National action plan launched: Protect women from violence!

National action plan launched: Protect women from violence!

On May 21, 2025, the Professional Association of Austrian Psychologists (BÖP) welcomes the launch of the National Action Plan (NAP) against violence against women, which is headed by Women's Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner. The action plan aims to enable women and girls in Austria to live a life free of violence and emphasizes the central role of clinical psychologists in violence prevention and intervention. The BÖP calls for psychological expertise to be integrated into all relevant NAP working groups at an early stage in order to ensure effective measures. BÖP President ao. Univ. Prof. Dr. Beate Wimmer-Puchinger emphasizes the importance of psychological support for affected women and actively offers the association's professional expertise in order to be integrated into the thematic working groups of the NAP. A violence-free Austria requires a shared responsibility between politics, civil society and relevant professional groups, according to the BÖP.

The NAP, part of the government program, will be valid from 2025 to 2029 and is intended to promote the long-term development and implementation of measures to protect women and girls from violence. According to information from the Federal Chancellery, the plan is based on the recommendations of the Council of Europe (GREVIO), the Court of Auditors and the new EU directive on combating violence against women. A comprehensive violence protection strategy forms the basis of the NAP and focuses in particular on advising women affected by violence in Austria.

Objectives of the National Action Plan

The NAP pursues several specific goals:

• Umsetzung der Istanbul-Konvention auf strategischer Ebene.
• Verankerung von Umsetzungszielen, Zeitplänen und Zuständigkeiten.
• Koordinierte Maßnahmen der zuständigen Ressorts unter Einbindung von NGOs, Fachstellen und Wissenschaft.
• Transparente Darlegung von Zuständigkeiten und Vorhaben.

The federal government has also announced that it will draft a law to prosecute unwanted penis images. This form of sexual harassment is currently not punishable and represents a significant burden for those affected. Justice Minister Anna Sporrer emphasizes the importance of this step, while club chairman Yannick Shetty emphasizes the need for a safe life for all people in Austria, especially for women who are exposed to targeted attacks.

In a clear commitment to interdepartmental cooperation, the government also invites the opposition to support the action plan. In doing so, the federal government shows that violence against women is a structural problem that requires a coordinated, comprehensive response. The BÖP and other relevant actors are called upon to make their contribution in order to achieve this goal and create a non-violent environment.