Cuts in Women's and Girls' Counseling: Experts Sound the Alarm

In women's and girls' counseling centers, employees have to be laid off, switch from full-time to part-time, and further reduce part-time hours because the Public Employment Service (AMS) and the Ministry of Social Affairs have largely stopped their funding, experts reported at an online press conference on Tuesday. This puts these non-governmental organizations in a precarious situation and will result in follow-up costs due to the lack of violence prevention and counseling, they emphasized.

"In the Austrian counseling centers, colleagues are being laid off or have to reduce from full-time to part-time work," reported Dorit Haslehner-Kadlicz from the Women's and Family Counseling Association Freiraum in Lower Austria: "And this despite the federal government's declared credo that as many people as possible in this country should work full-time."

Women's and Girls' Counseling: Measures Lead to Layoffs and Part-Time Work

Freiraum is funded by the AMS up to 60 percent until the end of the year, but next year the funding will simply be cut due to "austerity measures," said Haslehner-Kadlicz: "At least we were granted a three-month phase-out funding so that we can comply with notice periods." Three colleagues have to leave, and additionally, two experts who worked for the association on a fee basis can no longer be utilized.

The organization for women and migrants "LEFÖ" has been funded for 15 years by the Ministry of Health (Federal Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, note) for the support of victims of violence in care and sex work, reported the director Celeste Tortosa. Although the funding always came late in the middle of the current fiscal year, it was reliable until now. However, this year they received a rejection and can no longer bill for counseling and support hours already provided.

The same ministry also cut funding for the association "maiz" in Upper Austria, which seeks to improve the working conditions of migrant women in Austria, reported director Florina Platzer. Additionally, funding from the state of Upper Austria would be drastically reduced. Three years ago, they received 150,000 euros from its integration fund, then 100,000. "From next year, we will no longer receive basic funding," she said. At least they are allowed to apply for 50,000 euros for projects. However, carrying them out is difficult when the infrastructure is lacking due to the absence of basic funding. Due to the cuts, the dismissal of four people would be unavoidable. "For those who remain, the hours must be reduced," she said. This is also necessary for herself.

Expert: Cuts Endanger Economic and Social Stability

The cuts not only harm the organizations and women affected by violence, who can no longer be supported in some cases, but also endanger Austria's economic and social stability, said Sophie Hansal from the network of Austrian women's and girls' counseling centers. The consultations are highly effective: "90 percent of them end with a solution, improvement, or new perspective for the affected person."

The follow-up costs of violence against women are, in contrast to the funding for prevention and support, immensely high, she reported: "For Austria, they are conservatively estimated at 7.3 billion euros annually." They arise from necessary doctor and hospital visits, police investigations, criminal proceedings, and detention costs. Additionally, there is financial damage due to work absences and reduced productivity among the affected women. Furthermore, there are non-quantifiable intangible burdens due to trauma and loss of quality of life.

Instead of reducing support services by suspending funding, they should be expanded, the experts demanded: The demand is currently increasing, and it would also be financially worthwhile. "Prevention and counseling save money," said Hansal: "According to a study from England, every euro invested returns nine euros." The press conference was organized by the network of Austrian women's and girls' counseling centers.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.