HOSI Vienna is alarmed by the impending shutdown of key support services provided by ZARA – Civil Courage and Anti-Racism Work, following cuts to funding. According to media reports, a significant portion of the counseling services will have to be discontinued.

For years, ZARA has provided essential support for people affected by racism and online hate, offering low-threshold assistance to thousands of individuals every year.

“These cuts are not only short-sighted, they pose a very real threat to the protection of people who experience discrimination and violence on a daily basis,” criticizes Ina Pölzl, Secretary of HOSI Vienna.

“When precisely those structures that empower and support affected individuals are dismantled, it sends a fatal signal—especially for marginalized groups such as the LGBTIQ community. Minister Bauer is clearly withdrawing from responsibility here. Victim protection must not be treated as a budget item to cut, but is a fundamental prerequisite for a democratic and solidaristic society,” Pölzl continues.