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1. Intercultural awareness

2. Young people's rights

3. Key initiatives to safeguard democracy and prevent radicalisation leading to violent extremism

Intercultural awareness

Intercultural Education (Interkulturelle Bildung) 

Since 1992, Intercultural Education has been embedded in the curricula of all general educational schools (Allgemein bildenden Schulen) in Austria, including those for young people aged 6 to 18, as a cross-curricular principle. The 2017 policy statement on Intercultural Education (Grundsatzerlass Interkulturelle Bildung), issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, outlines the implementation of this principle and aims to foster respectful and inclusive learning environments in all subjects and school activities. Within this framework, intercultural education promotes respectful engagement with cultural, social, and linguistic diversity within increasingly heterogenous societies. It enables teachers and students alike to understand and respond to societal changes such as migration, urbanisation and evolving family structures by fostering awareness, empathy and critical reflection. Students develop the ability to recognise diverse life paths as normal, to reflect on their own life stories, to identify and challenge stereotypes and discrimination, and to appreciate multiple perspectives. 

In June 2025, the Austrian Minister for Education introduced the 'Freiraum Schule' initiative to tackle bureaucracy in education. As a consequence, the teaching prinicple has been repealed in favour of a more flexible, school-level approach. For more information see Chapter 4.8. 

Online Resources on Interculturality for Educational Purposes 

The thematic online platform of the Federal Centre for Interculturality, Migration and Multilingualism (Zentrum für Sprachliche Bildung im Kontext von Migration und Mehrsprachigkeit, BIMM) offers educators and everyone interested multimedia information and know-how on intercultural education and other topics. Designed as a dynamic and evolving resource, the platform continuously expands its range of thematic packages while regularly updating and adapting existing ones. 

Dialogue of Cultures and Religions

The Task Force Dialogue of Cultures, established in 2007 within the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, serves as a central hub for intercultural and interreligious dialogue. It provides expertise, fosters national and international networks, and collaborates with a wide range of partners, including government institutions, religious communities, NGOs, academia, media, and civil society. The Task Force supports Austrian embassies in developing dialogue initiatives that promote mutual understanding, intercultural competence, and inclusion. Its work extends to multilateral efforts within the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, and the EU, with the overarching goal of fostering peaceful intercultural coexistence worldwide.

Intercultural Achievement Award (IAA)

The Intercultural Achievement Award (IAA), presented by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, is a key project in the field of intercultural dialogue. It honours successful and innovative projects in this field, both in Austria and on a global scale. It is open to anyone who identifies and makes use of opportunities within intercultural communal life. It is also intended for individuals who have successfully explored new approaches to intercultural dialogue, overcome specific challenges through intercultural initiatives, and promoted intercultural and interreligious dialogue through their media presence.

Regional initiatives

The City of Vienna has launched a new funding initiative titled ‘Integration of Youth and Young Adults’ (‘Integraton von Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen’) to support young people aged 14 to 25, particularly those who are newly arrived migrants or second-generation youth, in strengthening their participation in education, the labour market, civic engagement and leisure activities. Projects should reflect the diverse experiences of young people and address important issues such as identity, belonging, and life in a migration society. Non-profit organisations, including migrant-led associations, can apply for grants up to €5,000 per project. The programme, coordinated by the Department for Integration and Diversity (Abteilung für Integration und Diversität der Stadt Wien), allocates €160,000 annually in 2025 and 2026 to support a wide range of initiatives, including formats for intercultural dialogue, workshops for political education, anti-discrimination training, intergenerational exchange and training for educators and youth workers. 

Young people's rights

In November 2004, the Austrian government approved the National Action Plan on the Rights of Children and Young People (Nationaler Aktionsplan für die Rechte von Kindern und Jugendlichen), which was developed following the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 2011, the Federal Constitutional Law on the Rights of Children (Bundesverfassungsgesetz über die Rechte von Kindern) was passed, granting key provisions of the Convention constitutional status. These frameworks affirm that children and young people up to the age of 18 have inherent human rights that must be respected and upheld regardless of any form of discrimination. Children are recognised as competent individuals with the right to care, protection, assistance and participation in community life, regardless of adult goodwill. However, the core challenge remains the effective realisation of these rights in practice. In the following, top-level initiatives addressing the rights of young people in Austria are presented. 

