"Als ob Österreich pro 1.000 Schulpflichtigen nur Schulen für 200 bauen würde!“ – Kritik an Unterversorgung in Wien und an SV-Selbstverwaltung

Tobias P. ist vier Jahre alt und hat eine kombinierte Entwicklungsstörung und frühkindlichen Autismus. Seine Eltern kämpfen um einen Therapieplatz – bislang jedoch ohne Erfolg. Wenig überraschend, denn in Wien gibt es für vier von fünf betroffenen Kindern keinen Therapieplatz. Für Volksanwalt Bernhard Achitz ist das ein Skandal: „Das ist, als würde die Politik sagen, es gilt Schulpflicht, aber Schulen bauen wir nur für 200 von 1.000 Schüler*innen. Die Länder, in diesem Fall Wien, und die Krankenkassen haben die Pflicht, ausreichend Therapieplätze anzubieten.“ In Wien gibt es nur ein einziges spezialisiertes Therapiezentrum. Er kritisiert die „Selbstverwaltung“ der Sozialversicherung, der das Sparen wichtiger sei als die Anliegen der Versicherten: „Seit nicht mehr die versicherten Arbeitnehmer*innen die Mehrheit in der Selbstverwaltung haben, sondern die selbst nicht betroffenen Arbeitgeber, ergeht sich die SV-Spitze lieber in Phantasien von neuen Selbstbehalten, statt das notwendige Angebot bereitzustellen.“

Einziges spezialisiertes Therapiezentrum in Wien nimmt niemand mehr auf

Die Eltern von Tobias setzen alle Bemühungen, um ihrem Sohn eine ausreichende Therapie, vor allem Ergo- und Logopädie, zukommen zu lassen. Alle Versuche, einen kassenfinanzierten Therapieplatz zu bekommen, waren jedoch erfolglos. Etwa bei einem spezialisierten Ambulatorium der Organisation VKKJ (Verantwortung und Kompetenz für besondere Kinder und Jugendliche), die Therapiezentren in Wien und Niederösterreich betreibt. Das Ambulatorium Sonnwendviertel im 10 Bezirk nimmt derzeit gar keine neuen Patient*innen auf, und bei Freiwerden von Kapazitäten werden nur Kinder aus dem 3., 4. oder 10. Bezirk aufgenommen. Familie P. wohnt aber woanders.

Ein Großteil der Kinder mit der Diagnose Autismus-Spektrum-Störung bleibt unversorgt

In Wien herrscht ein akuter Versorgungsnotstand für Kinder wie Tobias. Laut Expert*innen wird nur etwa jedes fünfte Kind im Autismusspektrum in Wien entsprechend gefördert. Ein Großteil der Kinder mit der Diagnose Autismus-Spektrum-Störung bleibt also unversorgt, obwohl sie so früh wie möglich eine kontinuierliche therapeutische Unterstützung bräuchten, um in ihrer Entwicklung nicht noch weiter ins Hintertreffen zu geraten. Die Familie von Tobias P. wandte sich an Volksanwalt Bernhard Achitz. Er konfrontierte sowohl die Stadt Wien als auch die zuständigen Krankenkassen ÖGK und BVAEB mit dem Problem. Dort ist man sich des Problems bewusst, sieht die Hauptzuständigkeit aber beim jeweils anderen. Wien ist bereit, mitzuzahlen, wenn die Kassen Ambulanzen aufbauen. Die Kassen verweisen darauf, dass es Kassenverträge mit Ergo- und Logopäd*innen gäbe, zu denen die Betroffenen gehen können. Aber zu wenige seien bereit, einen Kassenvertrag abzuschließen.

Die betroffenen Kinder haben einen Anspruch auf einen Therapieplatz

Volksanwalt Achitz machte die Unterversorgung auch in der ORF-Sendung „Bürgeranwalt“ am 31. Oktober zum Thema und nimmt Wien, ÖGK und BVAEB in die Pflicht: „Die betroffenen Kinder haben einen Anspruch auf einen Therapieplatz, aber sowohl die Länder als auch die Krankenkassen tun zu wenig. Die bestmögliche Versorgung liegt in deren gemeinsamer Verantwortung. Auch die UN-Behindertenrechtskonvention erfordert das. Wenn man zu wenig Therapeut*innen findet, muss man vielleicht auch deren Bezahlung überdenken.“

ORF-Sendung "Bürgeranwalt"

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How can Europe keep fundamental rights protected as societies undergo profound change? A new report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) explores the transformations that could shape fundamental rights by 2040. A companion guide outlines practical ways of integrating fundamental rights in foresight exercises. Together, the products show how foresight can help anticipate risks and keep fundamental rights safeguards effective and enforceable in the years ahead.

The report ‘Fundamental rights in an uncertain future: Strategic foresight for Europe 2040’ examines how people’s rights could be affected by technology, the climate crisis, economic transformation, democratic and security challenges, and preparedness policies and measures. It considers how these developments interact and what they could mean for public decisions, institutions and access to justice.

It then explores six pathways for a rights-based future for Europe, with practical examples of how safeguards and institutions could respond to emerging risks:

• Embedding fundamental rights in decision-making: using fundamental rights impact assessments and rights-based budgeting to identify how policy and public spending affect people, and whether safeguards work in practice.
• Strengthening democratic participation and resilience: ensuring public participation feeds directly into decision-making; supporting civil society groups, community organisations, the media and educational institutions. Stress-testing democratic institutions against pressures such as disinformation and prolonged emergencies.
• Keeping oversight and remedies effective: strengthening monitoring, review and independent oversight to identify emerging harms to fundamental rights, support institutional learning and ensure safeguards remain effective as conditions change
• Aligning innovation with fundamental rights: involving affected communities in technology design, and ensuring testing and independent assessments to identify harms before technologies are widely deployed.
• Ensuring a fair and inclusive environmental transition: supporting people and communities affected by the climate change by sharing the costs, risks and benefits of climate and environmental measures so they do not deepen existing inequalities. Bringing the interests of future generations into today’s decisions.
• Preparing societies for disruption and change: keeping essential services such as healthcare, housing and social protection running when crises hit. Stress-testing whether fundamental rights safeguards and access to justice would hold up under pressures like cyberattacks, climate shocks or economic downturns. Making sure emergency measures remain lawful, proportionate, open to challenge and temporary.

