, religion minorities, etc.)
Civil Society (NGO organizations, institutions, institutes, etc.)
Sensitised Greek citizens concerning human rights
3 hours ~ Walk at 15:00 from pl. Kotzia until pl. Victoria
The Greek Forum of Migrants called for the 4th year all groups affected by discrimination and racism to participate in the Walk Against Discrimination, on 21 March 2018 - International Day Against Racism and Racial Discrimination. The Walk Against Discrimination is a symbolic celebration that wishes to send, each year a new message against discrimination to the Greek state and society.
On 2018, the Walk Against Discrimination organizing committee (open for participation to all organizations and communities) chose to start the march in Kotzia Square, as a contribution of the Municipality of Athens in combating discrimination. The conclusion ceremony took part in Victoria Square, chosen as a symbol of multicultural coexistence. There, an "Open Garden" was inaugurated with the symbolic planting of a Platanous tree, with the help and support of the City of Athens - Green Service.
The closing has been held with the ceremony of “ANTIRACISM - Tzanetos Antypas” award. For 2018, the organizing committee of the Walk Against Discrimination, choose as a winner to pick up the torch - award, the Transgender Association in Greece, for their action in favor of freedom and anti-racism but also for their recent victory, concerning the new law on gender identity. This award was established in 2017, in the memory of the activist and founder of the PRAKSIS organization, Tzanetos Antypas, where each year an organization or a person dealing with the issues of anti-racism and human rights is awarded.
Athens Municipality (Council for Migrants Integration, Δημοτικά Διαμερίσματα, Green service)
Migrant communities and organizations (Afghan community, Albanian Federation, Migrant Women Network, and others)
Civil society (PRAKSIS, Hellenic League for the Human Rights, Network of peer psychoactive drug users, Victoria Square Project, Earth organization and others)
Both the organizing and the implementation of the event were supported by:
Our members- representatives from Migrants communities
Our staff
Volunteers from our network, from HYP (Hellenic Youth Participation) and Earth organization
Center of Athens. Starting point: Kotzia Square / Closing ceremony: Victoria Square
The Walk Against Discrimination 2017 has been awarded by the european network “UNITED for intercultural actions” as best practice for the International Day Against Racism and Racial Discrimination
The whole event involved more than 700 citizens in the march
We planted a tree in VIctoria Square, as symbol for an Open Garden for everyone.
The number of participants, associations and organizations from Civil Society increased, reaching 66 partners: UNITED European Network Against Nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugee, ENAR European Network Against Racism, EGAM European Grassroots Antiracist Movement and Open Society Foundations support our initiative. Secretary General of Human Rights, division of Migrant and Refugee Policy, Movement of Democratic Socialists, 6th District of Municipality of Athens, division of social rights and services, Movement Democratic Socialists, foreign policy Dept., Movement Democratic Socialists, Parliamentarian B Thessalonikis of New Democracy, Department Urban Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change of the Municipality of Athens, Vice Mayor in the Municipality of Athens, President of the Intergration Council of Migrants of the Municipality of Athens, Secretary of Social Networks and Special Population Groups of New Democracy, Women`s Network of Socialist Democrats Movement, Vice Mayor of Social Solidarity and Welfare of the Municipality of Athens, Sector Coordinator for Migration Policy - DHMAR, Press Officer PASOK, Deputy Secretary in the Department of Human Rights and Migration Policy PASOK, “Green party Solidarity”,
ORGANIZATIONS:
Anemos Ananeosis,
ARSIS - Association for the Social Support of Youth
African Network in Greece - ANG
German Embassy
Amnesty Greece
Network for Children s Rights
Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN)
Network of peer phychoactive drug users
Migrant Women Network "Dimitra"
Police Action
Hellenic League for the Human Rights
Greek Monitoring for Helsinki
Greek Forum of Migrants (Association of Cameroonians of Greece, Congolese Community in Greece, Ethiopian Socio-Cultural Center "Aithiops", Ghanian Community in Greece, Union of Guinea of Greece, Kenyan Community in Greece (KCG), Union of Madagascar, Nigerian Women Organisation of Greece, Nigerian Community of Greece, Association of Senegalese of Athens, Unione of Sierra Leonese, Tanzanian Community in Greece, Zanzibar Association in Greece, African Network in Greece, United African Women Organization Greece, Afghan Migrants & Refugees Community in Greece, Bangladeshi Community of Greece, Greek Indian Cultural Company, Greek Pakistan Association of Greece, Federation of Albanian Communities in Greece, Georgian Cultural Center "Caucasus", Greek Georgian Union "Dioskouria", Hellenic Moldovans Association «ΟΡΦΕΥ», Association of Russian speaker and friends of Russia of the Municipality of Trikala, Ukrainian Community `The land of stork`, United Ukraine Union, Egyptian Community in Greece "El Rapta", Association of Moroccans in Greece, Palestinian Workers Union in Greece, Somalian Community in Greece, Greek Soudanese Frienship League, Sudanese Community, Association of Free Expats of Syria, Syrian House in Greece, Arab Association in Ambelokipi - Athens, Migrant Women Network "Dimitra", Zagel Refugee Group, LGBT Refugee Group)
Greek Forum of Refugees
Positive Voice
Kentro Zois - Centre of Life
Kosmos xoris polemous kai via
LGBT Refugee group
Melissa network
METAdrasis
OLKE - Lesbian & Gay Community of Greece
Federation of Albanian Communities in Greece
Organization EARTH
United African Women Organization Greece
Cultural Centre African Arts and Cultures - ANASA
Shelf / Children`s Reading Club Roma Nomismatokopio
LALIBELA-Children Support Organization
Association of Special Education Special Education Personnel Attica (SEEPEAA)
Integration Council of Migrants - Piraeus
Social Workers Network in Greece
Transgender Association in Greece
News for Special Education
Technodromo
To Mov
Athens Pride
Campfire Innovation
Colour Youth - LGBTQ Youth of Athens
Cosmos of Culture
European LGBT Police Association - Michael Lolis
Generation 2.0 for Rights, Equality & Diversity
HOPE Refugee FC
Inter alia Project - Civic Society Meeting Point
KMOP Family and Childcare Centre
PRAKSIS
RAINBOW FAMILIES-Οικογένειες Ουράνιο Τόξο
SCI Service Civil Hellas
Solomon
Victoria Square Project
Zagel Refugee Group
Read more about the Walk Against Discrimination here