A clash of cultures? The UN, the Council of Europe and the Greek dictators

The ‘Colonels’ regime’ in Greece became synonymous with torture and the blatant abuse of human rights and civil liberties. This was an anachronistic regime that collided directly with the prevalent zeitgeist during a period of liberalization in social attitudes. Under pressure from international opinion and transnational movements, the undemocratic practices of the junta were debated at many international fora, in particular, the Council of Europe (CoE), NATO and the UN. This chapter focuses on how the CoE and the UN dealt with the issue. It assesses why the CoE was successful in condemning the regime, whereas the UN failed to put any effective pressure on the military dictators, despite the fact that, on 6 June 1967, the UN Economic and Social Council had adopted Resolution 1235 recommending that the UN Commission on Human Rights investigate ‘violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms’ taking place ‘in all countries’. The chapter also examines how the Greek Case influenced international law and the institutional development of the UN Organization with regard to the protection of human rights and anti-torture policies.