Violence in everyday life: Minister of Justice Sporrer clarifies in amber!

Violence in everyday life: Minister of Justice Sporrer clarifies in amber!

The second event of the series "Political impulses of the SPÖ women" recently took place in the community center in Bernstein and attracted numerous interested guests. The room was well filled, some spectators even had to stand, which emphasized the great interest in such an important topic. The main motto of the evening was: "Act legally instead of watching helplessly. Possibilities for violence in the environment."

The member of the state parliament Doris Prohaska, who is also the district chairwoman of the SPÖ women Oberwart, emphasized the importance of knowledge and options for action in the context of violence in the social environment. She emphasized that the SPÖ women's initiative in the Oberwart district is committed to the spread of this knowledge in order to offer affected support. Another highlight of the event was the practical lecture by Justice Minister Anna Sporrer, who was invited as a guest of honor. She shared her experiences from her active time as Vice President of the Austrian Administrative Court (2014-2025) and presented real case studies that offered valuable insights into legal handling of violent cases.

an action plan for safe space

The topic of violence against women is of great social relevance, and the latest initiative of the Federal Government to develop a national action plan (NAP) to combat violence against women and girls is a significant step in this direction. The Federal Government has taken this decision to the Council of Ministers and aims to enable women and girls in Austria to make a safe life. The zero tolerance towards violence is clearly emphasized. As the SPÖ explains on its website spoe.at, there is a close cooperation between the Ministry of Women, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Education as well as NGOs and scientists.

In the development of the action plan, implementing the Istanbul Convention plays a central role. Women's Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner describes violence against women as a structural problem that needs a structural solution. Therefore, the NAP will also close the existing gaps in violence and strengthen the prevention work. An important point are the planned measures, such as the introduction of ankle skills for high-risk assistants and the notorious "Dick Pic" paragraph, which punishes the unsolicited sending of penis pictures. In the future, this regulation will help women be able to proceed more easily against sexual harassment.

political impulses explain options for action

During the event in Bernstein it also became clear how important timely action and cooperation are among various institutions. Minister Sporrer illustrated the high need for information on this topic in a subsequent public discussion. This clear communication is an absolute must to combat violence and support victims. Prohaska thanked Mayor Renate Habetler and the Chairman of the SPÖ Women, Bianca Böhm, for the organization of the event and emphasized the use of the SPÖ wife team for lived women's policy in the Oberwart district

The series of events continues in autumn 2025, which promises further exchange and intensive learning on this important topic. It turns out that the social will to act against violence is there, and the national action plan is now to create a specific framework.

For all interested parties, it is worth taking a look at the activities of the SPÖ and developments in the field of violence protection in order to remain informed and capable of acting. Anyone who experiences or observes violence in the environment should not be afraid to become active and to find support - because as the event in Bernstein has shown, there are options for action.