Austria - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 37, January 22, 2021
Recommendations by Canada

Background

Since its last UPR appearance in 2015, Austria has taken several important steps to strengthen the promotion and defence of human rights and continues to cooperate with international and regional human rights protection mechanisms and partner countries. Austria has implemented educational programs in the field of discrimination and radicalization with a view to promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue. Austria amended the Criminal Code expanding crimes, including cyberbullying, and revised its “Guidelines on acts constituting the offence of Hate Speech”. The 2017 Integration Act has regulated the framework for the integration of foreign residents and the priorities include various instruments to promote intercultural dialogue. Austria has continued its efforts to reinforce gender equality and women’s empowerment and implemented majority of measures stipulated in the National Action Plan on the Protection of Women Against Violence 2014–2016.

Austria’s human rights record could be strengthened further. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women have recommended an independent appointment process for the members of the Ombudsman Board and provide it with sufficient resources to fulfill its mandate as the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (The Paris Principles) are not met.

In addition, it was recommended that Austria develop a national Human Rights Action Plan in line with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights guidelines that sets concrete and measurable objectives and ensures their meaningful participation. The government has been active in engaging civil society, including important proposals but they have yet to be implemented due to the global pandemic.

The UN has recommended that Austria take urgent measures in the areas of treatment of asylum-seekers, refugees and migrant children. In particular, there are concerns about allegations of abuse by law enforcement officials.

Recommendations

Thank you, Madam President.

We commend the steps taken by Austria since its last appearance. We hope that Austria will continue in this vein, including in the context of a reformed National Human Rights Framework.

Canada recommends that Austria:

1. Ensure that obligations of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are fully met in regards to migrants and refugees, in particular, the rights to liberty and personal freedoms and the rights of unaccompanied refugee minors.
2. Reform the Austrian Ombudsman to meet the Paris Principles relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions.
3. Establish an independent and effective mechanism to address allegations of misconduct and excess use of force by law enforcement officers.
4. Establish a new National Action Plan to address violence against women and ensure that it is supported with adequate resources.