In close cooperation with the women's advice centre BABSI, citizens should be encouraged to look out when violence happens in their neighbourhood. Unfortunately, the home is not a safe place for many women - one in five women in Austria experience physical or sexual violence from their (ex-)partner, one in three psychological violence.
StoP takes an innovative approach: instead of combating violence exclusively in counselling centres or through the authorities, the focus is on the immediate living environment. Neighbours are trained and sensitised so that they do not look the other way in critical situations, but instead provide active support - whether by listening, asking questions, ringing the doorbell or calling the police in an emergency.
Encounters, education and community
In Leonding, the project was officially launched at the end of July in the neighbourhood office. After that, there will be an open neighbourhood table every first Wednesday of the month from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. with workshops, discussion rounds and hands-on activities. In August, the motto "Play, Laugh, Strengthen" will take centre stage.
Special attention is also paid to young people: through cooperation with schools and youth centres, young people are to be empowered and the topic of violence is to be made less taboo. Activities such as painted park benches or participation in international campaigns such as "One Billion Rising" also create visible signs in public spaces.
The project is coordinated by committed people from Leonding, supported by the city, which not only provides the premises, but also stands behind StoP financially and organisationally.
Why this is already genial
We think it's #schongenial: civil courage doesn't have to start big - sometimes a small step in the neighbourhood is enough to stop violence.
