Austria Holds Sixth Violence Protection Summit, Reinforcing Measures Against Gender-Based Violence

National Summit Addresses Violence Prevention

Vienna, Austria – On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Austria hosted its sixth Violence Protection Summit at the Ministry of the Interior in Vienna. The high-level meeting brought together several government ministers and experts to discuss and reinforce measures aimed at combating violence, with a particular focus on gender-based violence. The summit took place during the ongoing '16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence' campaign, which runs until December 10.

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) opened the event, emphasizing that Austria stands on a 'solid, good foundation' in terms of violence protection. He highlighted recent efforts, including the adoption of a new action plan against violence towards women. Justice Minister Anna Sporrer (SPÖ) addressed the critical issue of femicide, stating that 'men should not have control over women or end their lives' and stressing that 'violence against women is simply not tolerated in our society.' Women's Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ) underscored that protecting women is a 'task for the entire federal government,' asserting that 'Violence against women has no specific nationality, no religion, no social origin, but a very clear pattern: male entitlement.'

Enhanced Measures and Statistics Highlight Progress

The summit reviewed existing strategies and introduced new initiatives. Minister Karner reported a significant increase in the number of restraining and approach bans issued, reaching 14,500 last year. He attributed this rise to 'less being covered up and more attention being paid' to incidents of violence. Furthermore, the number of police prevention officers has more than doubled from approximately 500 to 1,300, and security police case conferences are being expanded. The government's National Action Plan also includes provisions for electronic monitoring of high-risk offenders and expanded exclusion zones for certain sexual offenses.

Other key figures present included Social Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) and Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS). Minister Wiederkehr announced a 15-point plan from his department, focusing on:

• Developing child protection concepts
• Strengthening media literacy
• Providing additional support for psycho-social health

Focus on Prevention and Legal Reforms

A central theme of the summit was the importance of prevention, starting from early childhood. Experts emphasized that education must begin early to foster a society where violence is not tolerated. Discussions also continued regarding the reform of sexual criminal law, particularly the anchoring of the 'Only Yes Means Yes' principle in Austrian legislation. While this principle is still under debate, ministers indicated that changes are planned, with international expertise to be sought.

The summit reaffirmed Austria's commitment to comprehensive violence protection, building on a legislative framework that includes the Federal Act on Protection Against Domestic Violence, which has been in force since 1997 and has served as a model for other nations. The collaborative efforts of various ministries and civil society organizations were highlighted as crucial for the ongoing success of violence prevention strategies in Austria.