A new theme-based report published by the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) commends the Austrian authorities for having taken steps to further align legislation with requirements of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). The report comes seven years after GREVIO's initial report on Austria and focuses on progress made to deliver protection, support and justice for women victims of violence.
GREVIO, which monitors the treaty, determines that Austria has reacted well to growing forms of violence - such as online misogynistic hate speech and harassment - with training initiatives and legislation that "continuously expands" victims' rights in criminal proceedings.
However, the report says more needs to be done to consider the safety of the non-abusive parent and any children involved in family law proceedings after domestic violence. In Austria, women under a protection order or staying at a women's shelter with their children may still be obliged by family law courts to enable visitation between their children and the abusive parent. The report calls on Austrian authorities to reinforce training of family law judges and court-appointed experts on the impact of children's exposure to domestic violence, and on the legal obligation to ensure the safety of women victims of violence and their children in decisions related to custody and visitation rights.
The report laments persistently high numbers of women killed in Austria. According to Federal Criminal Police Office statistics, thirty-nine women were murdered in 2022, 36 in 2021, 31 in 2020, and 39 in 2019: three women killed every month on average.
Austria: Laudable steps to end violence against women, but progress needed in family law cases related to domestic violence, among findings in new report
