Resources to Identify, Prevent & Report Violence
FH OÖ’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
FH OÖ Compass upholds the 10 guiding principles of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. Therefore, FH OÖ Compass upholds guiding principle 2, which states: “We represent a value system that does not tolerate any form of discrimination, be it based on gender, ethnic origin, religion, ideology, disability, age, or sexual orientation.”
Additionally, FH OÖ Compass upholds guiding principle 10, which states: “We are committed to the fundamental right to education for all people and support people nationally and internationally in acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills.”
FH OÖ commits to creating and maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all students. Here you will find resources to identify, prevent, and report violence.
What is violence?
Violence derives from the middle high German word “waltan”, which means “to control” or “be strong”. The term violence is in general understood to mean an action or structure that results in physical and/or psychological harm or the threat of such damage.
If there is a threat or subjugation or physical and/or psychological coercion of persons, or if animals or things are deliberately and intentionally harmed, this is called violence.
It cannot be clearly stated how violence arises. Some theories take experiences of family violence, social disadvantages, poor future prospects, general developmental problems, or intensive media use into account when it comes to violent actions and behavior.
Identify motives for violence
The motives for violence can be diverse. In many cases, violence serves to exploit an imbalance in a relationship or to prove one’s power. For many young people, the search for (social) recognition is the decisive factor for violent acts. The attempt to gain respect from other people or groups is meant to strengthen one’s self-esteem and often leads to violence.
Compensation for negative feelings such as fear, anger, envy, offenses, etc can also lead to feeling threatened or provoked, especially in stressful situations. People who have rather low self-esteem, cannot recognize coping strategies, or have a low frustration tolerance, often try to compensate for these feelings with aggressive behavior.
Peer pressure and boredom often play a significant role in an already violent environment. For some people, violent activities represent a change in everyday life or a thrill. Often people are only fellow travelers of larger groups. Out of fear of becoming a victim themselves and the desire to belong, they submit to the opinion of the group.
Identify Forms of Violence
Violence is very wide-ranging, diverse and can take on different forms. Generally, it is divided into personal and structural violence. Personal violence is expressed in physical and mental violence by individual perpetrators. In contrast, structural violence encompasses social conditions and does not originate from other individuals. Forms of violence, including physical violence, psychological violence, sexual violence, and economic violence, are described in more detail below:
Definitions of Forms of Violence
Resources for victims of violence
If you are at risk of violence yourself or know that another person is at risk of violence, call for help. The following services can support you and other people.
Police (133 or 122): If there is a critical danger, call the police for help. The emergency call is free of charge and works in all networks (even without credit) and even when the keypad lock is activated and without a SIM card. Deaf people can call the police for help around the clock by text message on 0800 133 133. Depending on the situation, the police can issue an eviction order, file a report, or take the violent person into custody.
The crisis support service in Upper Austria is there to help and advise you at any time of day or night. You can contact the crisis support service at any time either by telephone at +43 732 21 77 or online for online advice. The service is free of charge if you live in Upper Austria.
Women’s helpline against violence: Violence against women is the most common form of violence in Austria and affects women of all ages, social classes, cultures, and religions, in all circumstances and situations, in the family, in relationships, at work, among friends and acquaintances,… If you have been affected by violence, it is important that you seek help, even if it is difficult to break the silence and requires a lot of courage to turn to a counseling center. English counseling is always possible, other languages are available on request.
Violence protection center: Counseling in cases of domestic violence, violence in the social environment, stalking / persistent persecution, as well as for process support and relatives.
The men’s counseling center: Men’s counseling center is anonymous, confidential, and free of charge. For both men who are affected by violence and men who are prone to violence can find help and support. It offers 24-hour support in acute conflict and crises. The service includes information, advice, and emergency shelters.
Online Women’s Counseling Upper Austria: Online counseling is free of charge and confidential. First, you need to register on the website and then you can use your online mailbox for counseling. You will receive a reply within 48 hours on working days. In acute crises, it is best to contact the women’s helpline, telephone counseling, or crisis support.
Autonomous Austrian Women’s Shelters: If you are being abused or feel threatened, you can turn to the women’s shelter. In the help chat you can get online counselling and exchange information with other affected women (page translation to English and other languages available).
Women’s shelter Linz (+43 732 60 67 00): The women’s shelter offers protection, safety, and accommodation by providing a place to live as well as free, anonymous advice, also for women who do not live in the women’s shelter.
At Violence is never ok! affected children and young people as well as their caretakers can find information and support.
Verein Spektrum (+43 7235 659 69): The association in Gallneukirchen offers free and confidential counseling by appointment.
