Important events The AOB is a regular platform for sharing experiences and expertise and this will expand even further in future. Its new responsibilities make it necessary for it to provide a forum for civil society in particular. Ombudswoman Stoisits presented UNHCR study Upon the initiative of Ombudswoman Terezija Stoisits, a study commissioned by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was presented in the AOB in June 2011. The study showed that the majority of the Austrian population not only has many prejudices surrounding the topic of asylum, but also a serious knowledge deficit. 59 percent of the interviewees held the opinion that asylum seekers more readily resort to violence and crime than other segments of the population. According to 69 percent of those interviewed, they also represented a burden for the social system. Many of the respondents were not aware of the difference between asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. It was notable that people who had already had contact with asylum seekers had a far more positive attitude towards the topic of asylum. In the panel discussion, NGO representatives agreed that the subject must be communicated better in the media in order to fight prejudice and to overcome the existing knowledge deficit. Ombudsman Kostelka: Exchange of information with NGOs On 27 September 2011, Ombudsman Peter Kostelka invited more than 30 representatives of NGOs and counselling facilities to share information and exchange opinions on family benefits for persons who are not Austrian citizens. The event was prompted by numerous, ongoing complaints by people who have problems with family and childcare allowances and turn to the AOB with their concerns. More than half of the complaints are submitted by families from other countries and the trend is rising steeply. In a disproportionate number of these cases, the AOB finds cases of maladministration. This is a result of the fact that the legal situation in this area is extremely complicated due to frequent changes in legislation and the requirements under EU law; furthermore, authorities often lack clear parameters when enforcing the law. The AOB’s work has shown that there is a great need for information in this area: NGO representatives and experts reported their experiences in their day-to-day work, complaining about structural problems in enforcement and 24