The focus on supporting affected women – before femicide occurs – is urgently needed.
Vienna (OTS) – At the “Ask Me Anything” with the “Zeit im Bild” journalist and chairwoman of the women’s media network, Alexandra Maritza Wachter, where 60 journalists and media women met in the Concordia press club on the occasion of Women’s Day, femicides and violence against women in Austria and in Mexico main topic.
Wachter, who has produced numerous reports and reports for ORF in Mexico, discussed the high femicide rate and the massive violence against women and girls locally. “Those affected and their families fight for safety and justice, but their voices are rarely heard – most crimes are never solved
“, says Wachter. In nine out of ten murders of women, the perpetrators are not convicted, reports Amnesty International.
“Zeit im Bild” foreign policy journalist Sarah Emler also pointed out the danger for journalists in Mexico. “Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media professionals – in no other country that is not at war are so many journalists murdered,” says Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany. A current broadcast from “Amnesty International Austria” sees the killings of journalists as an “obvious failure of state protection”.
Femicide and violence against women are also a sad reality in Austria – albeit to a different, smaller extent than in Mexico. Alexandra Mayer-Rohrmoser, office manager of the Kurier editorial team, discussed the often insensitive reporting on femicides in Austria.
Martina Madner, journalist, author of the book “Before death do us part. “Women who have freed themselves from violence in the family” and also chairwoman of the women’s media network, advises that when reports of violence against women are reported, they should always provide information about offers of help for those affected. There is, for example, the Austria-wide, multilingual women’s helpline www.frauenhelpline.at and 0800 222 555: “Before many femicides, the women affected suffered from years of histories of violence. Hopefully, with support, more people can get out of such relationships.
“
Board member Barbara Haas, responsible for podcasts at the Kleine Zeitung, which launched the “Ask Me Anything” format, interviewed Alexandra Maritza Wachter. Also there were the women’s network media board members Astrid Kuffner, freelance journalist and Andrea Vyslozil, head of the PULS 24 service, features writer Judith Belfkih, Edith Ginz (Zimt), Pia Jungbauer (ZiB), Daniela Kraus (Concordia Press Club), Lydia Ninz (Ajour), Jelena Pantić-Panić (Mediengeil), Petra Ruso (ArgeF), cultural journalist Manon Soukup, Madlen Stottmeyer (DiePresse), Christine Tschavoll (Falter) and many others.
Questions & Contact:
Inquiry note:
Women’s Network Media
office@frauennetzwerk.at
+43 664 75049344