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In the confinement, Austria wanted to avoid what happened in China or Italy: an increase in domestic violence. Was that successful? The ÖVP followed up on the difficult issue at a press conference. However, the current figures are interpreted differently by government parties.
It was one of the lessons Austria learned early in the crown crisis. Regarding developments in other countries, especially China and Italy: With strict exit restrictions, domestic violence against women and children increases. The turquoise green government drew attention to the danger as early as mid-March, in the first week of the blockade in Austria.
Women’s Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP) and Justice Minister Alma Zadić (Greens) jointly announced that they would increase the 24-hour helpline and expand online counseling for women at risk. Information brochures were also posted in supermarkets. Now, months after closing, the questions arise: Did that help? Or was there also more domestic violence in Austria? Both are not easy to answer for various reasons. Probably the most important: the topic is expected to have a large number of unreported cases. There are few numbers that provide guidance. Raab presented some of them on Monday, with her party colleague, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer.
His conclusion is mixed: “Violence against women is a sad reality in Austria.” The women’s helpline has received 38 percent more calls since March. The women used their own chat, which was created in March, 900 times in the first month. “So the offer was used,” says Raab.
