Vienna police save family thanks to a girl's clever SOS hand signal!

Vienna police save family thanks to a girl's clever SOS hand signal!

A worrying incident occurred in Vienna on Sunday evening, which, with a lot of luck, ended lightly. A 39-year-old Iraqi man apparently tried to kidnap his estranged wife and her two children. The man, who is also the infant's biological father, already had an extended ban on entry. He now has to answer in custody. According to the reports of courier The incident was triggered by a traffic accident on the Neubau belt when an alert officer noticed the SOS hand signal of a six-year-old girl in the back seat.

The courageous hand signal, understood as an expression of help, saved the girl, her mother and the infant from potential kidnapping. The Vienna police show that they are able to act quickly and carefully, especially through regular training in which officers learn to recognize non-verbal signals from victims of violence. The hand signal has now established itself as a valuable tool in the prevention of acts of violence. Two other cases from this year are examples of this:

Important support from the police

How courier Reportedly, a 14-year-old in Innsbruck who was attacked on a tram was able to use the hand signal to draw attention to herself and alert the police. Another case involved a woman who was threatened by her boyfriend. She used the hand signal in a parking lot, which was noticed by a passer-by, who in turn immediately informed the police. These incidents impressively demonstrate the importance of the SOS hand signal as a means of communication in emergency situations.

Training to recognize such hand signals extends beyond the police. The ÖBB is planning to include international hand signals in its programs, while the Wiener Linien is also sensitizing its employees to recognize non-verbal signals in violent situations. Klaudia Frieben from the Austrian Women's Ring urgently calls for more awareness among the population about the hand signal and its effectiveness.

Offers of help and support networks

Another important topic is supporting women in violent situations. Violence is unacceptable and those affected are encouraged to seek help and confide in someone. Caritas has set up various advisory services and contact points for women and migrants to offer assistance and provide the necessary support. Information about these offers is available on the website Info point to find.

In addition, the Federal Association of Women's Advice Centers in Germany has published a helpful FAQ on the topic of protection from violence. This is not only available in simple language, but also in English. Here, those affected can find valuable information and materials to help them find their way better in their situation. An important contact point is the “Violence against Women” helpline, which can be reached on 08000 116 016.

These events and the availability of support offers once again illustrate how essential it is for society to be aware of the issue of violence against women and how important it is to know the options for help and safety.