Femicide Study from Vienna: What Makes Relationships Dangerous

Violence against women or attempted and completed femicides usually occur after clear warning signs. Particularly possessiveness in relationships with the aim of exerting control over the partner is a decisive factor here. This is the result of a study conducted by the Institute for Conflict Research on behalf of the Women's Service Vienna. Files from the period January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, were evaluated.

No Act Without Warning Signs

In the months in question, four femicides and six attempted murders were committed by current or former partners. The investigation ("Femicides and Attempted Femicides in Relationships. Risk Perception and Seeking Help in Vienna") has shown, according to the office of Women's City Councillor Kathrin Gaal (SPÖ), that not a single act was committed without prior warning signs. Instead, the cases showed clear parallels.

Jealousy, Stalking, Isolation – Perpetrators with a Desire for Control

Possessiveness and the exertion of psychological violence were decisive risk factors in half of all acts. According to the analysis, the often jealous perpetrators previously tried to exert pressure and control and had stalked the later victims, among other things. Another factor is caregiving responsibility, where femicide followed by suicide is often recorded.

Mental illnesses or alcohol or drug addiction on the part of the perpetrators also played a role in several cases. The assignment to an age group is also relatively clear: most victims and perpetrators in the examined period were between 50 and 59 years old. Six of the affected women had already experienced violence before the act, but according to the study, none of them were in documented contact with a violence protection facility. Four women apparently confided in people in their private environment.

"Our analysis reveals that in all cases, risk factors were present - most frequently possessiveness as well as psychological violence, control, death threats, or possession of weapons. These signs must be recognized early and taken seriously," noted study director Birgitt Haller: "The cases of controlling relationships show that violence in relationships does not arise suddenly, but develops over a longer period."

Focus on Awareness

A systematic analysis of high-risk cases was recommended, in close collaboration with the police and judiciary. Raising awareness about available support services and sensitizing, for example, medical personnel was also deemed important. For femicides followed by suicide, preventive measures related to caregiving and prevention of isolation in older age were needed, it was stated.

"To effectively combat violence against women and achieve sustainable change, we need reliable data and research. The current study on femicides - and also attempted femicides - was therefore commissioned to understand the background of the acts, identify commonalities, and develop action options," explained Women's City Councilor Gaal.

The results of the study would show that the violence protection network and support centers for victims of violence must be made known at all levels and continuously. Violence against women can occur regardless of age, financial background, and origin, she noted.

(APA/Red)

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