The three-day study visit to Austria was held as part of the EU-funded project ‘EU Support for the Rule of Law in North Macedonia’. The ten members of the delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography, and Youth, the Municipal Center for Social Work, and the Referral Center for Victims of Sexual Violence. The delegation was accompanied by our colleagues Hannah Baumann and Susanne Belihart. 

Day 1: Counselling and Empowerment for Victims of Gender-Based Violence

On day 1, the delegation was welcomed at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR) by our administrative director, Patricia Mussi-Mailer. During the introductory meeting, Sabine Mandl presented an overview of Austria’s legal framework for preventing and combating gender-based violence, and Susanne Belihart shared information on the Twinning experience of the institute.  During the visit to the Federation of Autonomous Women’s Counselling Centres for Sexual Violence, the organisation’s manager Ursula Kussyk talked about her experience managing cases, internal policies and procedures, victim safety precautions, collaboration with public institutions, and the difficulties they encounter in their job. 

In the afternoon, the managing director of Ninlil, Elisabeth Udl, provided the delegation with insights into their services. The organisation’s work focuses on sexual violence against women with disabilities. They shared their experience in working in the field of gender-based violence, highlighting the importance of empowerment measures and presenting their tool, the “Power-Back Bag”, as well as discussing cooperation mechanisms with public institutions, specialist services, and other NGOs.

Day 2: Protection for Victims of Violence

The second day of the trip began at the Association of Autonomous Austrian Women’s Shelters. Martina Knoll, team leader, shared their experiences and presented the delegation about the measures they take to raise awareness in communities, their safety measures for victims and staff members, and cooperation with public institutions. Through the following trip to the möwe, or The Seagull, a center for child protection, Bettina Petershofer-Rieder, a clinical and health psychologist, drew insights into their services, counselling, and awareness-raising measures for children affected by violence.

To end the day, NEUSTART was visited, which focused especially on working with perpetrators of violence and supporting their reintegration into society to prevent the reoccurrence of offences. The organisation’s director, Dina Nachbaur, explained how their work contributes to a new start for offenders, emphasising their victim-oriented approach in the process.

Day 3: Young Men Against Violence and Official Bodies Providing Support for Victims 

On the last day of the study trip, the delegation was welcomed by the team of Bakhti, led by Katrin Schneeweis, which works in the field of gender-based violence, focuses on the empowerment of women and encourages men to take a stand against violence on social media.  

During the visit at the Department of Women’s Services of the City of Vienna, Bettina Götz-Preisner, a consultant specialising in scientific research, discussed the department’s role and the scope of its tasks related to gender-based violence. These include shelter houses, a 24/7 helpline, raising awareness and cooperating with public institutions and NGOs. 

The delegation concluded their visits at the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, where Benedikt Treschnitzer (expert on gender-based violence), Andreas Schaller (Leader of Bilateral Relations and International Affairs) and Harald Breza-Fugger (Special Attaché to the Ministry for North Macedonia) shared their insights into their work in the field of gender-based violence and violence against women and men, as well as their efforts to strengthen and enhance victim protection measures in Austria. 

The study trip provided a vital opportunity for mutual learning through exchange. Both sides shared their knowledge of the structures of their institutions, their standards and guidelines in providing support and protection to the victims and their safety measures for both the victims and their staff members.  Furthermore, the discussions covered the nature and scope of their cooperation with other relevant actors, such as public institutions, specialized services and other NGOs.