Friday, October 3, 2008

the story is getting out there

I've just learned that, based on the article that appeared in The Gazette, a socialist MP in Greece has tabled a question to the Greek Parliament. The Google translation:

Interior Minister
Minister of Justice
Foreign Minister

SUBJECT: Denial of Canadian assistance to state agencies

The Canadian newspaper "The Gazette" in an article on 25.9.2008 describes the test suffered by the Greek authorities a Canadian, alleged rape victim who decided to return to Greece in order to testify at the trial of the alleged aggressor.

The Greek Consulate in Montreal has ignored its repeated requests for help and the woman was forced to pay at its own expense its flight and then suffered endless bureaucracy to the costs paid by the Greek judicial system. To cut costs arranged to stay with relatives while to understand what is happening in the proceedings must recruit its own translator, whose costs offered to cover the Canadian Embassy in Athens.

Asked the responsible ministers:

1. Why the competent government departments refused to provide the appropriate help?
2. If you intend to take action and what?
___________________________________________________________

Also, the case became part of a big OSCE Human Dimension meeting in Warsaw. I have to admit, I'm floored. And so grateful for the help I'm getting from the GHM.

I'm balancing keeping the faith with not getting my hopes up. It takes practice. In the meantime, happy weekend and thank you for even more messages of support in the last few days. How could I not feel good and proud about going public with all this when it's resulted in this much positivity and awareness already?

3 comments:

ΕΠΣΕ said...

GHM edited translation:

Nasos Alevras
PASOK Member of Parliament of City of Athens

To the: Minister of Interior
Minister of Justice
Minister of Foreign Affairs

SUBJECT: Denial of assistance to by state agencies to Canadian citizens

The Canadian newspaper "The Gazette" in an article on 25.9.2008 describes the ordeal suffered at the hands of Greek authorities by a Canadian alleged rape victim who decided to return to Greece in order to testify at the trial of the alleged aggressor.

The Greek Consulate in Montreal has ignored her repeated requests for help and the woman was forced to pay on her own the cost for her flight and then to suffer endless bureaucracy for the cost to be reimbursed through the Greek judicial system. To reduce the cost she arranged to stay with relatives while to understand what is happening in the trial she must recruit her own translator, with the Canadian Embassy in Athens having offered to cover that expense.

The competent ministers are asked:

1. Why did the competent state agencies refuse to provide the necessary help?
2. Do they intend to take measures and which ones?




Athens 3-10-2008
The MP tabling the question


Nassos Alevras

ΕΠΣΕ said...

OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting
Warsaw, 29 September - 10 October 2008

Greece: Written contribution on the ordeal of vulnerable rape victims
http://www.osce.org/item/33762.html?html=1

Anonymous said...

I hope you find justice and congradulate you on your brave stance. Have courage.

a Greek friend