Austria Abuse: SOS Children's Villages demands conviction of perpetrators
Following new allegations of abuse against a former president of SOS Children's Villages in Austria, the chairman of the umbrella organization of the worldwide SOS Children's Villages Federation has announced a "zero tolerance" policy. "Any person, past or present, who puts children in danger deserves condemnation and shame," said Domenico Parisi in Vienna. "We stand unwaveringly by our principle of 'children first' and uncompromisingly stand for zero tolerance towards any form of abuse."
09.11.2025, 15:41
SDA
The Austrian arm of the global aid movement SOS Children's Villages has been confronted with a series of allegations of abuse for weeks. First, the late founder Hermann Gmeiner was incriminated, and now another former leading figure who has already passed away has also been accused. Following the latest media reports on the new allegations, the organization promised full cooperation with the investigating authorities. Documents had been forwarded to the public prosecutor's office in Innsbruck.
Employee convicted of abuse
A few days ago, a court sentenced a former employee of SOS Children's Villages in Austria to two and a half years in prison for the abuse of two young people in 2021 and 2022. The verdict is final.
According to Parisi, the organization is pushing ahead with a comprehensive reform program "with the aim of sustainably strengthening transparency, accountability and child protection at all levels of our federation".
