The figures on violent offenses in Viennese schools published today today draw a shocking picture: Over 630 ads in 2024 – more than twice as many as 2015. Body injuries, sexual assault and serious crimes have become sad everyday life in classrooms and at pause stations. For club chairman Harald Zierfuß it is clear: the city of Vienna has dramatically failed here!
“It is a massive political failure that schools in Vienna are no longer safe places for children and adolescents. SPÖ and NEOS watch what violence escalated – while our comprehensive ‘action plan to combat youth violence’ has been waiting for its implementation for months,” criticizes Zierfuß sharply.
The political balance is sobering: the government program of the downward coalition remains vague, an expansion of support staff is hardly specified, and the urgently needed measures – from nationwide violence to annual surveys – are largely unfulfilled.
“We finally need a transparent and regular publication of violence at Vienna’s schools – including forms of crime, age structure and socio -cultural background of the perpetrators,” demands Zierfuß. This is the only way to take targeted and effective measures.
Individual projects in a few schools are not sufficient. “Violence prevention must not depend on happiness or location – it must be done nationwide, mandatory and professionally at all compulsory schools. The support staff must also be dramatically increased: one school social worker per location is the absolute minimum.”
“Our schools have to become safe places in which children can solve conflicts peacefully and in which empathy, respect and community are lived. If the city of Vienna remains idle, it not only endangers the security of our children, but also their future,” concludes Zierfuß.
OTS original text press release with the exclusive in terms of content of the sender – www.ots.at | VPR