SOS Children's Village: Klagenfurt Public Prosecutor Investigates Carinthian State Employees

In addition, investigations by the public prosecutor's office in Klagenfurt are underway against those responsible for the SOS Children's Village in Moosburg, both for the mistreatment and neglect of minors and for failing to report allegations of abuse.

Abuse Reports in the SOS Children's Village Case Allegedly Not Forwarded

There is an "initial suspicion based on the reporting that not all suspicions were brought to the attention of the public prosecutor," explained spokesperson Markus Kitz from the public prosecutor's office in Klagenfurt to the APA. Whether the state fulfilled its reporting obligation or something was covered up is now to be investigated. On the other hand, investigations are being conducted against those responsible for the SOS Children's Village in Moosburg, where allegations of abuse are said not to have been reported, as well as on suspicion of tormenting and neglecting minors. The state of Carinthia has since convened a special commission.

SOS Children's Village: Internal Studies in Tyrol and Carinthia

The case was triggered by a report from "Falter" more than a week ago. According to this, children and adolescents at the Moosburg location were allegedly mistreated, locked up, and photographed naked between 2008 and 2020. The information from the weekly newspaper comes from a study commissioned by SOS Children's Village itself, but never made public. In 2020, there were investigations against a former director of the SOS Children's Village in Moosburg and another person. They were accused of alleged depictions of abuse of minors and alleged abuse of an authority relationship. However, the investigations by the public prosecutor's office were discontinued.

Shortly thereafter, five cases of suspected violence at the location in Imst in Tyrol also became known. The incidents reportedly concern the period from 2017 to 2020 and relate to the misconduct of two executives. The public prosecutor's office in Innsbruck is examining a possible initial suspicion. An internal study was also created for the cases in Tyrol, but it was not published.

Also Case in SOS Children's Village in Salzburg

As reported by the "Salzburger Nachrichten" on Wednesday, an investigation is also being conducted against a former employee of the SOS Children's Village in Seekirchen. He is alleged to have abused two underage girls in 2020. The accused already has a relevant criminal record. He was legally convicted at the Salzburg Regional Court in October 2021 for sexual abuse of minors. At that time, he received an eight-month suspended sentence and an unconditional fine because he had assaulted a minor girl between 2011 and 2013. After the conviction at that time, the employment relationship with the man was terminated.

Managing Director Annemarie Schlack emphasized in a statement on Thursday that it is her "highest professional and personal concern that something like this never happens again in our organization." Much has been done since 2021, "but we apparently need to do much more," Schlack said. Reference was made in this context to the ombuds offices for victim protection for former wards, the internal reporting office for child protection, as well as an anonymous whistleblowing platform set up according to international standards. "All affected individuals, employees, and external persons can use these channels to safely and - if desired - anonymously report grievances or suspicions," it was stated. The ombuds offices have also been increased by three specialists.

SOS Children's Village Points to Independence of Commission

The reform commission of SOS Children's Village, appointed by the supervisory board and led by former OGH President Irmgard Griss, will meet in full on October 8. The organization emphasized on Thursday that independence is ensured by the structure of the commission. While the external experts of the commission conducted the investigations or commissioned further experts, the three members of the supervisory board in the commission have no right to intervene in the investigation and are responsible for implementing the recommendations. Whether the case has already affected donations to SOS Children's Village was not yet clear on Thursday. In any case, SOS Children's Village in Austria raised more than 46 million euros in donations in 2024, as stated in the organization's report for the previous year.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.