Seven commissions for the monitoring of human rights
In order to fulfil its role as the Republic’s human rights body, the Austrian Ombudsman Board has established a federal commission and six regional commissions.
These commissions are composed of experts from various fields. Each commission is headed by a person who is particularly recognised in the field of human rights.
The commissions carry out around 500 unannounced visits to the facilities each year. They have unrestricted access and receive all necessary information and documents. The commissions conduct confidential interviews with detainees, patients and residents.
In their activities, they are guided by the inspection priorities specified by the Ombudsman Board. They report directly to the Austrian Ombudsman Board on their visits and inspections and include assessments of perceived human rights violations and recommendations in their reports.
The composition of the following commissions applies from 1 July 2024. The CVs published are third-party content. It can therefore not be guaranteed that they are accessible without barriers.
Federal Commission for the Penitentiary System and Forensic Institutions
The Federal Commission is responsible throughout Austria for the area of the prison and detention service and, as an independent monitoring mechanism, for monitoring compliance with human rights in screening and border procedures under the Common European Asylum System (CEAS monitoring). It is headed by Reinhard Klaushofer. Judith Kohlenberger has taken on the role of Head of Division to oversee the new responsibilities of the independent monitoring mechanism within the Federal Commission.
Below you will find more information about the head of the commission and all members of the interdisciplinary team. You can contact the Commission by e-mail at bundeskommission(at)volksanwaltschaft.gv.at.
Name
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Function
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|---|---|---|
Reinhard Klaushofer
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Head
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David Altacher
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Member
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Norbert Gerstberger
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Member
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Philipp Hamedl
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Member
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Judith Kohlenberger
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Head of division - GEAS
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Markus Möstl
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Member
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Christian Pawelka
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Member
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Veronika Reidinger
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Member
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Peter Spieler
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Member
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Renate Stelzig-Schöler
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Member
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Commission 1: Tyrol and Vorarlberg
The commission is responsible for Tyrol and Vorarlberg and is headed by Verena Murschetz.
Below you will find more information about the head of the commission and all members of the interdisciplinary team. You can contact the commission by e-mail at kommission1(at)volksanwaltschaft.gv.at.
Name
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Function
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Download CV
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|---|---|---|
Verena Murschetz
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Head
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Regina Brassé
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Member
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Michaela Brejla
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Member
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Erwin Egger
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Member
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Wolfgang Fromherz
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Member
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Karin Reinstadler
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Member
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Andrea Sigl
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Member
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Martha Taschler
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Member
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Thomas Thöny
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Member
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Commission 2: Salzburg and Upper Austria
The commission is responsible for Salzburg and Upper Austria and is headed by Karin Gutiérrez-Lobos.
Below you will find more information about the head of the commission and all members of the interdisciplinary team. You can reach the commission at the e-mail address kommission2(at)volksanwaltschaft.gv.at.
Name
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Function
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Download
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|---|---|---|
Karin Gutiérrez-Lobos
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Head
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Doris Brandmair
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Member
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Christine Hutter
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Member
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Esther Kirchberger
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Member
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Robert Krammer
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Member
| Download file |
Brigitte Loderbauer
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Member
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Margit Pollheimer-Pühringer
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Member
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Florian Steger
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Member
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Michaela Unterrainer
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Member
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Ulrike Weiß
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Member
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Commission 3: Styria and Carinthia
The commission is responsible for Styria and Carinthia and is headed by Reingard Riener-Hofer.
Below you will find more information about the head of the commission and all members of the interdisciplinary team. You can contact the Commission by e-mail at kommission3(at)volksanwaltschaft.gv.at.
Name
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Function
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Download CV
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|---|---|---|
Reingard Riener-Hofer
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Management
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Julia Krenn
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Member
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Anna-Maria Lindermuth
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Member
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Brigitte Mauthner
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Member
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Johann Pfeifer
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Member
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Silvia Reibnegger
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Member
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Herbert Reiter
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Member
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Claudia Schossleitner
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Member
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Petra Tranacher-Rainer
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Member
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Commission 4: Vienna
The commission is responsible for the municipal districts 3 to 19 and 23 in Vienna and is headed by Andrea Berzlanovich.
Below you will find more information about the head of the commission and all members of the interdisciplinary team. You can contact the commission by e-mail at kommission4(at)volksanwaltschaft.gv.at.
Name
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Function
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Download CV
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|---|---|---|
Andrea Berzlanovich
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Head
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Bettina Caspar-Bures
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Member
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Julia Egger
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Member
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Ilona Kunze
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Member
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Chiara La Pedalina
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Member
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Hannes Lutz
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Member
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Christine Pramer
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Member
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Joachim Stern
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Member
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Barbara Weibold
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Member
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Commission 5: Vienna and Lower Austria
The commission is responsible for the municipal districts 1, 2, 20 to 22 in Vienna and for the political districts of Gänserndorf, Gmünd, Hollabrunn, Horn, Korneuburg, Krems, Mistelbach, Tulln, Waidhofen a.d. Thaya and Zwettl in Lower Austria. The commission is headed by Heinz Mayer.
Below you will find more information about the head of the commission and all members of the interdisciplinary team. You can contact the commission by e-mail at kommission5(at)volksanwaltschaft.gv.at.
Name
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Function
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Download CV
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|---|---|---|
Heinz Mayer
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Head
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Josef Baumgartner
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Member
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Marlene Fetz
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Member
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Gabriele Fink-Hopf
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Member
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Caroline Kerschbaumer
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Member
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Katharina Mares-Schrank
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Member
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Erwin Meisl
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Member
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Sabine Ruppert
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Member
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Ralph Wakolbinger
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Member
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Commission 6: Burgenland and Lower Austria
The commission is responsible for the whole of Burgenland and in Lower Austria for the political districts of Amstetten, Baden, Bruck a.d. Leitha, Lilienfeld, Melk, Mödling, Neunkirchen, Scheibbs, St. Pölten, Waidhofen a.d. Ybbs, Wiener Neustadt and Wien Umgebung. The commission is headed by Karin Rowhani-Wimmer.
Below you will find more information about the head of the commission and all members of the interdisciplinary team. You can contact the commission by e-mail at kommission6(at)volksanwaltschaft.gv.at.
Name
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Function
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Download CV
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|---|---|---|
Karin Rowhani-Wimmer
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Management
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Süleyman Ceviz
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Member
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Yvonne Glaser
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Member
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Bettina-Iris Maderner
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Member
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Cornelia Sarah Neuhauser
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Member
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Marlies Neumüller
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Member
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Martin Ortner
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Member
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Nadia Soleman
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Member
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Patrick Clemens Swoboda
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Member
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Margarete Uranüs
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Member
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