Universal Periodic Review

Maintain efforts to further promote gender equality, combat violence against children, and eliminate poverty and social exclusion of children in Austria

Proponent:

Morocco

Kingdom of Morocco

Morocco

Kingdom of Morocco

Remarks to progress by Liga (last modified Apr 1, 2025):

On 31 January 2023, the National Council decided to develop a package of measures for child protection. The plan is to develop initiatives to promote the protection of children and young people by implementing concepts and training for professionals, strengthening sexual offences and creating prevention exceptions for perpetrators (National Council meeting on child protection – 195th session of the National Council on 31 January 2023 (195/NRSITZ): https://www.parlament.gv.at/aktuelles/pk/jahr_2023/pk0084#XXVII_NRSITZ_00195). The child protection organisations, such as the Austrian Ombuds Offices for Children and Youths, Austrian Child Protection Centres, NC Kinderrechte, ECPAT Austria and Netzwerk Kinderrechte, believe that the package of measures for child protection is progress in the right direction. However, it requires further steps, especially implementation, in order to see a real change in the protection of children and young people (position paper of the Children’s Rights Network: https://www.kinderhabenrechte.at/positionspapier-kinderschutzpaket-fuer-den-ausserfamiliaeren-kinderschutz/<).
As part of the Government Plan 2025-2029, the Federal Government is launching a process to improve child and youth welfare, harmonise standards and provide funding for cross-sectoral projects (see Government Plan 2025-2029: https://www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/bundeskanzleramt/die-bundesregierung/regierungsdokumente.html). According to the Pay Transparency Directive, companies in the EU should in future exchange information on how much they pay women and men for work of equal value and take action if their gender pay gap exceeds 5 per cent. EU member states now have until June 2026 to transpose the directive into national law. This will include more comprehensive disclosure of starting salaries and pay levels, increased reporting obligations for companies and improved access to legal measures for employees. The exact implementation of the directive is not yet known (further information on this: https://www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/themen/europa-aktuell/2023/04/gender-pay-gap-rat-der-eu-nimmt-neue-vorschriften-zur-lohntransparenz-an.html). On 31 January 2023, the National Council decided to develop a package of measures for child protection. The plan is to develop initiatives to promote the protection of children and young people through the implementation of concepts and training for professionals, the strengthening of sexual offences and the creation of prevention exceptions for perpetrators (Nationalratssitzung zum Kinderschutz-
195th session of the National Council of 31 January 2023 (195/NRSITZ): https://www.parlament.gv.at/aktuelles/pk/jahr_2023/pk0084#XXVII_NRSITZ_00195). Child protection organisations such as the Austrian Ombuds Offices for Children and Youths, Austrian Child Protection Centres, NC Kinderrechte, ECPAT Austria and Netzwerk Kinderrechte consider the package of measures on child protection to be progress in the right direction. However, it requires further steps, especially implementation, in order to see a real change in the protection of children and young people
(Position paper of the Children’s Rights Network: https://www.kinderhabenrechte.at/positionspapier-kinderschutzpaket-fuer-den-ausserfamiliaeren-kinderschutz/<).
In the Government Plan 2025-2029, the Federal Government commits to the goal of effectively combating child poverty and sustainably improving equal opportunities for all children and young people in Austria (see Government Plan 2025-2029: https://www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/bundeskanzleramt/die-bundesregierung/regierungsdokumente.html).

Ensure nationwide uniform legal quality standards in areas relevant to human rights, such as child and youth welfare and youth protection

Proponent:

League

Österreichische Liga für Menschenrechte

Rahlgasse 1/26, A-1060 Wien

http://www.liga.or.at/projekte/universal-periodic-review-2020-upr/

League

Österreichische Liga für Menschenrechte

Rahlgasse 1/26, A-1060 Wien

http://www.liga.or.at/projekte/universal-periodic-review-2020-upr/

Remarks to progress by Liga (last modified Dec 31, 2024):

In Austria, the need to create binding, nationwide quality standards for child and youth welfare, including foster care, is being increasingly emphasised. Although some state-specific regulations and initiatives to ensure quality already exist, there are still differences between the federal states. The creation of harmonised quality standards would ensure that all children and young people placed in foster care or other care facilities receive the same high level of care. In recent years, efforts have been made in Austria to define these standards. The provincial governments are obliged to ensure compliance with the standards in child and youth welfare and to evaluate them regularly. Efforts are also being made to standardise the practice of foster families, which is supported in particular by the exchange of best practice models and the involvement of experts from various organisations. In addition to the introduction of these standards, emphasis is also placed on the regular training and further development of professionals in this area in order to guarantee high-quality care. This includes ensuring that foster families also receive the necessary support and further training to meet the special requirements of foster children. Despite this progress, the implementation of a binding, nationwide regulation remains an ongoing process that requires further political and legislative adjustments. In Austria, efforts are currently being made to ensure the quality of child and youth welfare through legal standards, but implementation remains inconsistent and dependent on the respective federal states. The Child and Youth Welfare Act (KJH-G) requires that the quality of care for children and young people is regularly evaluated by the provincial governments, taking into account professional standards, social developments and scientific findings. Since 2017, quality standards for inpatient child and youth welfare services have been developed in Austria with the aim of standardising them across the provinces. These standards were developed by 19 different organisations, including FICE Austria and SOS Children’s Villages, in order to ensure high-quality care for children and young people. They set out clear requirements for assistance planning, co-operation with parents and the staffing and structural conditions in the facilities. However, there are still differences in the legal regulations for the protection of minors, as this is regulated at state level in Austria. Different federal states have different regulations, which can lead to a certain lack of clarity. Developments in this area show that implementation is an ongoing process that continues to require critical review and adaptation in order to guarantee uniform and high standards.

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