StoP was awarded the state prize for voluntary commitment and innovation

A great state recognition for the many StoP activists in Austria who are committed to combating femicide and partner violence against women and children

On December 4, 2023, the community and violence prevention work of “StoP districts without partner violence” was awarded the State Prize for Voluntary Engagement – with first place in the Innovation category.

We are pleased about the great appreciation and would like to thank the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection as well as the State Secretariat for Youth in the Federal Chancellery, who jointly designed and awarded the prize. Thanks also to the jury. The biggest thanks go above all to the many active neighbors, StoP coordinators and multipliers for their award-winning commitment.

The State Prize for Voluntary and Honorary Commitment was awarded for the first time this year and highlights the importance and invaluable value of voluntary work in Austria. The prize was presented by Chancellor Karl Nehammer in the Museum Quarter in Vienna.

StoP is a broad awareness campaign and has been focusing for five years, together with all civilly courageous people from the neighborhood and civil society, on changing misogynistic attitudes and toxic behavior and thus on ending femicide and partner violence against women and children. StoP is located at 28 locations in 9 federal states. But that’s not enough! In order to seriously and fundamentally address the deep-seated patriarchal problem of men’s violence against women, StoP’s awareness work is needed in all 2,100 communities in Austria. The annual costs include €40,000 per municipality and a total of €83 million per year in violence prevention. Compared to the follow-up costs of around 4 billion euros annually, this is a minimal fraction of government spending.

Only when primary prevention takes place across the board and in the long term can women and children live safely at home and everywhere.

StoP – districts without partner violence | Austria – Districts against partner violence (stop-partnerviolent.at)

StoP is awarded the state prize – StoP – districts without partner violence | Austria (stop-partnerviolent.at)

Volunteer Conference 2023 “All inclusive!” (freiwillig-engagiert.at)