Tyrol's commitment against violence: New shelters and actions

Tyrol's commitment against violence: New shelters and actions

The global campaign “16 Days Against Violence Against Women” will take place from November 25th to December 10th, drawing attention to the rights and protection of women and girls. The start of this campaign period was celebrated in the Lienz district administration with several important local actors. Media representatives were invited to discuss the ongoing programs and the current status of violence protection measures.

With the support of Women's State Councilor Eva Pawlata and other participants, the importance of expanding protective accommodation was emphasized. Six new transitional apartments are now part of the offer in Tyrol, which increases the number of places for women and children in women's shelters to 75 for women and 110 for children. This development is crucial in order to be able to offer quick and immediate help in acute violent situations.

Networked initiatives to prevent violence

In Tyrol there is a concentrated focus on raising awareness and combating violence as a social problem. This includes both physical violence and newer forms such as cyber violence, often carried out through digital channels. Cyber ​​violence can take many forms, including stalking or hate speech on social media.

The East Tyrol Women's Center has played an important role in supporting women in difficult life situations since 1986. A total of over 30,000 days of stay for affected women and their children have already been recorded there. Last year alone there were 835 days of stay for six women and four children. These facilities not only offer shelter, but also legal and social advice to support women in their autonomy.

Also noteworthy is the deployment of the police, who impose measures such as entry and approach bans in cases of suspected violence. Last year, 28 such bans were issued in the Lienz district. The aim of such measures is to offer security to those affected and to set clear rules for perpetrators.

In order to raise awareness of violence against women, the Soroptimist International Club Lienz/Osttirol initiated the “Orange the World” campaign. During the campaign, numerous buildings in Tyrol will be illuminated orange to send a strong message against violence. Orange symbolizes solidarity and empowerment in the fight against gender-based violence.

Additionally, as part of this initiative, “purple roses” are placed in public places, including through creative contributions from women from the women’s center. These roses, which were created during an action by the Innsbruck association “rosesagainstviolence”, set an example against violence worldwide.

In Lienz alone, almost 2,000 consultations were carried out in 2023, which are intended to ensure support for women and girls in various life situations. In order to further publicize the offer of help, an overview is provided which also contains information material for witnesses of violence. Anyone interested can find this information at www.violentfrei-tirol.at.