Austria

In July, in the city of Melbourne, state of Victoria, 3,000 ethnically diverse people in seven public housing buildings, many of whom had experienced war or persecution, were put into “hard lockdown” without notice, unable to leave their homes for any reason and without any indication of when the lockdown would lift. The Victorian Ombudsman found the lockdown breached Victorian human rights law.

The COVID-19 restrictions coincided with major Indigenous rights protests across the country. During this time, some politicians claimed that COVID-19 cases were linked to the protests, which was strenuously refuted by health authorities.

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND INTERSEX (LGBTI) PEOPLE

Attacks on the rights of the LGBTI community were made throughout the year through various attempts to change antidiscrimination laws at a federal and state level, which would prioritize the right to freedom of religion over other rights. Some advances were made by the state of South Australia and the ACT to end “conversion” practices for LGBTI people.

AUSTRIA

Republic of Austria Head of state: Alexander Van der Bellen Head of government: Sebastian Kurz (replaced Brigitte Bierlein in January)

There was an increase in calls to helplines from victims of domestic violence during the COVID-19 lockdown. Afghan nationals continued to be deported to Afghanistan. The Federal Government continued to refuse child asylum-seekers. There was a rise in online abuse against Black people, Muslims and refugees.

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

In March, a nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 was imposed and being in public spaces was generally prohibited. After restrictions were lifted at the end of April, the Constitutional Court ruled in July that a blanket ban regarding public spaces was not provided by law and was therefore unconstitutional.

FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY

Under lockdown restrictions, all public gatherings and protests were banned by the relevant authorities. Public assemblies were permitted again from May, provided the necessary COVID-19 precautions were taken. However, the authorities continued to impose unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on some demonstrations for health reasons despite precautions being put in place by organizers. In September, a “Fridays for Future” march to demand action against climate change in Linz was restricted to a rally with a maximum number of 1,000 participants. In October, a regional administrative court ruled that these restrictions were illegal.

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

In July, concerns were expressed at the multiple bureaucratic hurdles that 24-hour care workers from other EU countries had to overcome in order to access benefits provided by the COVID-19 hardship fund.1

RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS

Following the March lockdown, domestic violence helplines reported a 38% increase in calls from women seeking support and safety. According to media reports, there were 24 femicides in 2020.

In December, the Constitutional Court overturned a law prohibiting primary school children from wearing religious head coverings, finding that it breached the rights of Muslim girls who wear the headscarf, including their right to freedom of religion and non-discrimination, and could lead to their marginalization.