Center for Family Therapy and Men’s Counseling: The center offers support for problems with partners and/or families, professional overload and violence.
Resources for witnesses of violence
Violence (in the family) is a very widespread, and therefore very big, problem in Austria. However, due to the close relationship between perpetrators and victims, it is not always easy to help. The violent persons often have a lot of power, so it is very difficult for the victims to free themselves from violent relationships. That is why outside help is particularly important.
Here are a few tips on what outsiders can do if they notice or learn about violent acts against other people:
- React and get involved
- Obtain information on the topic
- Provide help in acute emergency situations
- Seek contact with those affected
- Unconditional offers of help
- Respect the decisions of those affected
- Seek contact with the violent person
When perpetrators realize that their environment knows about their violent acts and does not approve of them, this is a first step as those affected are implicitly strengthened.
Anyone who wants to help in a specific case should seek advice on the legal situation and possibilities for help. This is possible at the violence protection center or another support facility (see above).
If you witness violence or hear cries for help, it is important to act as quickly as possible. If you feel safe enough to do so yourself, try to stop the violence, if possible, with the support of other people. This requires (moral) courage. If it is too dangerous to intervene, you can always call the police (emergency call 133 or 112).
Due to the dependence of the victims on the perpetrators, the victims may be dismissive towards the police and say that nothing has happened. This is a normal reaction that serves self-protection, as the victims usually continue to live with the perpetrators. However, police intervention stops the violence for the time being and that is the most important thing in an acute situation.
If the victims react negatively to the intervention, this should not be taken personally, because it is often impossible for abused persons to talk about the violence. Nevertheless, it is important to always react quickly – this can save lives!
It is important to actively offer help even after an act of violence. To do this, it is necessary to approach those affected at an opportune moment. Please bear in mind that it can be very unpleasant and dangerous for the victims to talk about the violent situation. Information such as: “I want to help you, but I also understand that it is unpleasant for you to talk about it. What can I do for you?” can be helpful. Furthermore, it is important to build trust: “You can always come to me, I won’t tell anyone.”
In case of a crisis, concrete offers for those affected are especially important: “You can always call me and we can agree on a specific sign in case you need help.”
Help offered should always be unconditional so that it does not put pressure on those affected. Before one’s own limits of resilience are reached, it is ideal to communicate this clearly: “I can’t manage to take you in anymore, it’s too much of a burden for me, but I will help you find other support options.”
Not all people who are abused want or are able to separate from the violent person. There are many reasons for this: a sense of responsibility towards children, parents or other people who need care, lack of alternatives, fear of further violence or unclear residence situations. And some simply hope that the situation will eventually change or return to normal.
The most important principle for supporters – whether in the private sphere, in aid facilities or institutions – should always be that the decisions of those affected are respected. Only they can make the decision for their lives. For this, however, they need our help.
Here, especially men who reject violence can play a very important role and set limits to violence by confronting violent men with their behavior. This can be done, for example, by making a clear statement that violence is never accepted because there is no justification for it.
Resources for perpetrators of violence
- Men can contact the Men’s Info.
- Women can find help at the EULine – Hotline against violence
- The parents’ helpline is available 24 hours a day via the Upper Austrian telephone counseling service on 142.
Further information and resources about violence
“Und bist du nicht willig” / “And aren’t you willing”
StoP and Association of Autonomous Austrian Women’s Shelters – Film
(Language for information can be changed in top right corner, film is in German)
Integrationsfonds- Stop- Standing up to violence against women and girls
18. Diversity Talk - Violence in the social environment
The 18th Diversity Talk at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria was held by Mag.a Eva Schuh from the Violence Protection Center Upper Austria on the topic “Violence in the social environment – Still Not an Isolated Case. Causes and Actions.”
Violence in close social relationships is a sad reality for more than one-third of all women in Austria who are in a relationship. Additionally, 28% of men experience violence in their living environment, and 92% of all violent acts are committed by men. It is therefore evident that violence in relationships and partnerships is predominantly a male issue. The campaign “Men Speak Up” highlights what men can do to combat this, while the Diversity Talk thoroughly explored the options available for those affected by violence (women) and compared relevant laws in other countries (e.g., Spain, Switzerland).
Since experiences of violence are often accompanied by great shame, we are making the Diversity Talk available, as always, to employees via the intranet and, for the first time, also to students, part-time lecturers, and other interested parties on our Kompass page. In the hope that many people affected by violence will dare to break the silence as early as possible. Because violence can happen to anyone, and you are never to blame!
Counseling Centers – Contacts and contact persons
Handout of the FH OÖ: Need Some Help – First orientation for problems around studying
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