The accompanying ‘Embedding fundamental rights in foresight: A guide for practitioners’ explains how to integrate fundamental rights considerations in foresight exercises. It sets out six principles, with practical examples of how to apply them. They cover legality, relevance, participation, equality and non-discrimination, reliability, and transparency and accountability.

The report and guide aim to help policymakers, human rights organisations and foresight practitioners identify emerging fundamental rights challenges, make more informed choices and prepare for change. They form part of FRA’s wider work on strategic foresight.

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, conducted a visit to Norway from 19 to 23 October 2026. The visit focused on the human rights of older persons living in long-term care facilities, as part of the Commissioner's broader engagement on this issue across Council of Europe member states. The Commissioner also examined issues concerning the environment and human rights.

Meeting older persons’ evolving care needs, wherever they live

The Commissioner welcomes Norway’s efforts to support older persons to live at home, maintain their health and participate in society as the population ages, including through the provision of home-based care. However, he observes that stringent criteria for admission to residential facilities may delay access to appropriate care, notwithstanding the degree of care needs. In this regard, he welcomes recent budget proposals for additional round-the-clock care places and encourages the authorities to ensure timely access to adequate home-based or residential care for all those who require it.

Geographical disparities in the availability and quality of care, particularly regarding remote and sparsely populated areas, need to be further addressed. Municipal responsibilities for care provision should be matched by adequate resources, including through the appropriate allocation and use of block grants. Further capital investment is needed to develop and modernise relevant care facilities and adapt them to climate change.

Addressing staffing challenges, advancing culturally competent care and ensuring technology supports rights

The Commissioner was informed of commonplace staffing shortages, heavy workloads and high staff turnover, with vacancies often covered by temporary workers. Measures to ease workforce pressures and improve efficiency, including through the use of technology, should be carefully assessed to ensure that they do not compromise the quality or continuity of care, or affect rights, including the right to privacy. While he commends the strong tradition of volunteering in the care sector, the Commissioner notes reports of increasing reliance on families and volunteers, whose valuable contribution should complement, not substitute for, professional care.

The Commissioner encourages the authorities to ensure that long-term care services take account of the geographical, linguistic and cultural barriers that older Sámi persons may face. Further developing care staff’s cultural competencies and abilities to respond to individual needs and ensuring that technology also supports communication in Sámi languages can contribute to rights-compliant, person-centred care of Sámi people.

Safeguarding older persons’ dignity, autonomy and human rights

Concerning the protection of older persons’ dignity, autonomy and human rights in care homes, the Commissioner recalls the importance of:

• Strengthening safeguards and ensuring that care staff receive appropriate human rights related training;
• More regular inspections, adequate resources for independent oversight bodies, including the Parliamentary Ombudsman, and effective follow-up to their findings; and
• Effective access to justice for care home residents whose rights have not been respected.

Aligning environmental and climate policies with international commitments and human rights standards

The Commissioner welcomes Norway’s recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment in its Constitution. He also takes note of the Climate Change Act as amended in 2025. Norway also plays a significant role in international climate and forest-protection initiatives, and leads in the use of renewable energy.

The Commissioner observes the tension between Norway’s position as a climate leader and its role as a major fossil-fuel exporter with the substantial carbon footprint that follows. He also notes concerns regarding the protection of the human rights of the Sámi people in the context of green transition projects. The Commissioner was informed of the high costs incurred by civil society organisations when litigating matters related to environmental and climate protection, as well as concerns regarding fines imposed on peaceful protesters.

While acknowledging the complex geopolitical context and Europe’s current energy security needs, the Commissioner notes that these considerations must not come at the expense of human rights obligations, including the principles laid out by the European Court of Human Rights in Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland and the International Court of Justice in its Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change, as well as the obligation to respect and protect Sámi people’s human rights. Although states enjoy a wide margin of appreciation in determining the operational means through which they implement climate policies, this discretion is not unlimited. Climate protection must be accorded considerable weight when balancing competing national interests. The Commissioner encourages Norway to further strengthen its role in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof, including by considering supporting the development of a binding Council of Europe instrument that recognises the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

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During the visit, the Commissioner met with the Minister of Climate and Environment, Sigrun Aasland; the State Secretary of the Ministry for Health and Care Services, Usman Mushtaq; the State Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Agnete Masternes Hanssen; the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Astrid Bergmål; and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Ole Martin Stenberg Slyngstadli. He also met with members of the National Delegation of Norway to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; the President of the Sámi Parliament, Silje Karine Muotka; the Director of the National Human Rights Institution (NIM), Kai Spurkland, and NIM experts; representatives of the Parliamentary Ombud and the Oslo and Akershus Patient and User Ombud; research centres, civil society organisations, and a representative of the Council of Elders of the Sámi Parliament.

He visited the 'Carpe Diem Dementia Village' in Bærum and the 'Lørenskog Nursing Home', where he also engaged with staff, family members of residents, and representatives of the local authorities. He delivered a lecture at Oslo University, hosted by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. He thanks all his interlocutors for their openness and constructive engagement.