16.41 percent of all women in Austria who had or are in an intimate partnership have been the victim of physical and/or sexual violence. Outside the partnership, more than one in four women (26.61 percent) has experienced some form of violence.
The study “Gender Violence against Women in Austria 2021” was commissioned by Eurostat and the Federal Chancellery of Statistics Austria. It specifically concerns violence that women experience or disproportionately affect, within and outside partnerships, through stalking, sexual harassment at work and childhood violence. The data is intended to provide results on victims for the first time and is an important addition to the official “Police Crime Statistics”, which records cases reported to the police, and to the “Court Crime Statistics”, which records convicted cases displays.
Nearly 21 percent affected by sexual assault
Detailed results of the study: 8.70 percent of all women in Austria have had an intimate relationship (since their 15th birthday) and/or have been raped by someone else. 20.92 percent were affected by another form of sexual violence. 21.88 percent have experienced stalking. 26.59 percent of women who are or have been employed have experienced sexual harassment at work. 7.05 percent were victims of sexual violence (including rape) in childhood, i.e. girls under the age of 15, and 1.85 percent were victims of rape.
761,786 affected in Austria
With regard to the prevalence of violence against women in general, the study authors state: “23.47 percent of women aged 18 to 74 in Austria have experienced physical violence within or beyond intimate partnerships.” in numbers: Of the more than 3,245,160 women between the ages of 18 and 74, 761,786 were affected at the time of the study. Almost every sixth woman was confronted with threats of violence (15.25 percent). Perpetrators were recorded for both forms – physical violence and the threat of it: 83.67 percent experienced these attacks by a man, 33 percent by a woman. 67.42 percent were attacked or threatened by one or more people they knew, 42.80 percent by strangers (multiple incidents can be specified, note).
Physical violence in intimate relationships has been experienced by 14.07 percent of women who have had an intimate relationship at least once — mostly by pushing, shoving, or pulling hair (11.14 percent), followed by deliberate throwing of items or hitting (8.23 percent).
37 percent experienced psychological violence in relationships
Seven percent of women were victims of sexual violence in partnerships. A completed rape in an intimate partnership had to endure 6.08 percent, while 2.18 percent were affected by an attempted rape. 36.92 percent experienced psychological violence from their partner. According to Statistics Austria, verbal humiliations and insults are the most common (28.55 percent), followed by “unreasonable or excessive jealousy” (19.43 percent).
The SPÖ concludes from Statistics Austria’s research that Austria has a problem with male violence. This is “an expression of a patriarchal society in which men believe they own women,” said SPÖ chairwoman Eva-Maria Holzleitner. The SPÖ women demand a huge increase in the budget for protection against violence, namely to 228 million euros per year, in order to implement the recommendations of the Istanbul Convention, the “gold standard” against violence against women. The federal government consisting of the ÖVP and the Greens recently increased the women’s budget for 2023 by 5.9 million euros to 24.3 million euros.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
