The hidden has been revealed: Children subjected to abuse, confinement, and filming for years
The scope of allegations of violations within SOS Children's Villages is widening, prompting new investigations and raising questions about accountability. The public prosecutor's office in Klagenfurt confirmed on Thursday that it is now investigating whether employees in the state of Carinthia failed to report suspicions of violations. Officials are also facing accusations of negligence, abuse of office, and covering up serious allegations in the SOS Children's Village in Moosburg. A special committee has been formed in Carinthia to address this escalating scandal.
The roots of the case go back to a report published by the "Walter" newspaper last week, based on an unpublished internal study commissioned by SOS Children's Villages. The study revealed allegations of children being abused, imprisoned, and photographed naked at the Mosburg facility between 2008 and 2020. Previous investigations against a former director and another person were halted in 2020 despite suspicions of mistreatment of minors and abuse of power.
Additional cases have also emerged in other locations. In Tyrol, five suspected incidents of violence were reported at the Imst facility between 2017 and 2020, believed to have been committed by two managers. An internal study was conducted on these issues but has not been published. In Salzburg, a former employee at the Zikirchen facility is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting two underage girls in 2020. It is noted that the same man was convicted in 2021 for a previous assault on a minor, receiving a suspended sentence and a fine before being dismissed from work.
The General Director of SOS Children's Villages in Austria, Anne-Marie Schlak, said on Thursday that preventing such violations represents "the utmost professional and personal concern" for her. She acknowledged that, despite the reforms made since 2021, "there is still much to be done." The organization pointed to new measures to protect victims, including expanding complaint offices, establishing an internal reporting system for child protection, and a confidential reporting platform available to staff and external parties.
Meanwhile, the Independent Reform Committee, chaired by former Supreme Court President Irmgard Griss, is scheduled to meet on October 8. SOS Children's Villages confirmed that the committee operates independently, with external experts conducting investigations and issuing recommendations. The financial impact of the scandal on donations remains unclear, although the organization reported receiving over 46 million euros in donations in Austria last year.