Austria

Facts

Austria has a solid legal framework, as far as Civil and Penal Law is concerned, aiming at protecting children from violence and abuse. Key provisions of the Child Rights Convention related to protection from all forms of violence are even entrenched in Austria’s Constitution. Initiated by and in cooperation with ECPAT Austria, numerous measures for awareness raising and educational purposes have been implemented, especially on topics of Safeguarding, child trafficking, and sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism. The number of training for police officers have increased as well as the distribution of information material such as ‘Child trafficking in Austria. Background Information and Checklist to Assist Youth Welfare Authorities, Police Forces, Aliens’. Austria is a destination and transit country for children trafficked for sexual purposes and criminal activities. Most of the victims are Eastern or SoutheasternEuropean.

However, ECPAT Austria together with other child rights activists in Austria and various monitoring bodies (UN-CRC, Council of Europe-GRETA, European Commission) are pointing out deficits and gaps in law enforcement and are constantly providing the necessary resources to service providers of child protection.