Ombudsman Board on Human Rights Day: "Right direction, but still room for improvement"

Schwetz: Follow up on criticism in the area of police use of force

Points of criticism in the area of Ombudswoman Schwetz concern, for example, barrier-free access to police stations or accommodation in detention centres. "In addition, cases of police use of force are also investigated here, whereby not only physical violence against detainees in the context of the exercise of direct command and coercive power by law enforcement officers is examined," continued Elisabeth Schwetz, the current Chairwoman of the Austrian Ombudsman Board. Rather, every type of use of force is also examined with regard to the European Convention on Human Rights and other agreements. "This also applies, for example, to the exertion of psychological pressure on detainees or the lack of response from law enforcement officers to their concerns," explains the Ombudswoman.

Achitz: Need for action in the implementation of ratified human rights treaties

In addition to the commissions for preventive human rights monitoring, the Austrian Ombudsman Board also has other tasks in the area of human rights. "We are the national human rights institution, and the Human Rights Advisory Council is also based here," says Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz: "We are actively involved in the human rights monitoring of the UN and other international organisations, for example in the context of state audits. This involves checking whether Austria complies with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Istanbul Convention of the Council of Europe, which deals with violence against women. Austria has ratified all of these conventions, but there is still a great need for action when it comes to implementation."

Schwarz: Human rights conditions in prisons are precarious

"The human rights conditions in Austrian prisons are particularly precarious," says Schwarz, referring to the audit results: Criticised were, for example, insufficient staff resources, living and accommodation conditions or the right to family and privacy. "Many prisons still do not have barrier-free detention rooms. People with disabilities in prison should have the same living and accommodation conditions as everyone else," said the Ombudswoman, speaking in favour of appropriate prison conditions.

Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz also emphasises: "Women's rights are human rights! Precisely because the Austrian Ombudsman Board is Austria's 'House of Human Rights', as a woman and Ombudswoman I am obliged to stand up for women and their human right to a life without violence. That's why I've launched a #couragewomen initiative - by women for women. Because we need to encourage each other more," says the Ombudswoman on her Instagram profile @gabyschwarz_offical, where she puts inspiring women in front of the curtain to encourage others.

Research cooperation for human rights monitoring

In order to improve human rights monitoring, the League for Human Rights has launched an online monitoring tool as part of a research cooperation with the Austrian Ombudsman Board and with partial funding from the Future Fund, which aims to show the current implementation status of human rights recommendations to Austria.

Fundamental rights only exist on paper. "Austria has committed to complying with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, for example, but people with disabilities criticise the fact that it is not directly applicable. This means that they cannot go to court if they do not have the same opportunities as other people," says Ombudsman Achitz. Fundamental social rights are still not included in the Austrian constitution, and children's rights are grossly disregarded when, for example, children who have fled to Austria without their parents are left to fend for themselves until the state takes over custody.

"We appeal to the future federal government to better implement human rights and remind them that there must be no further deterioration under any circumstances," said Elisabeth Schwetz, Gaby Schwarz and Bernhard Achitz, members of the Austrian Ombudsman Board.