AUSTRIA | Austrian Ombudsman Board NGO Forum: “Human Rights First – despite austerity measures”

80 representatives of civil society organisations discussed with experts and politicians the impact of budget cuts on women's rights and the rights of persons with disabilities.

Every year, the Austrian Ombudsman Board discusses a topic relevant to social policy and human rights with civil society organisations.

This year's NGO Forum on 19 May 2025 was dedicated to the topic “Human Rights First – Despite Austerity Measures.” “Despite budget deficits and austerity measures, the promotion and further development of human rights must not be pushed to the margins of the political agenda,” said Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz, who moderated the NGO Forum. Around 80 representatives of NGOs came to discuss how this can be achieved and where the focus should lie. The participants were invited via the Austrian Ombudsman Board's NGO Sounding Board.

The focus was on two specific human rights issues: women's rights and the rights of persons with disabilities. Discussing women’s rights the participants talked among other things about the structural barriers preventing women from accessing their rights. The afternoon was devoted to the latter topic. “Where does Austria lag furthest behind international human rights standards? Where is the greatest need for action?” Achitz asked in his introduction. It is not only important to consider costs of the implementation of human rights and their financial feasibility: “One can also look at whether their implementation leads to an indirect value.”

Source: Austrian Ombudsman Board, Austria