Realizing Children’s Rights in Austria
Despite its strong social policies, Austria faces significant challenges in fully recognizing and implementing children’s rights. Poverty and limited access to education affect children with disabilities, minority children, and those from migrant backgrounds. Additionally, instances of violence against children, including in institutional settings, underscore gaps in protection measures.
Population: 9.2 million
Population aged 0–14: 14.5%
Life expectancy: 81.5 years
Under-5 mortality rate: 3‰
Austria at a glance
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. A parliamentary republic and a member of the European Union, Austria has a stable economy, characterized by a strong service sector and comprehensive social safety nets.
Historically, Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806 and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which dissolved in 1918 (Office of the Historian, Foreign Service Institute, n.d.). The country became a republic in 1919 but was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. Following World War II, Austria regained its independence in 1955 and declared permanent neutrality (Roider & Holzner, 2025).
Austria operates under a federal parliamentary democracy and enjoys political stability (European Union, n.d.). Additionally, the country is strongly committed to sustainability to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040—10 years ahead of the EU target (Jensen & Ronige, 2024).
Status of children’s rights [1]
Austria ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1992, aligning with international child protection standards. Austria also ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OPAC) in 2002 and the Optional Protocol to the UNCRC on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC) in 2004 (Austrian Embassy Washington, n.d.).
Children’s rights are further reinforced through their integration into Austria’s Federal Constitutional Law of 2011, which guarantees protection, care, parental contact, and a childhood free from violence. Austria is also a leader in youth participation, having lowered the voting age to 16 years in 2007 (European Commission, n.d.-b).
In addition, Austria upholds regional commitments through its ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights, which includes key provisions for children’s rights (International Justice Resource Center, 2019). The country’s progress is monitored through regular reviews by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), with the most recent review conducted in 2020 (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [OHCHR], 2020).
Addressing the needs of children
Right to education
Austria provides free and compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 and 15 years (Work in Austria, n.d.). However, achieving inclusive education for all children remains difficult. The CRC has recommended that Austria move towards a more integrated and inclusive education system for children with disabilities, urging the elimination of special schools (OHCHR, 2012). One specific area of focus for inclusive education is the desegregation and inclusion of Roma and Traveller children (Council of Europe, 2024).
Austria’s school curriculum includes education on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE) from kindergarten through higher education. This comprehensive program promotes respect for diversity and human rights through a rights-based approach. Government materials support discussions on SOGIE, encouraging teachers to use external resources to foster tolerance and understanding (IGLYO, 2018).
The 2022 PISA results show an increase in underachievement in basic skills, particularly among students from disadvantaged and migrant backgrounds. For example, 45.1% of students from disadvantaged backgrounds did not reach the minimum proficiency level in mathematics in 2022, compared to 35.1% in 2012 (European Commission, 2024).
Right to health
The CRC has urged Austria to enhance the availability and accessibility of mental health services and programs. The allocation of sufficient human, technical, and financial resources to mental health services is urgently needed to ensure equitable access to qualified medical professionals (United Nations, 2020). Prioritizing preventive measures and comprehensive care models for mental disorders among children and adolescents is essential to addressing mental health hurdles early on (Wagner et al., 2017).
Nonetheless, various models for the prevention and care of mental disorders in children and adolescents are currently in use. Initiatives, such as those by Diakonie Austria, focus on holistic approaches to mental health inclusion. These initiatives include special hospitals for child and adolescent psychiatry and innovative programs such as “In the Circus Wagon,” which promote well-being and inclusivity through creative and therapeutic interventions (Eurodiaconia, 2023).
Right to protection
Austria has made significant strides in protecting children’s rights and ensuring their well-being. The country’s commitment is evident in its National Action Plan designed to implement the European Child Guarantee, which aims to prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing access to essential services for children in need (Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, 2024).
In the realm of education, Austria has implemented reforms to enhance child protection within schools. The government has introduced mandatory child protection concepts for every school, which include elements such as a code of conduct, risk analysis, and defined procedures for addressing potential hazards (Eurydice, 2025).
Additionally, Vienna has adopted an ambitious Children and Youth Strategy for 2020–2025, which includes 193 measures across various policy areas to make the city more child- and youth-friendly (City of Vienna, 2020).
Risk factors –> Country-specific challenges
Poverty
As of 2023, approximately 336,000 Austrians were living in poverty, representing 3.7% of the population—the highest figure in the past five years. Children and young people are disproportionately affected, with around 5.3% of individuals under the age of 18 (88,000 children) experiencing significant material and social disadvantages (Kirez, 2024). Many live in cramped and damp conditions, which can have long-term effects on their well-being and development (Caritas Foundation Austria, n.d.).
Furthermore, educational opportunities in Austria remain largely dependent on household income, perpetuating cycles of poverty. Only 24% of children from households at risk of poverty attend lower secondary school, compared to 60% of children from high-income families (Caritas Foundation Austria, n.d.).
Recent data also suggests that the situation may be worsening. The risk of poverty has risen slightly to 14.9%, affecting around 1.3 million people in Austria. Certain groups are particularly vulnerable, with 41% of single parents and 31% of families with at least three children at risk of poverty (Kirez, 2024).
Exploitation
The digital landscape in Austria has created new opportunities for child exploitation, fueling a thriving child pornography market. Easy access to online platforms has facilitated the rapid production and widespread distribution of abusive material (European Commission, n.d.-a). In 2023, investigators identified 464 suspects and 35 victims of online child sexual abuse, highlighting the scale of the issue (Federal Ministry of the Republic of Austria, 2024). The proliferation of violent online pornography has also been linked to a troubling decrease in the ages of perpetrators of sexual violence (Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, 2024).
