SOLWODI Austria

Nuns Open Shelter for Victims of Human Trafficking and Violence

Since 2010, a group of nuns has been working to combat human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and violence against women. The international SOLWODI movement gave rise to an independent Austrian nonprofit that supports women who have been victims of human trafficking, sexual violence, prostitution, and other forms of exploitation. SOLWODI Austria has offices in Vienna and Linz.

In 2025, 41 women contacted SOLWODI Austria for the first time, and 11 women were admitted to the shelter in Vienna. Many of the women came from Slovakia and Hungary; more than half had been exploited through prostitution. Some women were pregnant or had children and found themselves in particularly difficult life situations—often without housing, income, or secure residency status.

SOLWODI Austria offers short-term crisis intervention as well as medium- and long-term psychosocial counseling and support. The goal is to empower women to become self-reliant, promote their mental stability, and help them develop new perspectives on life. The counseling approach is client-centered and resource-oriented and is designed to help clients help themselves.

Individual support for the women during their stay in the shelter is particularly important. By setting goals together and conducting regular evaluations, progress becomes visible and new perspectives open up. Many women use this time to take German language classes or participate in job training. In 2025, ten women were able to leave the shelter with a more stable living situation.

The following religious orders jointly support SOLWODI Austria:

• Caritas Socialis Sisters’ Community

• Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Savior (Salvatorian Sisters)

• Congregatio Jesu

• Institute of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary

• Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Vienna-Gumpendorf

• Missionary Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit

HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Providing shelter for women in an anonymous safe house with eight beds

• Psychosocial counseling and support

• Assistance with dealing with government agencies

• Counseling for medical, legal, social, and mental health issues

• Referrals to legal counsel

• Referrals to literacy and German language courses

• Assistance with finding housing and employment

• Support for female victims during human trafficking trials

Networking and Collaboration

SOLWODI Austria works closely with nongovernmental organizations, public agencies, church institutions, and social organizations both in Austria and abroad. Collaboration with other aid organizations and medical facilities—such as the St. Josef Hospital run by the Salvatorian Sisters in Vienna—is particularly important.

Public Relations and Awareness-Raising

In addition to providing direct support to affected women, SOLWODI Austria is deeply committed to education and public relations efforts. In 2025, the initiative “Active Against Human Trafficking – Active for Human Dignity” in Linz participated in numerous events and campaigns against human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

A particular highlight was the exhibition “Phoenix – Rising from Silence” by artist Vivien Kabar at the Tabakfabrik Linz. The exhibition brought to light the suffering and invisibility of victims of sexual exploitation and symbolically restored their voices and dignity.

At the flash mob at the Platz der Menschenrechte in Vienna, SOLWODI Austria, together with other women’s organizations, advocated for greater consideration of violence in prostitution within the National Action Plan against Violence against Women.

FUNDING

SOLWODI Austria funds its work primarily through donations from religious orders and private supporters. Since September 2025, the association has been officially recognized as a tax-deductible charity under Section 4a(4) of the Income Tax Act of 1988.

Bank Information: 

SOLWODI Austria
Account: 11.624.640 
Bank Code: 32000
IBAN: AT55 3200 0000 1162 4640
BIC: RLNWATWW 

CONTACT:

SOLWODI Austria
Seuttergasse 6
1130 Vienna

Phone: 0043 (0)664 886 325 90
Email: info@solwodi.at
Website: www.solwodi.at
ZVR-Number: 624814632