Domestic violence: women report flight and new opportunities in Vienna

Domestic violence: women report flight and new opportunities in Vienna

Wien, Österreich - domestic violence is a serious problem that affects many women in Austria. As the Kurier reports, affected women tell about their painful experiences. A woman named Nour reports about her jealous husband, who not only controlled her emotionally, but also overheard her during her German course. Clothing questions became another conflict point, since certain parts of their wardrobe, such as short sleeves and high -heeled shoes, were taboo for him. Ward, another woman, married against the will of her family, only to finally be suppressed and abused by her tyrannical husband.

In Vienna, both women were involuntarily limited to their role as "servants" in the household and were neither allowed to learn nor work. Although both lived in a women's shelter for several months with their children, they were finally able to build a new life and have now found their own apartments. They were supported by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF), which runs a women's center, which offers important consultations in native language form and seminars on topics such as violence protection and maintenance.

The reality of violence

The advice centers not only offer women and their children a shelter, but also help in legal and economic matters. Statistics show that alarming a large number of women who use this help have already experienced violence: Around 90 percent of women who visit the ÖIF women's center have experienced violence. A particularly terrifying detail is that space in women's shelters is often in short supply: in Germany there were about 21,000 places for endangered women and children.

The way to integration

Ward and Nour show how important support and access to educational offers are to break out of the spiral of violence. Both women want to learn the German language and build a professional perspective. One crucial point here is that the integration must also be actively shaped by men. Therefore, both require more mandatory courses for men to convey respect and equality. The ÖIF, which not only takes care of the integration of migrants: inside, but also for women affected by violence, plays a central role here.

The stories of Nour and Ward are urgent evidence of what many women have to experience. They represent the countless women who are looking for help and find more support. The problem of domestic violence is acute and requires attention and willingness to act in society.