Violence against children: Shocking reports from Tyrol's homes revealed!

Violence against children: Shocking reports from Tyrol's homes revealed!

In a shocking report, a recently published study of church homes in Tyrol after 1945 revealed serious abuses. During an event in Innsbruck, commission chairwoman Margret Aull emphasized that violence in these facilities was a sad reality rather than an exception. The study, which is based on an initiative by the “Martinsbühel Tripartite Commission”, documents structural, physical, psychological and sexual violence that was perpetrated in numerous homes, including Martinsbühel and Bubenburg. “It’s about recognizing the unlawful experiences of those affected and giving them a voice,” explained State Councilor Eva Pawlata ORF Tyrol.

Increasing awareness of violence in society

In parallel to this review, the Tirol Kliniken's Violence Protection Competence Center reported an alarming increase in consultations on sexual violence against children and young people. In 2023 alone, 3,519 consultations were registered, which corresponds to an increase of 21 percent compared to the previous year. The expert Natalie Knapp from the Innsbruck Child Protection Center pointed out that younger and younger people are being recorded. “Eight to nine year olds are not only victims, but also perpetrators,” says Knapp. This is particularly worrying as the coronavirus pandemic has contributed to an increase in violence in society, explains MyDistrict.

These developments illustrate the urgency of implementing child protection concepts in schools and other institutions. For Lukas Trentini, Tyrol's child and youth advocate, it is crucial that politicians make more resources available to effectively establish these concepts. Despite the sharp increase in the number of consultations, the experts emphasized that the increase could also be due to increased awareness in society. Coordination among offers of assistance has also been strengthened, which is seen as a positive process.