After femicide in Taufkirchen: Debate over gun law, perpetrator work, and women's budget in Austria

Expansion of counseling centers planned

Women's Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ) announced an expansion of women's and girls' counseling centers at a press briefing on Monday. These are to become "service centers" with minimum opening hours and cooperation with the Public Employment Service (AMS). The aim is to help affected women, Holzleitner said: "So that she can leave when she wants," the agreements with the federal states regarding shelters would be continued, she said.

According to the minister, the women's budget will rise to 55 million euros in 2027 despite general pressure to save. This represents an increase of 61 percent, or roughly 21 million euros, Holzleitner said. She spoke of the "highest level in Austria's history." "We are not leaving women alone, especially in uncertain times," the minister emphasized.

Women's budget reaches record level

The violence protection centers will receive 1.75 million euros more, and the violence outpatient clinics are to be expanded. The Equal Treatment Ombudsman and the Equal Treatment Commission will receive around nine million euros additionally. The project "StOP – Stadtteile ohne Partnergewalt" (Neighborhoods without Partner Violence) and the anti-racism association "Zara" are also to be financed from the women's budget in the future.

Cuts to perpetrator work feared

At the same time, professional organizations are warning of cuts elsewhere. The association "Neustart" is set to receive around 2.4 million euros less compared to 2026. A program against online hate could also be affected. "In the government program, it actually said that you wanted to expand perpetrator work and measures against online hate in particular," the association criticized. In response to a profil inquiry, it was said that less budget means less time for clients, a lower frequency of contact, and therefore less perpetrator work and poorer violence prevention.

Karin Gölly, managing director of the Federal Association of Violence Protection Centers, cautioned that one must look at the big picture. "We all have to save, but in the social sector it's always thought of in the short term," Gölly said. She also called for more investment in public awareness work and is considering cooperations with health centers in order to reach affected women better in the future.

Holzleitner was reserved when asked about the looming cuts at "Neustart." She appealed to her fellow ministers to keep the government program in mind. She finds the cuts to the justice budget for probation assistance particularly drastic, according to her own statements.

Criticism from opposition and aid organizations

The Greens' women's spokesperson, Meri Disoski, also voiced criticism. "Family benefits are losing value, educational leave is being abolished, and small incomes are being additionally burdened," she said. According to calculations, a single mother working part-time will have around 700 euros less per year in the future.

The Association of Autonomous Austrian Women's Shelters (AÖF) welcomed the investments in the budget of the Women's Ministry but emphasized the structural dimension of violence against women. The association has counted 14 femicides this year and states that "many killings of women do not happen by chance, but are an expression of structural inequality, patriarchal power relations, and gender-based violence." "And perpetrator work is victim protection," the association underscored with a view to the security situation for women.

Debate over gun law

The political debate is also discussing a tightening of gun law. Advocates of stricter rules point to the repeated use of firearms in femicides. The exact legal steps are still open. The discussion comes at a time when aid organizations are on the one hand to receive more funds, but on the other hand have to reckon with cuts to key prevention programs.