Austria Begging with Children: Prohibition works as deterrent

July 7, 2008

Comment: Viennese authorities introduced a local law that prohibits begging with children. The law that came into force on June 1st seems to have an effect, because since its introduction only one offender was caught. The law was widely covered in the media of the countries of origin where the children are mostly coming from: Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary. According to the law, beggars seen with children can be fined to up to Euro 700, which seems to drive organized gangs away from Vienna.

Parralelly with the law, the authorities also introduced a social package. They established close relationships with the social authorities of the countries of origin of the children for their safe return. In most cases the children caught begging are not with their parents, but with strangers who have “borrowed” them from the parents. Unfortunately the artlicle does not mention what the Austrian authorities do to prevent this trend of exploitation of children or to punish traffickers.

The children – after caught begging – are brought to youth and family crisis centers where their parents can pick them up any time, while foreign minors are sent back to their countries of origin with the cooperation of the national social authorities. Unfortunately, the article does not indicate the criteria of the returns of foreign minors and if they are implemented according to the child’s best interests.

In Romania and Bulgaria crisis centers were established based on the Austrian model, 14 in Romania and 3 in Bulgaria.

The original article in German is available here