To combat these challenges, Austrian authorities have introduced advanced tools, such as the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) tool, which enhances the efficiency of processing and prioritizing online child sexual abuse cases (Federal Ministry of the Republic of Austria, 2024).
Child trafficking
Austria serves as both a destination and transit country for child trafficking. Children, particularly from Eastern and Southeastern Europe, are trafficked into Austria for sexual purposes (ECPAT, n.d.). In 2022, eight female victims under the age of 18 years were identified and supported by LEFÖ-IBF, a specialized intervention center (UN Women, 2024).
The Improving the Support Services for Child Victims of Trafficking in Austria project (January 2025–December 2026), co-funded by the EU and the Council of Europe, aims to establish a nationwide protection facility for child victims, revise guidelines for identifying and referring them, and strengthen the capacities of national and Länder authorities. It will also provide technical support and use a multidisciplinary approach to improve identification, assistance, and rehabilitation (Council of Europe, 2025).
Violence against children
Some Austrian families continue to practice corporal punishment, and only 30% of Austrians are aware of the available prevention measures (OHCHR, 2020). Austria has pledged to continue monitoring the prevalence of violence against children and the attitudes of parents and the general population toward corporal punishment (Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, n.d.).
In 2023, the government also introduced an amendment to the School Instruction Act aimed at enhancing child protection within educational institutions (OHCHR, 2020). This amendment seeks to improve safeguards against physical, psychological, and sexual violence in schools.
Minority children
Roma and Traveller children in Austria continue to experience significant discrimination and marginalization, creating barriers to education, healthcare, and other essential services (Council of Europe, 2024). Despite some progress, school segregation is on the rise.
Many Roma and Traveller children are less likely to attend preschool and early childhood education programs, and they experience high dropout rates and low completion rates in secondary education. Discriminatory practices, both direct and implicit, further hinder their education, while a lack of cultural understanding and respect for Roma traditions within schools worsens the situation (Byrne, 2024).
Moreover, Roma and Traveller children are disproportionately affected by poverty and deprivation, which limits their opportunities and access to resources (Byrne, 2024). These systemic inequalities contribute to their continued exclusion from mainstream Austrian society (Council of Europe, 2024).
Displaced children
In 2022, a record 13,276 unaccompanied minors sought asylum in Austria. However, a worrying 11,613 of these children left the asylum procedure, most within the first week of application (European Council on Refugees and Exiles, 2024). This number highlights vulnerabilities within the reception and integration processes.
The integration of immigrant children into Austrian schools remains challenging, requiring tailored approaches to support their needs and promote inclusion. Austria struggles to increase the participation of immigrant children in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and to reduce achievement gaps between students from disadvantaged or immigrant backgrounds and their peers (European Commission, 2024). Education outcomes for students with immigrant backgrounds are notably lower, with higher rates of grade repetition, compared to non-immigrant students (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2023).
Language acquisition is a significant concern, as many immigrant students struggle to achieve fluency in German even after nine years of schooling (Nusche et al., 2016). Access to education for asylum-seeking children is restricted, as they can only attend school after their asylum application has entered the regular procedure, and those over 15 years old are not required to attend school (European Council on Refugees and Exiles, 2024).
Children with disabilities
Austria continues to struggle with high rates of institutionalization for children with disabilities. In 2020, the CRC raised concerns about “the high number of children with disabilities in institutional care.” The country lacks a coherent strategy for deinstitutionalization and preventing the separation of children with disabilities from their families (Flieger, 2023). Despite progress toward inclusive education, several challenges remain.
The Austrian education system still operates 10 different types of special schools, potentially reinforcing segregation. Consistent definitions of disability are lacking and responsibilities for inclusion across provinces are unclear, resulting in inconsistent implementation of inclusive practices (Flieger, 2023). Children with disabilities often face barriers to accessing mainstream education, with many still attending segregated special schools (Imtiayz, 2024). Additionally, the lack of family support services often leads parents to choose institutional care for their disabled child due to overwhelming pressure (Flieger, 2023).
Climate change and environmental rights
Austria enacted the Federal Climate Protection Act (Klimaschutzgesetz, KSG) in 2011, which set greenhouse gas (GHG) emission ceilings for six sectors: energy and industry (outside the EU emissions trading scheme), transport, buildings, agriculture, waste management, and fluorinated gases. These targets were defined for 2008–2012 and 2013–2020 (Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, n.d.).
CO2 emissions remain high, and the absence of mandatory reduction pathways limits government accountability. The current legislation relies more on negotiation than enforcement, which weakens Austria’s capacity to implement effective climate policies. This delayed action disproportionately burdens younger generations, as they will bear the future environmental costs, facing fewer resources and greater restrictions on their freedoms (Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, 2023).
In February 2023, 12 Austrian children, aged 5 to 16, filed a lawsuit contesting national climate policies (Fridays for Future Austria, n.d.). However, the Constitutional Court deemed their case inadmissible, highlighting the broader issue of the limited legal standing of young people in climate litigation (University College Cork, 2024).
Moreover, children in Austria are particularly vulnerable to environmental health risks. According to a 2023 World Health Organisation report, 15% of deaths from stroke and ischemic heart disease in Austria are linked to air pollution (European Environment Agency, 2024). Pollution-related poisoning and respiratory illnesses persist, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger policies that prioritize children’s health and well-being.
Written by Or Salama
Last updated on March 7, 2025
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[1] This article by no means purports to give a full or representative account of children’s rights in Austra; indeed, one of many challenges is the scant updated information on the children of Austria, much of which is unreliable, not representative, outdated or simply non-existent.