Ombudsman for children and young people (at the federal and provincial level)

The Ombudsman Offices for Children and Young People (Kinder und Jugendanwaltschaften) have been established in all nine Austrian federal provinces since 1995. These politically independent institutions are tasked with monitoring and enforcing the rights of children and young people, as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Federal Child and Youth Welfare Act (Bundes-Kinder- und Jugendhilfegesetz 2013) also stipulates that each federal province must set up an ombudsman office for children and young people. These offices act as contact points for all issues affecting children and young people. Their tasks include raising awareness of children’s rights, lobbying on their behalf, providing information and advice, and facilitating networking in cases of conflict between parents and children. The Federal Children and Youth Advocacy (Kinder- und Jugendanwaltschaft des Bundes) was established as part of the Families and Youth Section in the Federal Chancellery. Its central tasks include cooperating with the provincial ombudsman offices for children and young people, publicly representing the principle of non-violent education, publicly lobbying for a child-friendly society and counselling children and young people, as well as their parents or legal guardians.

Children’s Rights Network

The Children’s Rights Network Austria - National Coalition (NC) (Netzwerk Kinderrechte)– is an independent network of 55 children‘s rights organisations and child institutions for the support of the implementation of the UN children‘s rights convention in Austria. It takes a stand for the rights of all children and young people without discrimination. The network was founded in 1997 to provide the 'complementary report' parallel to the state report of the Federal Government within the scope of the monitoring process of the UN-children‘s rights committee.

Governmental website on Young People's Rights (www.kinderrechte.gv.at)

As Austria’s main government platform for children’s and young people’s rights, the website offers accessible information on legal frameworks, support services and educational resources. It promotes awareness of children’s rights, non-violent parenting, participation, and the protection and well-being of children and young people across Austria. The aim is to empower young people and help them to better understand their rights, as well as encourage adults to advocate on their behalf. The website also provides updates from Austria’s advisory board on children’s rights.

Youth information campaigns (Jugendportal)

The Austrian Youth Information Centres as well as their umbrella organization, the Federal Network of Austrian Youth information centres, provide young people with reviewed information on their rights. Their Website (Jugendportal) features a thematic focus named ‘Know your right!’ (Kenn’ dein Recht!), which is specifically edited to inform young people on their general and youth-specific rights. It thus provides them with an information platform for the most important questions that concern young people in particular. The answers are explained briefly and simply, and additional useful links and contact persons are provided. The online platform also provides children and young people with a link collection on their rights. The information is also disseminated through regional Youth information centers, such as wienXtra in Vienna. Furthermore, information on all matters regarding young people's rights is accessible at the government platform österreich.gv.at.

Democracy workspace by the Federal Parliament (DemokratieWEBstatt)

The Federal Parliament provides an online information point, as part of its project on political education, on children’s rights that offers a thematic overview and worksheets on the subject.

Federal Youth Council (Bundesjugendvertretung): campaigns and media guide

In 2005, the Federal Youth Council (Bundesjugendvertretung, BJV) launched a children's rights campaign entitled ‘Children need respect’ (Kinder brauchen Respekt). It intensified its commitment in 2009, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the CRC, with the campaign ‘ALL children's rights into the constitution!’ (‘ALLE Kinderrechte in die Verfassung’). Since 2013, the BJV has also been a member of the steering committee of the children's rights monitoring process, the Children's Rights Board.

In the course of its campaign ‘Poverty is not a child's play’ („Armut ist kein Kinderspiel“), the Federal Youth Council (Bundesjugendvertretung) prepared the media guide ‘Children's Rights in Reporting’ (Medienleitfaden „Kinderrechte in der Berichterstattung“). The guide is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and contains the voices of experts and journalists as well as the results of a media study by the Ombudsman Board on socially disadvantaged children and young people.

Private youth work initiatives

Both the association ‘Children's Friends’ (Kinderfreunde) and the young catholic church (Katholische Jungschar) have started children’s rights initiatives. The Children's Friends offer, among other things, educational materials, a children's rights party set and training for multipliers on the topic of children's rights. The young catholic church runs a Austria-wide children's rights campaig every autumn, in order to inform children, young people, but also parents and adults about children's rights. Activities include building blocks for group lessons, media work, campaigns, and exhibitions.

