Fair Trials is the global criminal justice watchdog, campaigning for fairness, equality and justice

It was a warm day at a metro station in Hamburg. I had just dropped my fiancé off on her way to the airport, still overwhelmed with joy from reuniting with my mother after ten long years. I had been forced to leave my family in Syria as a teenager, and the thought of finally being together with her again felt surreal. On my way back to my relative’s house, I received an unexpected email from the Greek Asylum Service that shattered the brief moment of normalcy. It felt strange. It was August, typically a holiday break for institutions, and even more unusual was the fact that the Greek Asylum Service initiates communications with individuals.

The European Impacted Persons Advisory Council (EIPAC) is an advisory committee composed of people with lived experience in various aspects of the criminal legal system who are committed to supporting the reform of the system. Formed in 2024 as an advisory body to Fair Trials Europe, EIPAC ensures that the voices of impacted persons shape policies, campaigns, and the Fair Trials advocacy efforts. This is “EIPAC Voices: Stories of Lived Experience in Justice Reform” a monthly blog series, introducing EIPAC members and their personal experiences. Our first writer, Tasos Theofilou.