Austria/Europe

Every year on the night of 5 to 6 December, the Klaasohm is celebrated on the northern island of Borkum. But unlike many other St Nicholas traditions, this East Frisian festival doesn’t involve gingerbread, apples or nuts. Instead, costumed young men armed with cow horns go on the hunt for women. Outsiders are not welcome […]

Danube cruises enjoy huge popularity, offering luxury, nature and culture. While guests are being spoilt above-board, however, the crews of those ships, working under precarious conditions for low wages, are having a very different experience.  Luxury cruises hugely popular Danube cruises are the epitome of luxury and romance. Numerous providers of the cruises are now

The Internet has made many things in our lives easier, no question about it – we are more connected than ever, all conceivable information is virtually just a click away, and personal relationships are increasingly being cultivated online. Unfortunately, however, the World Wide Web also has its downsides: More and more frequently, nude photos or

A few years ago, the once highly-regarded and elite Odenwald School in Germany closed its doors forever. The reason: two former pupils, long since grown-up, had gone public with the terrible details of their experiences while at the school. Their accounts of sexual abuse turned out to be just the start of a shocking scandal

Most victims of human trafficking are severely traumatised, and have neither papers nor perspectives. They are absolutely terrified, and require huge support in a range of areas. First and foremost, however, they need safe accommodation if they are ever going to be able to breathe easily again. But that is not always as easy as

Concrete and overarching collaboration is required The struggle against human trafficking requires close collaboration between state and non-state actors at national, regional and international levels. This year’s Conference, themed “Human trafficking – a private matter?”, investigated the connections between protagonists and victims. Very often, relationships of trust are exploited during human trafficking, with new technologies

It’s Impossible Without Easing the Process! For years, our chairwoman Andrea Staudenherz has been advocating for easier access to the labor market for people with migration backgrounds. Many of our clients have experienced traumatic violence and often fall through the cracks of the system. During the panel discussion on September 19, 2024—organised by the platform “AGAINST

In 2024, a total of 15,158 people in Austria applied for the Medical Acceptance Test, known for short at “MedAT”. On average, though, just one-in-eight is offered a degree place. Those who are able to come through against such tough competition can expect to be confronted by the so-called “Clinical Practical Year” (KPJ) in the

In the future, newcomers to Austria will have to participate in “etiquette courses” and work for €1.50 per hour—otherwise, their monthly allowance will be reduced from €40 to €20. Will these new requirements help improve integration? REFUGEES MUST ATTEND COURSES AND WORK Minister of the interior Gerhard Karner and minister for integration Susanne Raab (both