Violence against women can only be ended by men

In 2024, there were 27 femicides in Austria. Almost all perpetrators were ex/partners of the women. In the previous year, 14,600 restraining orders were issued by the police and 25,114 victims of domestic violence received support from violence protection centres. "This sad result shows that Violence against women can only be ended by men. Preventing violence is the key here. It is crucial that men recognise their risk of violence and are 'man enough' to seek help," appeal Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz and Hubert Steger, Managing Director of Männerberatung Wien, on the occasion of the "16 days against violence" campaign.

One area of the counselling services offered by Männerberatung Wien is aimed at men who want to come to terms with their own violence. However, men who have received an instruction for "anti-violence training" can also turn to the men's counselling service. "Every year, we carry out thousands of initial counselling sessions with men who have used violence in a relationship or who are accused of doing so. In our specific anti-violence programme, which lasts eight months, around 45 men a year successfully complete an intensive examination of their own propensity for violence. The demand is there, but there is a long waiting list due to limited funding," explains Hubert Steger, pointing out the need for more funding. Men can also contact the crisis hotline MÄNNERINFO in an acute situation. It is available around the clock - anonymously and free of charge: 0800/400777.

Gaby Schwarz adds: "In Vienna alone, around seven expulsions are issued every day. Only a very small proportion of offenders take part in offender work programmes. Violence against women is not a women's problem, but a men's problem. As a woman and as the public prosecutor responsible for the penal system, I say that preventing violence is the only way to get better. Ideally, men should seek therapeutic help at an early stage so that things don't escalate. But even after a prison sentence for domestic violence, support programmes should be strengthened so that perpetrators do not strike again. This makes violence prevention services from Neustart or men's counselling all the more important."