While in Austria there is a risk of up to two years imprisonment for the possession of child pornography – realistic depictions of a sexual act with or on children up to the age of 14 – and up to three years imprisonment for the dissemination of such material, the law in Germany provides for the same offenses imprisonment of up to five or up to ten years.
The penalties provided for in paragraph 207a of the Criminal Code are “currently ridiculously low”, said Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP). In addition to higher penalties, “clear language” is also needed, emphasized the Chancellor: “It is trivializing to speak of child pornography. This is child abuse and deserves no tolerance – certainly not in words.”
In Austria, crimes against property are punished more severely than crimes against life and limb and especially sexual crimes, the Chancellor complained. In his opinion, the procuring, possession and dissemination of depictions of sexual abuse by children in particular are punished too mildly in this country.
Zadic: Higher penalties “just a building block”
The ÖVP has already started talks with the Greens about legal measures. Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) can also imagine an increase in punishment, as she explained to Ö1 in the afternoon. However, tougher penalties are “just one building block” in a larger package: “There is a need for preventive Austria-wide child protection concepts for everyone who works with children.”
The judiciary only comes into play when something has already happened. That is why preventive measures are particularly important: “We must do everything we can to ensure that children do not become victims of sexualised violence.” She has already submitted proposals for this and hopes to be able to implement them in cooperation with Family Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP).
“In politics, we have the responsibility to put a clear stop to these cruel acts. We discussed this with the coalition partner today and we agree that improvements are needed when it comes to protecting children. This applies to penalties, but also better prevention and increased protection measures that are needed to protect our children effectively,” emphasized Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens). The question of more staff for cyber investigations is also very important for combating these crimes: “The fact that only six people in the Federal Criminal Police Office do this backbreaking job cannot be enough.”
TV notice
The Teichtmeister case and dealing with child abuse are the subject of the debate at the “Round Table” on ORF2 at 10:25 p.m.
“What the Teichtmeister case brings to light is abhorrent, cruel and despicable,” Kogler said. “It must be clearly stated that this is about child abuse and the portrayal of it. Possession and distribution are also crimes that should be prosecuted. Behind every picture are children who have been victims of sexual abuse. That doesn’t leave anyone cold.”
SPÖ: Prevention and victim protection are also important
“The discussion about a higher sentence is understandable and appropriate, but that alone will not solve much. We also have to talk about victim protection, prevention and education,” said SPÖ spokesman for children and children’s rights Christian Oxonitsch, SPÖ culture spokeswoman Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek, SPÖ justice spokeswoman Selma Yildirim and SPÖ women’s and youth spokeswoman Eva-Maria Holzleitner towards a broadcast.
Help for those affected
The Federal Criminal Police Office has its own reporting office at [email protected] to receive reports of misuse.
They called for more staff for the Federal Criminal Police Office, where currently only six officers are responsible for investigating online child abuse with suboptimal technical equipment: “It is the responsibility of the government to provide the appropriate funds.”
The SPÖ deputies also spoke out in favor of a linguistic adjustment in the law: “It is no longer up-to-date to speak of ‘child pornography’. Children are abused twice. An adjustment of the legal texts to take this into account and to send a clear signal is urgently needed.”
In addition, violence prevention should be promoted more, child protection concepts – including in the cultural sector – expanded throughout Austria, victim protection facilities strengthened financially and in terms of staff, the staffing of the responsible department in the Federal Criminal Police Office improved and international cooperation further strengthened.
