Solid celebration in Kirchdorf: 34-year-old Afghan due to rape in custody!

Solid celebration in Kirchdorf: 34-year-old Afghan due to rape in custody!

In a worrying development, a 34-year-old Afghan from Wels was taken into custody after a suspected sexual assault on a 17-year-old. The incident occurred during a solstice celebration in a small community in the Upper Austrian district of Kirchdorf, where about 4,000 inhabitants live. The Steyr public prosecutor's office has already confirmed the ongoing investigation and the detention of the asylum seeker, whose custody was ordered due to its criminal records in the area of ​​sexual offenses. The alleged perpetrator had reached the event by public transport and is said to have committed rape after midnight.

The young people affected resisted, which ultimately led to the police were alerted at around 3 a.m. During the night, both the accused perpetrator and the victim were taken to the hospital to secure evidence. The investigation continues, in particular the exact course of the crime and the degree of applied violence is examined.

context of sexual violence in Austria

sexual violence is a serious problem that often occurs in Austria, as well as internationally,. According to information from the Federal Ministry of Women and Equality, sexual violence includes all sexual acts against the will of a person. Women and girls who are attacked in many cases from their social environment, such as (ex) partners or acquaintances, are particularly affected. Statistically speaking, 29.5 percent of women experienced sexual violence in adulthood; 7 percent even report rape, with physical injuries being documented in 64 percent of cases. A representative study also shows that 74.2 percent of the women surveyed were sexually harassed in the course of their lives.

The legal foundations in Austria stipulate that sexual violence must be pursued as an official offense. This means that the criminal authorities are obliged to initiate an investigation as soon as such a case is reported, regardless of whether the victim has filed a complaint or not. However, this regulation can only be effective if the evidence is secured quickly and correctly in order to legally pursue a possible incident.

challenges and support for victims

Despite the strong legal frameworks, there are challenges in practice that prevent the display of such crimes. Many women do not indicate any crimes, often due to emotional stress, fear of negative reactions in the environment or a lack of trust in the authorities. The number of unreported cases is alarming with sexual assault, which underlines the need for information work and awareness formation to support victims.

Victim of sexual violence have the right to protected and gentle interrogation as well as free legal and psychosocial process support through specialized victim protection facilities. In Austria there are numerous auxiliary facilities that offer free and anonymous support. These points of contact are crucial to offer those affected in crisis situations to help immediate help.

The investigation into the incident in Kirchdorf shows the complexity and scope of sexual violence. If the allegations are true, the accused threatens up to ten years in prison, although the sentence could possibly increase significantly due to its criminal records. In the past, Austria has repeatedly revised the monitoring of sexual offenders at risk of relapse, but there is still the challenge of effectively preventing such attacks and protecting the victims.

Further information on the subject of sexual violence and offers of help can be found on the website of the [Federal Ministry of Women and Equality] (https://www.bmfwf.gv.at/frauen-und-lebst- against-frauen/chaltformen/Sexualized-galt.html) as well Sexuellegewalt.at.