Vienna Opens First Clinic for Victims of Violence

Vienna Opens First Clinic for Victims of Violence

Image: Medizinische Universität Wien/APA-Fotoservice/Hörmandinger

 

A new clinic supporting victims of physical and sexual violence has opened at the Medical University of Vienna, part of Austria’s efforts to expand nationwide support services.

The clinic provides a safe space where individuals can receive free examinations, have evidence collected and injuries documented in a way that can stand up in court.

It follows the opening of a similar centre in Graz and operates independently of whether victims have reported the crime to the police or hold a health insurance card.

Supporting Victims and Preventing Further Violence

The clinic aims to play a key role in identifying acts of violence, resolving incidents, and protecting victims from further harm. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch said:

“Everyone has the right to live a life free from violence. In addition to prevention and raising awareness, we must ensure that victims of violence receive the best possible support.”

Evidence Collection Without Reporting

The clinic’s services include documenting injuries, securing evidence from clothing and the body and connecting victims with further support. This includes psychological counselling, legal advice and victim protection organisations.

Crucially, victims can access these services even if they choose not to report the crime. In such cases, the evidence collected will be securely stored for up to ten years, allowing it to be used in future legal proceedings if needed.

Medical professionals will also benefit from a dedicated telephone advice line for forensic-related queries, further strengthening the clinic’s role in tackling violent incidents.

Expanding Services and Training

Nikolaus Klupp, head of the Centre for Forensic Medicine and the new clinic, highlighted its importance in supporting victims. “Thanks to the new premises and federal funding, we can now expand in terms of time, geography, and technology,” he said. “This lays the foundation for reaching even more victims in the future, offering them forensic documentation and evidence collection that can stand up in court. At the same time, we can intensify training for various professional groups to recognise signs of violence.”

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