Forms of Violence in Austria Florian Lang 2AHEL 2006/2007

Definiton Any act of agression – which causes – or intends to cause injury Divided into two forms – Random violence – Coordinated violence

Preface – Federal Minister of the Interior Austria: Among the safest industrial countries of the world – In comparison with 49 countries In categories: Safety from threats and violence Personal safety and protection of property

Crime in Austria (2001) Criminal offences declined by 7,7 % as compared to 2000 Authorities recorded about offences liable to prosecution Thefts and drug offences were inreasing

Violence at home Women and girls: Are beaten and sexually assaulted by – husbands – fathers – and other family members In africa more women are shot at home than are shot by strangers, or intruders

School Violence people were surveyed at the age of 12 to 18 in 1997 How often they were involved in violence – Three quarters were never subjected – 14% were victimized one ore two times – 16% were repeatedly subjected to violence

Violence at work Any act in which a person is – abused, threatended, intimidated – or assaulted in his or her employment Workplace violence includes: – Threatening behaviour, Verbal or written threats – Harassment, Verbal abuse, Physical attacks

Stalking Consists of the – Repeated following – harassing of another person Sending flowers, waiting for someone outside her workplace is not criminal When actions coupled with an intent to instill fear or injury, it is criminal 90% of stalking victims are women – 80% of the perpetrators are men

Running amok Used to refer the behaviour of someone who – in the grip of strong emotion – obtains a weapon, begins attacking people indiscriminately Niederösterreich ( ): – 15 year old boy called Helmut Z. – Took the weapon from his father and killed one teacher – Another teacher was injured heavily

Child abuse Physical or psychological maltreatment of a child abuse incidents are reported annualy 90 % of child abuse cases ocurred within – families – or was committed by close family friends