Advocacy

The advocacy initiative aims to ensure humane accommodations for refugees worldwide, emphasizing the right to safe, non-discriminatory housing. EU-wide legislation should promote the inclusion of refugees and immigrants in host societies and prioritize access to safe housing as a key element of integration. Special attention should be given to housing for displaced families with specific needs, such as physical disabilities or medical conditions. Inadequate living conditions often subject refugees to human rights violations and discrimination.

Advocacy Point Goals and Policy Target:
The primary objective is to prioritize safe housing for all displaced individuals at the EU level, with a global impact. This advocacy point targets EU Migration and Asylum policies.

Advocacy Actions and Partners:
Our action plan envisions that collaborators dedicated to human rights, migration, and anti-discrimination efforts can play a pivotal role in increasing awareness and engaging policymakers to address the issue of safe housing for refugees.

Currently, private hosting through locals is not considered an option for housing refugees in EU Migration and Asylum policies. Private hosting is however a more humane and integration-friendly alternative to mass accommodation, where basic human rights can be overlooked. Many EU countries, including Greece, are grappling with inadequate refugee accommodations. By incorporating private hosting as an option, EU policy makers can address these challenges and potentially reduce the number of refugees in mass accommodations.

Advocacy Point Goals and Policy Target:
The objective is to include private housing for refugees in EU policies on Migration and Asylum, focusing on the EU level.

Advocacy Actions and Partners:
To achieve this goal, we believe it’s crucial to maintain the partnership with the Consultative Forum of the European Union Agency on Asylum (EUAA) and establish collaborations with other organizations which bring together EU-based NGOs to influence migration policies. These partnerships facilitate efforts to bring about policy changes in the field of Migration and Asylum at the EU level.

Currently, refugees face discrimination and negative stereotypes in host countries, making it extremely challenging to find private housing. Societal attitudes need to change to ensure refugees can lead dignified lives. To achieve this, we aim to reduce discrimination, increase support for refugees, and promote dignity.

Advocacy Point Goals and Policy Target:
The goal is to bring about societal change, reduce discrimination, and enhance support for refugees at the local and national levels. This involves implementing refugee protection policies at both local and national levels.

Advocacy Actions and Partners:
We aim to cooperate with existing and influential non-governmental entities, involving the creation of training initiatives and awareness campaigns within civil society to shape public perception, boost refugee support, and address systemic discrimination. We also advocate for an increase of controls, further and stronger anti discrimination laws and for a ban on racial advertising.

Mass accommodations like refugee camps are a common but problematic practice in Europe. These camps often fail to provide humane conditions, isolating refugees and exacerbating social barriers, xenophobia, and alienation. To facilitate better integration and foster open-minded communities, it’s essential to end these practices. Governments should incorporate private accommodation for refugees, for example with locals hosts, into legislation.

Advocacy Point Goals and Policy Target:
The aim is to integrate private accommodation for refugees into policies, ultimately eliminating mass accommodations. This advocacy point requires addressing multiple policy levels, including EU legislation, such as Migration and Asylum policies, and national policies tailored to each country’s unique needs.

Advocacy Actions and Partners:
We believe collaboration with organizations possessing in-depth knowledge of refugee housing issues, particularly those related to mass accommodations, is crucial. These partnerships help drive policy changes and promote humane housing solutions for refugees.

To enable successful refugee inclusion within local communities, it’s essential to establish inclusive and welcoming environments. This encourages interaction between refugees and local citizens, promoting refugee inclusion into society. Moreover, for private housing to become a viable alternative to mass accommodations, it’s crucial to increase the number of local citizens willing to provide such housing. Building strong community bonds and fostering positive relationships between refugees and locals play a pivotal role in reducing prejudice and expanding support for refugees in private housing.

Advocacy Point Goals and Policy Target:
This advocacy point seeks long-term community building, creating an inclusive society through three key objectives:
1. Integrating private housing into EU Migration and Asylum policies.
2. Implementing national-level educational and community-building programs.
3. Advocating for policy changes that promote diversity and inclusion within society. To achieve these goals, national policies must be revised to drive societal change at the local level.

Advocacy Actions and Partners:
Effective advocacy involves raising awareness within society and government about the reasons behind refugees’ displacement and resettlement. It also entails garnering support for diversity, inclusion, and human rights protection, as well as promoting these values through policies. Given the focus on societal change, we believe our partners should share these objectives. However, it is imperative for national and local governments to play an active role (for example, organizing training sessions or events focused on refugee housing and their integration into local communities).