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26. 11. 09. - 16:00

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26. 11. 09. - 16:00

One in three women a victim of violence, NGO says

By Thomas Hochwarter

Up to one in three women in Austria are victims of violence, NGOs have claimed.

Speaking yesterday (Weds) to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Alexandra Sokol of the Violence Protection Centre Tyrol said: "Violence is not a side issue. Violence against woman occurs among all social classes, age groups and nationalities."

Sokol also said the number of women seeking help after suffering violence was increasing. She estimated up to every third woman living in Austria was a victim of violence.

The number of unreported cases is suspected to be rising as well with many women still reluctant to look for help after violent attacks.

Sokol said the Tyrol centre was contacted by 1,250 victims of domestic violence or stalking so far this year, up from 1,088 in 2008.

Sokol was speaking on the same day as Social Democratic (SPÖ) Women’s Minister Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek called for domestic violence offenders to be forced to wear electronic ankle tags.

The minister claimed one in ten offenders ignored court orders to stay away from their victims.

Austrian Times

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