Cause SOS Children's Village: Several Contact Points Established for Those Affected

"We listen and take every concern seriously - regardless of how long ago it happened," said Managing Director Anne Schlack on Friday in a statement. They are addressing all issues "because we want to create order and take responsibility."

Accordingly, affected individuals can contact SOS Children's Villages in several ways: anonymously via a whistleblowing platform, personally at one of the six independent ombuds offices in Austria, at the regional contact points for so-called care leavers or at the independent reform commission (info@reformkommission.at), which began its work on Wednesday.

Reports are treated confidentially

All reports would be treated confidentially, independently reviewed, and, if necessary, incorporated into the existing victim protection procedure, it was stated. This allows for support in the form of therapy or financial recognition. Additionally, affected individuals can also contact the violence protection centers in the federal states.

"Many people who grew up at SOS Children's Villages carry their story into adulthood," said Schlack. At the contact points, adult former residents can reach out to the organization at any time - voluntarily, confidentially, and without barriers, it was assured.

Affected Person from Stübing in Styria Came Forward

Meanwhile, SOS Children's Villages has responded to a report by the ORF "ZIB 2" editorial team from Thursday evening: A woman who lived as a child in the SOS Children's Village in Stübing, Styria, north of Graz, reported her suffering experiences with her children's village mother, with whom she grew up from 1989 to 1993. The affected person, who now lives in Tyrol, filed a complaint with the Graz public prosecutor's office in 2002 due to the abuse. However, this was not pursued further due to the statute of limitations. The native Styrian recounted agonizing educational methods and punishments that her siblings were also subjected to.

Recently, a 48-year-old woman also described to the "Oberösterreichische Nachrichten" two days ago that she experienced violence in the SOS Children's Village in Altmünster during the 1980s and 1990s. The woman, who came to the children's village at the age of seven, reports beatings and food deprivation. She was locked in the pantry and had to stand in the living room at night while the others lay in their beds. Only after many years with therapy did she receive financial compensation.

Investigations in Klagenfurt, Innsbruck, and Salzburg

A report by the weekly newspaper "Falter" about allegations against the SOS Children's Village at the location in Moosburg, Carinthia, triggered the abuse case in mid-September. Shortly thereafter, allegations against other children's villages also came to light. In the meantime, the public prosecutors in Klagenfurt, Innsbruck, and Salzburg are investigating the allegations.

(APA/Red)

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