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At a press conference, Nehammer and Raab presented a study dealing with domestic violence during the corona pandemic.
On Monday, Home Affairs Minister Karl Nehammer, Women’s Minister Susanne Raab and the director of the OGM opinion and market research institute Wolfgang Bachmayer presented a study on domestic violence during the Covid-19 shutdown in March and April. 2020 at a press conference.
The lockdown has meant that overall crime in Austria has dropped by 46.4 percent since March 16, compared to the previous year. However, there were increases in domestic violence during this phase.
Nehammer: “It is important to take a look behind the scenes”
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer opened the press conference to present the study. However, the fight against domestic violence is not easy, because “the police [wird] He always calls when something has already happened “and only then can he intervene. The study not only includes the data evaluated by the police, but also looks” behind the scenes. “
According to Nehammer, Austria is playing a pioneering role in the fight against domestic violence. Since 1997 there is a law that protects women and children from domestic violence. In addition to the entry bans that have existed since the 1990s, there has also been the option of issuing an approach ban from 1.1.2020. However, the corona pandemic poses a particular challenge in terms of domestic violence.
“In our society there is no place for violence in public or private spaces.”
While these prohibitions allow the police to intervene quickly, it should not be forgotten that intervening can only be done when the authorities have been notified. Therefore, it is especially important to encourage those affected to seek help.
Emergency calls for women in Austria
Raab: “Every act of violence is too much”
Women’s Minister Susanne Raab is proud and grateful that strengths and resources have been combined to improve together, from prevention to intervention. However, remember that in 2019 36,000 cases of violence were reported, the highest level in ten years. This year alone there were 16 femicides until August and 39 femicides in 2019.
“One in five women claims to have been a victim of physical and / or sexual violence at least once in her life,” Raab explained.
As for measures to combat domestic violence and violence against women, offers of help to women increased significantly during the confinement, Raab said. 24-hour women’s helplines in various foreign languages and help talks have been established.
However, there was no significant increase in domestic violence. However, there was a “slight increase” in the number of entry and access bans. While it was 886 in February, the number increased to 1,081 in April.
“So the bottom line is that, compared to other countries, we came out of the crisis well in terms of violence.”
But you know that these are official figures and consequently the number of unreported cases is higher. That is why he warns:
“Every act of violence is too much.”
An important goal for her as Minister for Women is to further strengthen protection against violence and protect women and children from violence. In the field of protecting migrant women, it is particularly important that Raab takes action against violence, forced marriage and oppression of women and breaks patriarchal methods in Austria.
Now it is important to stay alert. In autumn, life turns more inward again, re-creating the potential for conflict. Austria is well positioned with its advisory services and police measures. “Freeing yourself as a woman from a violent relationship is a very difficult step,” Raab explained in her statement. Therefore, the police officers on duty in these cases also need a lot of sensitivity. For this reason, a joint summit on protection against violence will be held by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Women with international exchange on this topic.
“Here we want to raise awareness that all women, all people in Austria, all families have the right to a non-violent life. A non-violent life is the basis of a self-determined life.”
Bachmayer: “Confidence in government in times of crisis”
The director of the GMO opinion and market research institute, Wolfgang Bachmayer, presented the results of the study in detail.
Basically, the study showed that when respondents perceived what type of crime increased in confinement, 56 percent believed that domestic violence had increased. The public image of domestic violence has increased through media reports, but personal perception remained unchanged, explained Bachmayer.
“You cannot speak of a huge increase in the area of violence.”
According to Bachmayer, the crisis in the crown also ensures that confidence in politics increases, as “society is reaching out and supporting those in power.”