Cities of human rights

The Austrian cities of Graz (2001) and Vienna (2014) have become Cities of Human Rights. As such they are committed to human rights and guarantee a high standard of human rights. In the long term, they aim to ensures respect for human rights, recognise needs for action and provide an international role model. Moreover, the city of Salzburg has signed the European Charter of Human Rights to become Austria's third City of Human Rights. In 2020, Graz became home to the worldwide second UNESCO Center for the Promotion of Human Rights in Communities and Regions at the European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. Its work focuses on regional and local human rights work, particularly human rights education. Regional focuses are the education for Roma children in South Eastern Europe, human rights training for cities in Africa in cooperation with the African Academy of Administration, and a toolkit for 'Inclusive Cities' in the Arab world.

Key initiatives to safeguard democracy and prevent radicalisation leading to violent extremism

Civic Education in schools (Politische Bildung)

In Austrian schools, civic education is anchored in various ways. It is a teaching principle for all school types and levels as well as an independent or combined subject in school forms of secondary level 1 or 2. Moreover, school democracy should make its contribution to civic education. The basic principles, objectives and implementation of civic education in schools are set out in the Basic Decree for the Teaching Principle of Civic Education. In addition to Austrian standards, the decree also refers to the Council of Europe Charter on Civic Education and Human Rights Education.

The Austrian Competence Model for Civic Education aims to build up (self-)reflective political awareness throughout school learning by means of exemplary approaches to problematic cases of politics. The life and experience world of the pupils is taken into account. Political education deals with contemporary political issues, their historical contexts and the possibilities of influencing decisions. In a time characterised by increasing complexity in all areas of life (e.g globalisation, media democracy, non-national or multiple identities of citizens, changed socialisation of children and young people, unequal distribution of power and resources between genders and generations), civic education provides an active contribution to the shaping of society as well as to the realisation and further development of democracy and human rights.

Historical competences

Political competences are closely related to historical competences, which aim at examining judgements with regard to their historical context of origin and the ability to recognise, analyse and reflect on one's own convictions in their historical conditionality. In this context, the project ‘Memory and the Present’ (Gedächtnis und Gegenwart’ on erinnern.at) of the Federal Ministry of Education for dealing with National Socialism and the Holocaust provides a comprehensive and methodological offer that promotes the transfer of historical knowledge and reflection on its significance for the present.

European Union education

Dealing with the European Union as well as with pan-European issues and topics is part of political education and, like the global dimension, contributes to a comprehensive view of the world. The network ‘Europe in Schools’ (EUropa in der Schule) supports teachers in the task of promoting awareness and responsibility for European and global interrelationships. Its offers include a guide. The Network is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education,  the Representation of the European Commission, the Liaison Office of the European Parliament in Austria and is managed by Zentrum polis.

Extremism prevention (Schulpsychologie: Jugend und Extremismen)

The Austrian initiative 'Extremism Prevention Takes Place at School II' ("Extremismusprävention macht Schule II"), coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour, offers free workshops starting in the 2024/25 school year aimed at preventing extremism among young people. These workshops, available for all school types and ages, as well as for youth and young adults (15–25) in vocational training and labour market programs (including refugees), cover topics such as democracy, diversity, human rights, discrimination awareness, extremist groups and ideologies, conflict resolution, media literacy, conspiracy theories, antisemitism, and radicalization processes. The program emphasizes early primary prevention by fostering critical, tolerant, and inclusive attitudes, strengthening young people's resilience against extremist ideologies before any violent tendencies emerge. Schools collaborate closely with trained educators, psychologists, and experts to address challenges posed by extremist influences, with well-coordinated support for students who show vulnerability to such ideologies. Additional resources include educational materials on the Middle East conflict and Israel-related antisemitism from the OeAD program ERINNERN.AT, specialized counselling centres, and cooperation with police security officers to ensure a comprehensive, community-based approach to extremism prevention in Austrian schools.

