There is no end to the violence; every second assault in the country goes undiagnosed!

The numbers are dramatic. In Austria, one in three women is a victim of physical and/or sexual violence. Many things happen within our own four walls, where women should feel safest. Politicians have taken some measures. This includes the extended entry and approach ban, which includes a ban on automatic weapons, and mandatory guidance of violent criminals.

On average, forty entry bans are issued per day. The prevention staff in the police was also expanded. However, victims are often ashamed to accept help and speak of an ‘accident’ during medical checks.

New violence clinics must offer help
On Wednesday, a new outpatient clinic for victims of violence was opened at the Vienna General Hospital, a first point of contact for those affected. “The research center plays a central role in supporting victims of violence and provides everyone with free and barrier-free access to its services,” says Nikolaus Klupp, forensic pathologist and head of the center.

In addition to documenting injuries and recording marks on the body and clothing, patients receive extensive information about other support options, such as referral to victim protection organizations, psychological support or legal advice. Specialist telephone advice on clinical forensic issues is also available for doctors. In cases where no charges are filed, the secured evidence is kept for up to ten years so that it can be used in criminal proceedings if necessary. Up to 1000 patients are expected per year!

Domestic violence and femicide are declining
According to the Federal Criminal Police, there was no end to the violence last year either. But what has been achieved is a decrease in numbers. Although some of this is still being collected, there will already be a significant reduction in the approximately 14,500 entry and approach bans in 2024 compared to previous years. In 2024, there were also 20 murders of women linked to violence in the private sphere – 24 if you include a victim as young as eight days old, as well as five, eight and 13-year-old victims in the death toll.

By the way, the bloodiest day of the past twelve months was February 23rd. Last Friday, a 51-year-old and her 13-year-old daughter were found dead in an apartment in Vienna-Landstrasse and three women were later found stabbed to death in an Asian studio in the 20th district. The perpetrators in both cases were arrested, but what remains is that the number of unreported violent crimes against women and children remains high. Hardly a day goes by without a report having to be filed.

For decades, university professor Christian Reiter has helped solve the Republic’s most spectacular criminal cases and trained legions of forensic scientists. He sees the new Vienna outpatient clinic for victims of violence as a “very important facility”, but only as the “second best solution”. The best solution for him would be for the forensic medicine department to be provided with sufficient money and staff again.

In the past, Vienna’s forensic medicine department – ​​with a much smaller population – had 16 doctors, but today there are only three, he points out. Reiter does not want to rule out the possibility that “only half of the cases that need to be prosecuted will end up in court” – because there are too few specialists who can prove or detect violent acts at all.

In addition to the savings in personnel, Reiter also thinks it is fundamentally wrong that forensic medicine has not been a compulsory examination subject in medical studies for about twenty years: “These are now senior doctors who are no longer trained in this.” the violence protection clinic in Vienna all the more important.

A stitch should not become a cut in the files
From Reiter’s perspective, the outpatient clinic is not only about providing services to victims of violence, but also to the medical professionals who first treat those victims. Young doctors are often “oblivious” when it comes to documenting injuries for potential trials: “They may not care at all whether they are documenting a ‘stab’ or a ‘cut’. But this could be crucial in court.” With the new outpatient clinic, there is now “telemedical” help for colleagues of trained forensic pathologists.

Reiter is confident that the offer of peer assistance will be gladly accepted. “It makes every doctor feel better to know he’s doing a good job.” And perhaps the offer can even compensate for gaps in training: “If he calls 20 times and gets the right support, he will know on the 21st. “Let’s see how he should document injuries.”

However, Reiter emphasizes that victims must first concern themselves with their well-being and only secondarily with justice: “If the blood is flowing left and right, make sure you go to the nearest hospital!”