Loss of jobs, short-time work and the closure of educational institutions – all these consequences of the corona crisis have worsened the situation of women in Austria, according to the chairwoman of the Austrian Women's Association Klaudia Frieben. At a press conference on Women's Day on Monday, women's organizations criticized the government's “male” crisis management, demanded more money for women's policy and promotion, and spoke of the government's “alms policy”.
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With distance learning, working mothers, for whom there is often no quiet place to work from home, are now also responsible for the school success of their children, criticized Elisabeth Cinatl from the network of women's and girls' counseling centers. Many girls also do not have the technical prerequisites to be able to study from home, so educational opportunities are once again dependent on income. Political measures should therefore be geared towards the realities of life of women and girls; measures already taken would have to be readjusted.
From Minister for Women Susanne Raab (ÖVP), Frieben demanded the immediate release and payment of the 6.2 million euros announced the previous week for women’s counseling centers. “Get involved”, she appealed to the minister and called for a “real and social policy for women.” This demand includes, among other things, an increase in unemployment benefits to a 70 percent net replacement rate, a family bonus of 1,500 euros for each child regardless of the income of the parents, a strengthening of pensions for women and direct subsidies for single parents.
“We don't want any projects,” says the chairwoman of the Feminist Single Parents Association, Andrea Czak. “Every fourth child in Austria grows up with a single parent. Half of them have slipped below the poverty line as a result of Corona.” That is why Czak is demanding double family allowances for single mothers since the beginning of the corona crisis, as well as an additional pension month per month in lockdown.
The participants also denounced violence against women. For example, managing director Maria Rösslhumer from the Association of Autonomous Austrian Women's Shelters called for an improvement in the situation of women with children who separate from violent partners. Because of joint custody, these women often have to deal with their ex-partner for longer, which leads to further violence. In cases of violence, a standardized decision-making process for custody and contact rights should come about.
The latest murder case in Vienna shows that, despite good laws, Austria has dangerous loopholes in the security system for women, the Vienna Intervention Center said. The institution calls for a permanent commission for the prevention of femicides with the involvement of women and victim protection organizations.
The Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ) also drew attention to the existing imbalance in income, for example. Although the proportion of women in important key positions within the religious community has risen steadily in recent years, women are still underrepresented in their political bodies. The Catholic Family Association also pleaded for more diversity in women's politics.
“Women have to have the courage to openly express their demands – including their salary demands in the company – they have to form a closed lobby for all-day schools and a reformed care system and they have to incorporate men into everyday family work,” said Margit Kraker, President of the Court of Auditors in a speech on the occasion of Women's Day.
