Police Action for Human Rights

POLICE ACTION
FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS

Creating together a vision of equality, inclusion and protection of human rights in society by the Hellenic Police.

WELCOME

"Police Action for Human Rights" is a Non-Profit Association that has been founded and consists by police officers with main focus the defense of Human Rights, the abolition of Discrimination, ensuring the observance of the principle of Equal Treatment and the fight against Racism.

The association’s headquarters are located in Athens and are housed in the offices of the Municipality of Athens at 45, Maizonos Street.

"Police Action for Human Rights" is a Non-Profit Association that has been founded and consists by police officers with main focus the defense of Human Rights, the abolition of Discrimination, ensuring the observance of the principle of Equal Treatment and the fight against Racism.

The association’s headquarters are located in Athens and are housed in the offices of the Municipality of Athens at 45, Maizonos Street.

"Police Action for Human Rights" is a Non-Profit Association that has been founded and consists by police officers with main focus the defense of Human Rights, the abolition of Discrimination, ensuring the observance of the principle of Equal Treatment and the fight against Racism.

The association’s headquarters are located in Athens and are housed in the offices of the Municipality of Athens at 45, Maizonos Street.

MEMBERS

PRESIDENT

LOLIS MICHALIS

Head of the Attica Department for Combating Racist Violence. Expert of the Council of Europe on hate crimes, holding a Master’s degree in Sociology with a specialization in Human Rights, and Bachelor’s degrees in Public Administration, Political Science and History. He also teaches at the Police Academy on topics related to human rights, racism, and policing of vulnerable social groups. He advocates for a Police force that respects Human Rights and protects vulnerable communities.

VICE PRESIDENT

TOGIOPOULOS ANDREAS

Completed his undergraduate studies in the Department of Sociology at Panteion University, graduating with the highest grade in his year. Recipient of the Economia 2022 award for the best nationwide student research, earning a scholarship for postgraduate studies at Harokopio University, which he completed with distinction. His research papers on gender and migration have been published on the official website of the University of Tübingen, Germany. A strong advocate for social and environmental equality, he actively participates in volunteer groups and community initiatives.

SECRETARY

THEODOROU PANAGIOTIS

Officer of the Hellenic Police, Deputy Commander of the Kolonos Police Department. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Music with a specialization in Solo Singing, as well as a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from Panteion University of Athens. He has participated in European training programs focusing on the prevention and response to domestic violence, as well as on the protection and support of victims. Actively engaged in charitable and social initiatives aimed at strengthening social cohesion and solidarity.

TREASURER

WOMEN’S RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

LGBTI RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

OUR

ACTIONS

The project “Protection of victims of racist violence and combating police arbitrariness against this population” is a one (1) year project implemented by the Police Action for Human Rights. The project aims to support the Department for Combating Racist Violence of the Hellenic Police in Athens both in terms of creating a space where the victim can testify with greater calm and clarity the facts of the attack and in terms of strengthening the outreach of the Service to the victims in order to encourage them to report the attack. At the same time, it will strengthen cooperation with related actors through tools to be developed on the basis of international practice in order to achieve a broader cooperation to facilitate victim testimony.

Furthermore, following the publication of the research “Detection of the values, behavioural patterns and needs of the Greek police officer”, conducted by the Centre for Political Research – Panteion University, the University of Macedonia and the Police Action for Human Rights and utilizing the results of the relevant research, the aim of the project is to proceed with the elaboration of a study to investigate the necessity of a the establishment of a police arbitrariness observatory and the creation of a methodology on the subject, evaluating the Greek and international experience and highlighting the difficulties and benefits of its establishment.

The project is implemented with the support of the Open Society Foundation (OSF).

On 16 and 17 June 2022 the Police Action for Human Rights organized at Technopolis City of Athens the European Conference of LGBT Police Members of EGPA – European LGBT Police Association – EGPA entitled “Building Bridges” and the main topic was bridging the relations of the LGBT+ community with the police. The conference was attended by police officers from both Greece and European countries – as official representatives of the police authorities of these countries -, representatives of the government and political parties as well as representatives of the political and physical leadership of the police, while the conference was supported by organizations and institutions, allies in the effort to tackle the racist phenomenon based on the characteristics of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Scientific topics were presented by experts and there was a constructive discussion on how to build together a vision of inclusion, equality and protection of LGBTI people’s Human Rights by the Police in society, an interesting documentary on the evolution of LGBTI+ police issues over the last twenty years in France was shown, while on Saturday 18 June 2022 the delegates participated with great success in the Athens parade Pride at Syntagma, thus setting a special mark with the participation of Police Officers in Athens Pride 2022. Details of the conference program: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1993962180991287&set=pcb.1993962280991277

The Conference was held under the auspices of the Municipality of Athens and with the support of the Mayor Mr. Kostas Bakoyannis and with the support of the European Parliament European Parliament, the Onassis Foundation Onassis Foundation, the Open Society Foundations and the SOGI Council of Europe Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Unit.