Violence against women or violence in the family is not a private or individual problem, but a problem that is anchored in society as a whole and therefore also structurally. Especially at Christmas time, when the days are shorter and people spend more time at home with their families, the risk of domestic violence increases. The number of acts of violence against women is once again alarmingly high this year: in 2024, 26 women in Austria fell victim to femicide and 39 women suffered attempted murder or serious violence (as of 11 November 2024). In comparison: in the previous year, there were 26 femicide victims and 51 attempted murders or cases of serious violence[1].
‘TOGETHER.SAFE with our police’
REWE is taking an active role in the fight against domestic violence by cooperating with ‘GEMEINSAM.SICHER mit unserer Polizei’. This partnership initiative ensures that potential victims have quick and uncomplicated access to help and thus receive urgently needed support.
Robert Nagele, Management Board Member for Real Estate and Sustainability, sees it as REWE Group's corporate responsibility to actively contribute to raising awareness about violence against women and girls. ‘Violence against women and girls is an issue that affects us all - as a company, as a community and as a society. I am deeply affected by the numbers of these violent crimes - every single one of them is one too many. It is our responsibility to support women and girls in need and give them access to fast and effective help. The visibility of emergency numbers and help centres on our receipts is a matter close to our hearts. We want to show those affected that they are not alone, we stand by their side and help them find ways out of violence.’
‘We strongly condemn all forms of violence. Our aim is to create an environment in which women in particular can work and shop in safety. Together, we are committed to respectful and non-violent coexistence. This is the only way we can make a difference to society as a whole,’ says Raz Manne, Head of Corporate Safety at REWE Group.
‘The economic recession in Austria has also increased the pressure within families and on women in particular. This is why we will once again support the international campaign to protect against violence this year with our nationwide cash register initiative. Every woman affected by violence should be able to establish a low-threshold direct line to the domestic protection centres. A QR code and the most important hotlines are printed on millions of receipts in thousands of shops. In this way, we can enable direct action from everyday life,’ says Rainer Will, Managing Director of the German Retail Association.
Important contact points
In addition to the police emergency number 133, women, children and young people can call the women's helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week for crisis counselling - in eight languages. Another point of contact for victims of domestic violence is the federal association of nine violence protection centres, which also offers local counselling in all federal states through numerous regional offices.
[1] AOEF - Autonomous Austrian Women's Shelters: Alleged femicides and attempted murders in 2023/2024 according to media reports
https://www.aoef.at/index.php/zahlen-und-daten/femizide-in-oesterreich
