9.02.2021 13:19
(Akt. 9.02.2021 13:30)
–
–
At least one in five men uses violence against women.
© WHAT
–
–
–
Five days ago, the Association of Autonomous Women’s Shelters (AÖF) started an anti-violence awareness campaign “Put an end to excuses” and published a spot for it. Six actors appeared in this – there are now allegations of violence against two. For the women’s shelters, this reflects the sad reality that at least every fifth man uses violence against women. They removed the video and instead created an animated spot with no actors.
The fact that one in five men practices violence was confirmed during the production of the original video campaign. “Several people affected or people from the environment, not just women, have contacted us,” said AÖF managing director Maria Rösslhumer of the APA. Alleged victims also spoke up on social media. In addition to allegations of violence, there are also allegations of sexual harassment against an actor. The video had been viewed more than 75,000 times on Instagram, more than 3,000 on YouTube and more than 10,000 times on Facebook. It was also featured on television and shared on social media, which helped the spot reach 800,000 people. The women’s shelters regret that the campaign “caused suffering and retraumatisation in affected women”, it said on Tuesday in a broadcast. “That was not our intention at all,” said Rösslhumer. The procedure is discussed with the four other actors. “You understand our step.”
–
Massive allegations were made against an actor on social media that the man had also been physically abused around two years ago. The fact that this man was seen in a video opposing violence against women triggered retraumatisation in the woman concerned, it said in a post. Whether against him or the second actor is already being investigated remains unclear. “For reasons of data protection law, we cannot provide any information in this regard. The Vienna police advise those affected to report charges,” said the Vienna police in a statement. If there is an initial suspicion, it will be checked and investigations carried out, emphasized the police.
–
The fact that the men even applied for the roles in the video “shows that they have no awareness of violence against women”, stated Rösslhumer. The women’s shelters emphasized that most acts of violence, especially if it is not physical violence, are not reported and the perpetrators are therefore not held accountable. Unfortunately, even a previous “test” of the men cannot provide a one hundred percent guarantee of non-violence, because we know that men who engage in violence would not admit their behavior or would not define it as violence, emphasized the AÖF. Also, not everything – such as an ongoing investigation – would be listed on a certificate of repute. Rösslhumer said that we usually find out whether someone is exercising violence from those affected or from people around them. “In view of this campaign experience, we are considering developing a questionnaire that asks men before employment whether they reject violence against women and girls or have not used violence in the past,” said the managing director.
–
This campaign confirms once again how deeply rooted patriarchal masculinity still is and how alarming the number of men is who in our society exercises violence against women, said Rösslhumer. At the same time it had become clear how important it is to point out perpetrator strategies, to make them visible and to report that men perpetrating violence have a lack of insight into guilt, show hardly any awareness of the suffering of those affected and downplay violence against women. “No more excuses” calls on men to recognize violent behavior and to react to violence perpetrated by male colleagues, neighbors, friends or acquaintances. The women’s shelters demanded that there should be no tolerance for violence against women in society.
–
(SERVICE – New video online at:, Women’s helpline against violence 0800 / 222-555, around the clock, anonymously, free of charge and in multiple languages:, Online advice for girls and women in the HelpChat, multilingual:, Children’s website:, Men receive help and advice from the men’s advice center on 0720/70 44 00,)
–
– .
