Austria. Sexual violence by strangers

01. Call the Police

— What should I do if I am in danger and need emergency help?

Call 133 or 112. The call is free and functions even if you have zero balance on your phone, or even without sim-card

— Do I need documents/being registered in the country to call the police?

No, but police can later ask for them, so it is safer to ask NGOs for help first.

— When I call the police, what language should I speak?

You can use English or German languages.

— Do authorities have to provide me with a translator if I do not speak the local language? If yes, where is it stipulated and how can I ask for a translator?

Yes police should provide interpreter if you don’t speak German (Strafprozessordnung, Paragraf 56).

— If I have any migration issues (e.g., visa overstay), is it safe for me to call to the police? Can an administrative case be initiated against me?

Police can start the case, so it is safer to ask NGOs for help first.

— Authorities’ formal and informal attitudes towards victims of domestic violence.

Sexual violence is illegal in Austria. Including e.g. touching breast or buttocks without consent, or when a person deliberately makes you a witness to sexual activities (e.g. masturbation) without your consent.

— How long will it take for the police to come? What should I do if they do not come?

It depends on the location – from several minutes to several hours. If police does not arrive, call again. 

— What evidence is needed to bring a case against the abuser and prosecute? Do there have to be physical evidence?

For the initial barring order, threats and insults are enough. For the court, the following types of evidence are accepted:

• witness statements

• doctor’s reports

• photos of injuries

• broken clothes or items 

• information from police

• information about current and previous crimes

• information from the victim-helping facilities (shelter, counseling center, etc)

02. Get medical help

— How to get medical help?

Call 141 or 112 (general emergency number, you will be redirected to ambulance if required).

1450 (Austrian health line) – if you’re not sure that your case is an emergency.

— When I call the ambulance, what language should I speak?

You can use English and German languages.

— Do I need money/documents/being registered in the country to get medical help?

Yes, except Ukrainians and third country nationals who left the country after February 24, 2022 – they can get medical help even before registering. You can receive emergency medical assistance while not being registered, but in most cases you will have to pay for the services.

If you have insurance (e-card, you almost definitely have it if you work in Austria), you can visit doctors who are covered by your insurance free of charge. Otherwise you can pay by yourself.

An ambulance is usually covered by insurance, but there are certain exceptions: when there is no “medical emergency”, in cases of alcohol or drug abuse, and in case the person is found dead when the emergency services arrive. In these cases, insurance company may refuse to refund. 

It means that if it’s not an emergency and you can go to the doctor by yourself, you shouldn’t call the ambulance, otherwise you’ll need to pay more than 700 euros.

If you don’t have insurance, you’ll also have to pay by yourself (even if it’s really an emergency). 

If you’re not sure if you should call emergency, you can call the Austrian health line at 1450. They’ll call an ambulance for you if they decide it’s really an emergency. Otherwise, they can give some medical advice.

Ukrainian refugees can get medical help free of charge. If they stay in Austria for a long time, they get an e-card (insurance that gives them the same rights that all Austrian citizens have). For some doctors (and also for emergencies) for Ukrainians e-card is not required.

Usually, no documents are required except e-card. If you don’t have it and plan to pay for doctors by yourself, it’s better to take your passport.

— If I have migration issues (e.g., visa overstay), is it safe for me to ask for medical help? Can an administrative case be initiated against me?

Red Cross Austria runs special medical service which provides help anonimously. In case you have migration issues, it is the safest to ask them for help – Ambermed Oberlaaer Straße 300 – 306 , 1230 Wien  (GoogleMaps).

• Tel.: 01/589 00 – 847

• Fax: 01/253 303 330 23

• E-mail: amber@diakonie.at

— If medical staff suspect that I am a victim of crime, do they have to report to the police?

Yes. In the case of reasonable suspicion of a judicially punishable act, all health care professionals are obliged to report to the criminal police or the public prosecutor’s office if:

• death and serious bodily injury have been caused;

• rape is suspected;

• children or adolescents are being or have been abused, tortured, neglected or sexually abused, or;

• adults who are incapable of acting or making decisions or who are defenseless due to infirmity, illness or a mental disability are or have been abused, tortured, neglected or sexually abused.

On the other hand, the obligation to report does not apply if the report would contradict the will of the adult patient who is capable of acting or making decisions, provided that there is no immediate danger to him/her or to another person and the clinical forensic evidence has been medically verified, or the report in the specific case would interfere with the professional activity, the effectiveness of which requires a personal relationship of trust, unless there is an immediate danger to that person or to another person, or the professional exercising his/her professional activity in the employment relationship has made a corresponding report to the employer and a report has been made by the employer to the criminal investigation department or the public prosecutor’s office.

In the case of children and adolescents, the report can be omitted if the suspicion is directed against a relative (§ 72 StGB), provided that this is in the best interests of the child or adolescent and a report is made to the child and youth welfare authorities and, if necessary, a child protection facility at a hospital is involved.

Legal base: Protection Against Violence Act 2019

03. List of local (N)GOs who can help

— Which organizations can help?

• 01 71 719 Women’s emergency helpline Vienna

• 01 406 95 95 Crisis Intervention Center

• Domestic Abuse Intervention Center:

Interventionsstelle gegen Gewalt Information is available in German, English, Ukrainian, Russian.

German, English, Ukrainian, Russian  – (links in German, English, Ukrainian, Russian) 

• Centres for protection against violence/domestic abuse Intervention Centre Vienna

Counseling for people affected by domestic violence or stalking – especially after the imposition of a restraining order (for premises in the case of domestic violence).

www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at  

• Women’s Counselling Centers for Sexual Violence against women and girls.

Counseling for women and girls affected by sexual violence.

www.sexuellegewalt.at , www.frauennotruf.wien.at

• Women’s shelters

Safe and guarded accommodation and counseling for women affected by violence and their children. 

children. www.aoef.at , www.frauenhaeuser-zoef.at/en_uber.htm

• Counseling institutions for women and girls

A well-developed network of counseling centers provides support for women and girls in need and offers help and advice in the case of violence.

www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/service/frauenservice-beratung undgewaltschutzeinrichtungen/beratungseinrichtung.html

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