Rechtspanorama – “Frauen Im Netz Bestrafen”

Last week, our partner Bettina Knoetzl, in her capacity as Vice President of the Vienna Bar Association, took a firm stance against online hate speech against women. Here is a translation of her post:

The debate surrounding this pervasive issue reveals alarming figures: nearly 70% of gender-based hate crimes are directed against girls and women. Those affected experience digital violence in many forms: from insults and targeted humiliation to rape and death threats. The perpetrators are predominantly male (59% male, 21% female, and 21% mixed). While the Austrian National Action Plan to Combat Violence Against Women 2025–2029 provides an important framework, significant gaps persist in practice. For example, the recently introduced provision on unsolicited explicit images (“Dick-pic” paragraph) has been criticised as insufficient. Victims do not feel encouraged to report offences, allowing perpetrators to continue without facing meaningful consequences. Effective protection against