rights
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Politics
Symbolic Pass Egal election: 1.5 million people without voting rights demand political participation
The “Pass Egal” National Council election has begun and offers a symbolic opportunity to vote for those who are not allowed to take part in the official election in September due to a lack of Austrian citizenship. This campaign, organized by SOS Mitmensch, is intended to draw attention to the low naturalization rate and the challenges in obtaining citizenship. The chairwoman of SOS Mitmensch, Zeynep Buyraç, stressed that 1.5 million people who make a significant contribution to the system are…
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Politics
European Forum Alpbach: Pope Francis calls for reflection on human rights and fraternity
In his address to the European Forum Alpbach, Pope Francis called for the preservation of European ideals of human dignity and fraternity. The event, which brings together leading figures from various fields every year, took on a special spiritual significance thanks to the Pope's message. Pope Francis stressed the importance of universal human rights and recalled that Europe is historically closely linked to the development of these ideals. Despite the challenges facing Europe today, the Pope urged not to lose…
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Politics
Demonstration for relief: MHH employees fight for their rights
The dispute between the Lower Saxony state government and the employees of the Hannover Medical School (MHH) is coming to a head. Following the decision of the labor court, which prohibited a planned warning strike, the ver.di union is now calling for a demonstration. This is scheduled for Friday, August 23, 2024, in Hanover. The union sees itself and the employees of the MHH as being severely restricted in their right to a collective agreement and to assert their interests.…
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Politics
KABÖ chairwoman criticizes political migration, calls for empathy and human rights
The political debate on migration has led to discussions in Austria that are also viewed critically by the Catholic Workers' Movement Austria (KABÖ). The chairwoman, Anna Wall-Strasser, expressed concern about the shift to the right in the political arena, especially during the election campaign. She stressed the importance of respecting human rights standards and pointed out that integration is possible, as numerous initiatives show every day. In today's society, Christians have a special responsibility to lead the migration debate with…
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Politics
SPNÖ state party leader calls for a law banning Islamism: Criminal consequences for questioning democracy and women’s rights
SPÖ state party leader Sven Hergovich recently called for a "ban on Islamism" law in order to be able to respond appropriately to new threats. He stressed that it is not enough to just prosecute those who support terrorism, but also to hold people who question democracy, women's rights or the rights of non-believers or people of other faiths to account. Hergovich explained that the ban law was intended to combat potential National Socialist threats early and consistently, especially in…
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Politics
High wage agreements: Union fights for purchasing power and workers’ rights
For some time now, there has been increasing discussion in Austria about the effects of high wage agreements in collective bargaining negotiations. Representatives of large companies, the Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Austrian Industries warn that these agreements could endanger the business location. The recent announcement by Infineon that it will cut 380 jobs over the next two years has further fueled the debate. However, the union stands by its demands and stresses the importance of fair pay.…
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Politics
GAZA List: Mobilization against authoritarian tendencies and for fundamental rights
The political association List GAZA has expanded its activities to the federal states and successfully submitted election proposals in seven regions. However, Carinthia and Salzburg remain unaffected by their presence on the ballot. This development comes at a time when List GAZA is strongly criticizing the Austrian government for its support in the Palestinian conflict. The mobilization of supporters led to a surprise rush on the authorities in some areas. The list's top candidate in Lower Austria, Shadi Abu Daher,…
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Politics
CDU rejects constitutional amendment for LGBTQI rights – Grönemeyer calls for courage
The discussion on the legal framework for the equality of LGBTQ-people in Germany is once again in focus. In view of the current demands, the Basic Law to extend protection against discrimination on the grounds of sexual identity, a gap is emerging between the parties. Discussion about the amendment to the Basic Law The Traffic light coalition insists that a clear amendment to Article 3 of the Basic Law, which currently provides protection against discrimination based on gender, origin and…
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Politics
Femicide victim in Viennese sex club: violation of personal rights and privacy
In an article on the online portal oe24.at entitled "Sex club murders: This is the triple killer from Vienna", Senate 2 of the Press Council found that the article violated points 5 (personal protection) and 6 (privacy) of the Austrian press code of honor. The article deals with a bloody incident in a Viennese red-light district in which several sex workers were killed. According to a police spokesman, the suspect basically confessed to the crimes during his first interview and…
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Politics
Debate about children’s headscarves: schools and women’s rights activists in focus
Children's headscarf: "Girls dressed in Western clothing are often considered 'unclean' or 'haram'" Recently, the discussion about the wearing of children’s headscarves in German schools has flared up again. A recent survey by the women's rights organization Terre des Femmes (TDF) shows alarming developments and sheds light on the situation of many girls. This reality affects not only the affected schoolgirls, but also the social environment and educational institutions. BIn the survey, which was conducted in 2024, 784 of the…