Triple murder in Vienna

Massive violence against sex workers rare

Last Friday evening, two prostitutes and apparently also the brothel operator were killed in Vienna. According to experts, this is a rare case. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, such massive acts of violence against sex workers rarely occur.

A total of 7,000 to 8,000 people work as sex workers throughout Austria. Around two thirds of them have come from the EU states of Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria in recent years. Other women come from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. Asian women, as in the Viennese case, are rare.

Prostitution often hidden
Before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, there were around 800 establishments offering sexual services across the country. According to the executive, around 5,000 to 6,000 people work in these establishments. "A larger proportion have disappeared into hidden residential prostitution," it says. Since the pandemic, more sex workers have been offering their services illegally in hotels and private apartments, which has led to a decline in the number of venues. They are faced with the problem of finding sex workers in the first place.

These safety regulations are in place
In the legal sector, the police regularly check the premises and preventive safety advice is also offered. Regulations include emergency counters, escape routes and the presence of operators or their representatives. The "Sophie" advice center of Volkshilfe Wien also advises sex work in clubs or studios to have cameras installed at the entrance, a bouncer, an alarm button on the door and bed and an emergency exit that can be opened from the inside.

If a business does not have a permit, it may be subject to administrative proceedings. In Vienna and Burgenland, sex work must be registered; street prostitution is only permitted in Vienna - with local restrictions.