AUSTRIA | Austrian NPM publishes Annual Report 2023

Since 2012, the NPM has been monitoring institutions and facilities throughout Austria where persons are or can be deprived of their liberty. These include correctional institutions, detention centres and police stations, but also retirement and nursing homes, child and youth welfare facilities and psychiatric institutions. In addition, the Austrian NPM monitors facilities for persons with disabilities, as well as police operations during large-scale events, assemblies, demonstrations and force returns.

The Austrian NPM visits a large number of institutions every year; usually unannounced. It inspects the premises, requests documents and records and talks to detainees, residents and staff. In 2023, the NPM carried out 505 monitoring visits, which provided a picture of the human rights situation in Austria. In addition to positive observations and best practice examples, numerous deficits were identified again in 2023. Some of these deficits could be rectified quickly, while others - especially those tracing back to systemic failures - require a great deal of patience.

The budgetary framework conditions are usually decisive for the situation on the ground. The Austrian NPM therefore reiterated its appeal to Parliament to provide the necessary resources, as sufficient financial means and appropriately, qualified staff are essential factors in creating humane conditions for those deprived of their liberty.

You can find the full report in the download section below. Previous reports from the Austrian NPM are available on the Website of the Austrian Ombudsman Board.

Source: Austrian Ombudsman Board