Zonta Club Graz, Austria, in District 14, organized a meeting entitled: “In dialog with the Federal Minister of Justice: Legal actions on violence against women”

On May 29, members of Zonta Club Graz invited leading representatives and lawyers of the most important organizations of the City of Graz and private ones which are engaged in helping women and children affected by sexual violence.

For these experts it was a rare opportunity to share their daily experience with the responsible Federal Minister Mrs. Beatrix Karl welcomed the open discussion pointing out that 80 % of violence against women happens within families which makes it so difficult to help.

The Minister of Justice also declared her priority: “Protection of the victims is more important than protecting the offender”. She also announced that she has just initiated an amendment of the Sexual Penal Code aiming at doubling the minimum sentence for rape and tightening the legal measures in case of grooming and human trafficking. Those actions will prove as a strong signal against sexual crime in Austria”, the Federal Minister of Justice said.

For all of us it was a very fruitful discussion with most important news on the local situation as well as the legal measures to prevent violence against women.