Violence against women

SPÖ: Enforce entry bans with ankle cuffs

Violence against women is on the rise.

(Bild: YAHOES - stock.adobe.com)

Alarming cases of violence against women and girls have dominated the past few weeks in Austria. Politicians are also asking themselves what they can do about it. The SPÖ has put forward a new proposal in the "Krone" newspaper: Entry bans should be enforced with ankle cuffs.

Unfortunately, there are "serious gaps in the work with offenders" in Austria. In order to finally close these gaps, the SPÖ is presenting a women's protection package, which will actively hold perpetrators accountable and provide victims with better protection. The Social Democrats have three concrete proposals: Leg shackles for perpetrators of violence, adaptation and expansion of violence prevention counseling and nationwide basic funding for work with men and boys.

(Bild: Krone Kreativ, Adobe Stock)

In Austria, 14,643 restraining orders were issued last year. However, these are difficult to enforce, which is why they are too often ignored. If a perpetrator who has already been turned away appears at the door, the woman concerned can only call the police. The SPÖ sees this as an intolerable situation for the victims, as they cannot feel safe in their own homes despite official bans.

One way to protect victims from repeat offenses would be electronic tracking devices, such as ankle bracelets or arm trackers. Tracking devices can notify the police immediately if an offender crosses the prescribed boundary, at any time of day or night. According to the SPÖ, this can be a significant relief for those affected, as the police will intervene even if they themselves have not yet noticed that the perpetrator of violence is approaching the apartment or house. 

We urgently need measures that guarantee the protection of women and strengthen their sense of security.

SPÖ-Justizsprecherin Selma Yildirim

In Spain, there is already experience with this type of tracking of perpetrators of violence. There, it is also possible for both perpetrators and victims to wear tracking devices for the duration of the eviction, with the police raising the alarm if the perpetrator comes within 500 meters of the victim. There are already regulations in place in some German federal states regarding the tracking of people who have been ordered to leave the country, as well as in Switzerland. The former SPÖ Minister for Women, Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek, made a move in this direction back in 2009.

Electronic surveillance is already being used in some countries

(Bild: dpa/Carsten Rehder)

SPÖ women's spokesperson and deputy speaker Eva-Maria Holzleitner is offering the governing parties ÖVP and Greens the opportunity to adopt a corresponding women's protection package in the next plenary session. "Safety for women affected by violence must be our top priority. By tracking perpetrators of violence, we can protect women." Justice spokesperson Selma Yildirim is also putting pressure on the government factions: "We urgently need measures that guarantee the protection of women and strengthen their sense of security. Let's take our lead from other European countries and take concrete steps to bring the protection against violence into the 21st century."

SPÖ women's spokesperson Eva-Maria Holzleitner

(Bild: APA/Tobias Steinmaurer)

The SPÖ sees a need for action when it comes to working with perpetrators. Perpetrators of violence are obliged to attend six hours of violence prevention counseling after a first offence. If they themselves wish to continue this afterwards, there is no entitlement to this; six hours is the limit, criticizes the SPÖ. Social work with boys in schools is also needed. Compulsory workshops at schools could actively counteract outdated role models and thought patterns.