The European Union has suspended funding to a non-government organization (NGO) in Greece which is helping refugees and migrants pending an investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation and financial corruption.
The NGO in question has not yet been named, but a press spokesman for the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides told reporters on Thursday that the Commission has already started, in cooperation with the European Anti Fraud Office and the Greek Authorities, to investigate complaints made by migrants and refugees.
"Although these remain allegations under investigation, the Commission is taking them very seriously," said the press spokesman."The European Commission has put in place a strict mechanism to monitor and ensure that the financing of its humanitarian aid worldwide is implemented with full respect for all humanitarian principles and sound financial management," continued the spokesman.
"Our primary concern is the welfare of the potential victims. Accordingly, we shall ensure that immediate support is provided to them." One claim concerns a case of potential sexual exploitation of migrants by members of the partner's staff, while according to reports there are further claims concerning the possible corruption of NGO staff members.
Abuse of migrant children on the rise
Greece has recorded the largest increase in asylum applications by unaccompanied minors, according to figures released by Eurostat, and it is these migrants which are most at threat to potential sexual abuse. Migrant minors alone in Greece rose from 430 to 2,350 in a year The numbers of migrant and refugee minors who have arrived by themselves on Greek shores and applied for asylum rose from 430 applications in 2015 to 2,350 applications in 2016.
And according to a report from Harvard University published earlier this year, increasing numbers of unaccompanied minors in Greece are being forced to sell their bodies in order to pay smugglers to help them reach their desired European destination.The report, which was produced by Dr Vasileia Digidiki and Prof Jacqueline Bhabha at the university's centre for health and human rights, exposed what they described as "a growing epidemic of sexual exploitation and abuse of migrant children in Greece."