Every year, 200 forced marriages are concluded in Austria. Most of the victims are even minors. Although the government wanted to tackle this problem, there are no tangible results. NEOS politician Yannick Shetty now wants to put pressure on the Minister of Education.
Austrian children and young people are currently enjoying their summer holidays. Hardly anyone is thinking about going back to school; for some, that will not happen. Because in 2021, 54 suspected cases of forced marriages were reported to child and youth welfare services. In a research report by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF), experts even estimate that 200 forced marriages take place every year.
“In practice, it often happens that students travel to their country of origin in the summer and get married there. For many of them, this is also the end of their school career: the girls then do not return to Austria or are forced to take on a traditional role as a housewife,” according to a parliamentary question from NEOS.
“This practice from the Stone Age has no place in Austria. “I expect Minister Polaschek to provide data and, above all, measures,” says NEOS integration spokesman Yannick Shetty.
Anchored in the government program
Shetty has been raising this issue time and again for years, most recently with a request to Justice Minister Alma Zadić. Because: On page 24 of the government program, the ÖVP and the Greens have agreed on a package of measures against forced marriages. The parties have committed to “examining the raising of the marriage age to 18 and the ban on marrying cousins (also using international examples).
In addition, “regulations in the field of inheritance and family law (for example, alimony) should be evaluated and adjusted in the case of annulment of child marriages and multiple marriages.” After four years of government work, neither a reform of marriage and partnership law, nor a child There has been a reform of the detention law. He urges the implementation of the reforms announced several times by Minister of Justice Alma Zadić. “It cannot be that we have been drawing attention to this problem for years, but in 2024 young women are still being forced into marriages with adult men against their will. The government must take action here,” says Shetty.
“Intensive cooperation with schools necessary”
Now the NEOS mandate is making the next attempt and is investigating Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP): “A recently published status report of the FORMA project on forced marriages in Austria came to the conclusion that more intensive cooperation with schools is necessary,” he explains. NEOS Your request. For example, Shetty wants to know “what offers are currently available in schools to prevent forced marriages?” Or what offers are currently available for students who have been married against their will?
It is unlikely that Martin Polaschek will have to deal with the issue as Minister of Education after the National Council elections in September. As reported, his days in top politics will probably be numbered after the elections.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
