Domestic violence protection in Austria and Germany

Since 2022, Lower Austria’s police have partnered with the NGO NEUSTART to issue restraining orders under the Violence Protection Act and provide mandatory counselling to offenders. The programme issued 2,785 bans in 2023, 2,795 in 2024, 2,561 in 2025, and 1,411 by mid‑2026, while the 10,000th offender received counselling in June 2026.

During the same period, demand for shelter and counselling services for women and children has risen in both Austria and Germany. A 2025 German report recorded over 13,000 women and 15,000 children seeking shelter, with a shortfall of roughly 12,000 places and a drop in post‑shelter employment. In Vienna, contacts at women’s counselling centres increased by about 20 % since March 2025, attributed to heightened awareness rather than a surge in violence. The trend coincides with discussions of multi‑billion‑euro cuts to social programmes, raising concerns about future protection capacity.

Together, the data show a mixed picture: while the issuance of restraining orders in Lower Austria has declined, overall demand for protective services and support for victims is growing across the region, underscoring ongoing challenges in domestic‑violence prevention and assistance.