CAT/C/AUT/CO/4-5
The State party should provide redress and compensation, including rehabilitation to
victims in practice, and provide information on such cases to the Committee.
The State party should provide the Committee with relevant statistical data and
examples of cases in which individuals have received such compensation in its next
periodic report.
22.
The Committee is concerned about reports of alleged lack of privacy and
humiliating circumstances amounting to degrading treatment during medical examinations
at the Vienna Communal Health Office, where registered sex workers are required to
undergo weekly medical checkups, including gynaecological exams, and to take regular
blood tests for sexually transmitted diseases (art. 16).
The State party should ensure that these medical examinations are carried out in an
environment where privacy is safeguarded and in taking the greatest care to preserve
the dignity of women being examined.
Trafficking
23.
While it notes the new programmes that the State party has adopted to combat
human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children, the Committee expresses
its concern at persistent reports of trafficking of women and children for sexual and other
exploitative purposes and the lack of information on prosecutions and sentences in matters
of trafficking (art. 16).
The State party should increase its efforts to combat trafficking in women and
children and take effective measures to prosecute and punish trafficking in persons
and further strengthen international cooperation with countries of origin, transit and
destination so as to further curb this phenomenon.
Domestic violence
24.
The Committee is concerned about highly publicized cases of domestic violence,
including children occurred in the State party during the period under review (art. 16)
The State party should increase its efforts to ensure that urgent and efficient
protection measures are put in place to prevent, combat and punish perpetrators of
violence against women and children, including domestic violence and sexual abuse,
and conduct widespread awarness-raising campaigns and training on violence against
women and girls for officials (judges, lawyers, law enforcement agents and social
workers) who are in direct contact with the victims, as well as for the public at large.
Use of net beds in psychiatric facilities
25.
Notwithstanding the explanation offered by the delegation, the Committee is
concerned at the continuing use of net beds as a measure of restraint in psychiatric and
social welfare establishments (art. 16).
The State party should immediately cease the use of net beds as it constitutes a
violation of article 16 of the Convention.
Data collection
26.
The Committee expresses its concern at the fact that for numerous areas covered by
the Convention, the State party was unable to supply statistics, or appropriately
disaggregate those in its possession, such as alleged cases of sexual violence in prisons;
alleged abuse committed by law enforcement officials against asylum-seekers; cases of
appeal for a stay of extradition based on possible refoulement rejected by the Independent
Federal Asylum Senate (now, the new Asylum Court); and, the number of applicants who
8