"Only Yes Means Yes": Vienna Launches Campaign Against Sexualized Violence
Its introduction into sexual criminal law, which is being discussed by the government in connection with the National Action Plan against Violence against Women, is "a decisive step to more consistently prevent and justly punish sexualized violence," said Deputy Mayor and Women's City Councillor Kathrin Gaál (SPÖ) on Sunday.
The subjects will be visible on City Lights. Additionally, there will be print ads, radio spots, and social media videos. The campaign "16 Days Against Violence" takes place annually from November 25 to December 10 and aims to raise awareness of gender-based violence and combat it.
"It should be completely self-evident that sexual acts only occur with absolute consent, meaning when all parties involved also want it. But an outfit is not a yes! A smile is not a yes, going out together is not a yes, a shared workplace is not a yes, and even a relationship is not an automatic yes!" emphasized Gaál. "We need to move away from the notion that women and girls must defend themselves to be protected. And that they are given partial blame for an assault if the 'no' was supposedly not loud or clear enough," said NEOS representative Dolores Bakos.
Vienna Launches Campaign Against Sexualized Violence: Open Conversations to Prevent Misunderstandings
"Open conversations protect all parties involved and prevent misunderstandings," said the head of the 24-hour women's emergency hotline, Heidemarie Kargl. "Unfortunately, these demands are sometimes ridiculed, but consent is certainly not a bureaucratic act, but respectful communication." Additionally: "Many affected individuals do not know after a distressing situation whether what they experienced was consensual. We help with classification - without pressure, without judgment."
Currently, the "No Means No" principle is anchored in sexual criminal law: It constitutes a violation of sexual self-determination if intercourse or a sexual act equivalent to intercourse is performed against a person's will. A "well-documented reaction of victims of sexual assaults is not taken into account," the release emphasized: "Many people freeze in threatening situations ('Freezing') and cannot physically or verbally defend themselves. "A person who freezes can neither say yes nor no - but precisely for this reason, a law that requires active consent is needed. Silence must never be interpreted as consent," said City Councillor Marina Hanke (SPÖ).
Information about the campaign and "Only Yes Means Yes": www.wien.gv.at/gewaltschutz
(APA/Red)
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