A stranger has been following you on your way home almost every day for weeks?
Your ex-girlfriend/ex-boyfriend has been texting you 20 times every night for months?
A fellow student tries to approach you at every opportunity at university, stalks you at canteen parties and even contacts your friends to get in touch with you, even though you don't want him to?
When a person harasses you by various means against your will, this is called stalking. This topic affects women as well as men - unfortunately also at our university. That's why we - the team of the ÖH-Sozialreferat - have decided to focus on this topic and will be your first point of contact when it comes to stalking.
What is stalking?
Stalking is when a person persistently pursues another person against their will over a longer period of time and the person concerned is unreasonably impaired in their way of life as a result.
In other words, if someone over a longer period of time (continuity and frequency are decisive here):
- repeatedly lies in wait for you, follows you or spies on you
- repeatedly harasses you by phone calls, text messages or other means of communication
- "terrorises" you in your personal and/or professional environment
then this is a form of stalking.
According to the Upper Austrian Centre for Protection against Violence, the goal of the perpetrators is to start a relationship, to undo a relationship break-up or to take revenge for slights. Since 1 July 2006 stalking has been a legal offence under the term "persistent persecution" (§ 107a StGB).
What can I do against stalking? How should I react?
There is a tried and tested procedure that is recommended by all organisations:
Make it clear to the offender only ONCE and in no uncertain terms that you do not want any further contact with him/her. This unequivocal communication should be made in the presence of another person. For the courts, this clear message is very important.
From this point on, consistently ignore the person!
Even if you feel provoked and find it difficult, be consistent on this point, because the stalker is concerned with the victim's reaction. For people affected by stalking, a sensible strategy is to completely ignore the stalker, to completely stop contact and to persevere with these measures, as well as (if legally required) to report the stalker to the police for "persistent persecution".
I.e. do not accept any gifts or parcels from the perpetrator. In case of direct contact, avoid the stalker. In the case of telephone terror, inform yourself about the technical protection options of your telephone provider. Do not answer text messages, phone calls or e-mails. If you are being followed by car, drive directly to the nearest police station.
In concrete threatening situations, contact the police emergency number 133 or 112 (Euronotruf).
The aim is to signal to the perpetrator that his/her efforts are in vain by constantly and consistently ignoring him/her. If you keep up this strategy consistently, the chance is quite good that the stalker will lose interest in you.
Inform your private and professional environment that you are being stalked and ask them not to pass on any information about you.
This strengthens you and weakens the perpetrator.
Document every contact and secure any form of evidence. All emails, text messages and written messages should be kept and saved. It is also useful to save mobile phone messages and also record them on other audio media. This evidence is important in the event of legal action. If you are uncomfortable keeping records, ask someone you trust to do it for you.
It is best to keep a "diary" of the incidents. It is important to include information about:
- the person (if known; if unknown, a description of the person)
- Date, time and place
- Nature of the incident (history, description, what happened)
- Witnesses and evidence (witnesses, letters, gifts, text messages, e-mails, etc.)
- Frequency and duration
For example:
Who: Peter
When: 30 March 2016; 15:00
Where: on the tram; University stop
What happened: Peter deliberately sits behind me on the tram, tries to approach me and grabs me by the shoulder; I immediately get off;
Who saw it: Hanna, Alex and Michi witnessed the incident
Or:
Who: young woman; approx. 20 years old; brown hair; approx. 175 cm tall; slim; student at JKU;
When: 12 May 2016; 3:00 a.m.
Where: At home
What happened: Text message at 3:00 a.m. "Why do you always reject me? I want to see you again! I need to see you again! Please meet me finally!"
Evidence: Backup of the SMS
Frequency: 10th text message that night!
Even if it is difficult for you not to react to the harassment of the perpetrator, it is absolutely necessary that you follow all of the above actions CONSISTENTLY.
In order for you to be protected and to be able to consistently maintain the break-off of contact, there are a number of agencies that can help you in this situation. Make use of the possibility of counselling at these specialised institutions.
In the following, we have listed the most important contact persons for students at JKU:
Psychological student counselling at JKU:
The psychologists and psychotherapists of the psychological student counselling service will advise and support you - also on the topic of stalking - free of charge and confidentially.
Contact:
Psychological Student Counselling
Altenbergerstraße 69 (HF 1st floor); 4040 Linz
Telephone: 0732/ 2468 7930
Website: www.studentenberatung.at/
Violence Prevention and Victim Protection Centre Upper Austria:
The Centre for Violence Prevention and Victim Protection offers information, counselling and support for victims of stalking Here women and men are equally cared for free of charge and confidentially. The Violence Protection Centre also accompanies victims of stalking in court.
Contact:
Violence Protection Centre Upper Austria
Stockhofstraße 40 (entrance Wachreinergasse 2/5th floor); 4020 Linz
Telephone: 0732/ 60 77 60
Website: http://www.gewaltschutzzentrum.at/ooe/
Autonomous Women's Centre:
The autonomous women's centre offers psychosocial and legal counselling for women. The counselling is free of charge and confidential. In addition, the autonomous women's centre accompanies victims of sexual or physical violence and stalking during legal proceedings. The autonomous women's centre also offers courses on self-assertion, self-confidence and self-defence (see website).
Contact:
Autonomous Women's Centre
Starhembergstraße 10/2; 4020 Linz
Telephone: 0732/ 60 22 00
Website: www.frauenzentrum.at
Men's Counselling Upper Austria:
Männerberatung Oberösterreich offers counselling and psychotherapy exclusively for men. Counselling is strictly confidential and anonymous on request. Unfortunately, this offer is not free of charge: The cost contribution for the counselling and therapy hours is determined according to the income level (for students, the cheapest rate - 9 EUR - is usually charged).
Contact:
Männerberatung
Figulystraße 27; 4020 Linz
Telephone: 0732/ 66 64 12
Website: www.familientherapie-zentrum.at
Other important contacts:
aKg Working Group for Equal Treatment Issues at the JKU: 0732/ 2468 4830
JKU Ombudsman's Office: 0732/ 24 68 3050
Women's helpline against violence: 0800/ 222 555
Crisis Support Upper Austria: 0732/ 21 77
Victim emergency number: 0800/ 112 112
Status: May 2022
