(Vienna, 05-09-2025) Since the beginning of the year, MedUni Vienna's examination centre for victims of violence has been offering specialised support to victims of violence. The pilot project, which is funded by the federal government, documents injuries in accordance with forensic standards, secures evidence and offers counselling in connection with domestic and sexual violence and abuse. Initial findings show that there is great demand for this service and that numerous victims – predominantly women – have already made use of the facility. An initial assessment was presented today, Friday, in the presence of several members of the government.
In the first eight months since it opened (as of 1 September 2025), there have already been a total of 400 case-related referrals, with clinical forensic examinations also being carried out in 293 cases after telephone contact and counselling. "Around 84 per cent of those affected who come to us are female," explains Katharina Stolz, head of the investigation centre. "In 24 per cent of cases, the examinations were carried out due to sexualised violence, and in 8 per cent of cases there was suspicion of the use of knockout drugs. The vast majority of the remaining cases involved domestic violence or violence in the immediate social environment." According to the forensic pathologist, the individuals affected were between 1 and 92 years old. In 17 percent of the cases examined, the individuals affected were minors. Fifty-one percent of the examinations took place at the examination centre and 49 percent in an interdisciplinary setting in hospitals.
Markus Müller, Rector of MedUni Vienna: "The Medical University of Vienna is fulfilling its social responsibility with the services provided by the Center for Forensic Medicine and the Examination Centre for Victims of Violence. The results so far show that there is a great need for this service: numerous people, mainly women, have already made use of it. The focus is on documentation that can be used in court, securing evidence and providing comprehensive care for those affected. In this way, we are improving the starting point for subsequent proceedings and at the same time raising awareness of the concerns of victims of violence within the medical profession."
Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research: "The examination centre for victims of violence is an important building block in providing the best possible support to women who have experienced violence and in securing evidence. Violence against women is not a private problem, but must be recognised as a task for society as a whole. With the National Action Plan against Violence against Women, we have achieved a close alliance between politicians, experts and civil society, with which we will identify and close gaps in violence protection – because every woman has the right to a life free of violence."
Korinna Schumann, Federal Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection: "Protection against violence and prevention of violence are tasks for society as a whole, and everyone must pull together to achieve them. In the world of work, women in particular are often confronted with sexual and psychological violence. In order to reduce the risk of violence and escalation, an appropriate working environment must be created. An important step in this process is the awareness that violence is not an ‘occupational hazard’ that one should simply accept or deal with."
Anna Sporrer, Federal Minister of Justice: "The establishment of violence clinics marks a real paradigm shift in the support and care of victims of violence in Austria. And the results from the Vienna Investigation Centre for Victims of Violence show, after just a few months, how necessary and effective this work is. As a low-threshold contact point, the violence clinic combines expertise from the fields of medicine, justice and victim protection – with the aim of prosecuting offenders more effectively and better protecting victims, who are predominantly women."
Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig, State Secretary for Health at the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection: "Violence always has profound health implications because it is both physical and psychological in nature. I would like to emphasise that domestic violence is never a private matter, but affects society as a whole. However, the blame always lies with the perpetrator. With the investigation centre, we are offering a professional point of contact and sending a clear message by documenting the violence. The figures show that the victims are mainly women – something we have known for a long time. Protection against violence is therefore also a question of women's health, ranging from prevention to adequate treatment."