Action Days on Civic Education (Aktionstage Politische Bildung)

The Austria-wide campaign of the Federal Ministry of Education is coordinated by Zentrum polis. It takes place annually between 23 April (World Book Day) and 9 May (EUrope Day). New materials are presented throughout the event, e.g. on women’s rights, public health, young people’s participation, language rights, and freedom rights. Further materials include studies, videos, podcasts, padlets, workshops, and games.

Politics Encyclopaedia for Young People (Politiklexikon für Junge Leute)

A reference book for pupils with reliable initial information on political terms and topics. The encyclopaedia is primarily aimed at young people aged 12 and over. It is also a helpful tool for those who support children and young people in learning politics. The contents are not dictated by a curriculum as is the case with school books, but cover the entire world of politics. The encyclopaedia was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education.

News for Political Education (Nachrichten für Politische Bildung)

In loose succession, news for practice are presented by the Federal Ministry of Education on its Website. They inform on new materials and events for civil education.

Extremism Counselling Centre at bOJA (Beratungsstelle Extremismus von bOJA)

The centre is the main point of contact for anyone worried that a young person – whether a child, friend, student or acquaintance – may have joined, or may be sympathetic to, a radical religious group or extremist political movement. The Centre also helps those who are concerned that a young person may harbour extremist right-wing or radical Islamist views. The Centre provides its services free of charge and guarantees anonymity and confidentiality for all callers, offering comprehensive counselling and support, including help with developing regional counselling and network structures. The Centre’s services are available to family members, friends, and teachers, and it provides professional training for communicators. This training focuses on key areas such as constructively addressing diversity, understanding ideologies and symbols related to religiously and politically motivated extremism (including Islamism, Salafism, Jihadism, right-wing extremism, and National Socialism), and confronting issues such as racism, anti-Semitism, and anti-Islamism.

National Committee 'No Hate Speech'

The No Hate Speech Movement was launched in 2013 on the initiative of the Council of Europe. Since then, activists in over 40 countries have been campaigning against hate speech on the internet and for respectful coexistence. The national committee aims to sensitise people to hate-speech online. It thematises the cause and context in order to counteract the acceptance of Hate Speech and thus fights racism, sexism and discrimination on the internet. The No Hate Speech Committee has formulated recommendations to the federal and provincial governments.

With the support of the former Federal Ministry for Families and Youth the handbook Bookmarks – Combating hate speech online through human rights education (Bookmarks – Bekämpfung von Hate Speech im Internet durch Menschenrechtsbildung) has been translated into German. 

Zentrum polis - Centre for Citizenship Education in Schools

The Centre is the central education service institution for citizenship education in schools. It helps teachers to bring citizenship and human rights education into the classroom, serves as an information platform and advisory centre, develops new materials for the classroom on a regular basis, plays a part in the European and Austrian discussions on citizenship education, has an influential role in teacher training, and organizes events for students.

With the activities offered, polis supports skills-oriented teaching. The aim is political awareness, which the students reach through careful deliberation. In this respect, a broad range of knowledge as well as learning activities, which enable the student to learn about, think about and deal with political themes, is provided. The activities are therefore linked to the lives and experiences of the students.

Civil Courage and Anti Racism Work (ZARA - Zivilcourage und Antirassismusarbeit)

Zara was founded in 1999. Its mission is to combat racism and to promote civil courage as well as a positive approach to cultural diversity. As one of its many tasks, ZARA undertakes social information and awareness activities. ZARA offers training courses to businesses and educational institutions, as well as an annual training course in anti-racism work. Topic fields for training include awareness raising and/or sensitisation, building courage in one’s convictions, legal situation, and language (ab)use.

Online Democracy workspace by the Federal Parliament (DemokratieWEBstatt)

The Federal Parliament’s online information point does not only provide information on children’s rights (as mentioned above). It focuses on political and democracy education as a whole and enables pupils to learn more about politics, democracy, laws and elections. Its offers include a virtual walks through the Parliament, workshops, information on the Parliament and its members, an interactive political diary, a democracy encyclopedia, news and numerous games.

Youth information campaigns (Jugendportal)

The Austrian Youth Information Centres as well as their umbrella organization, the Federal Network of Austrian Youth Information Centres, run campaigns for civic education and against hate speech and extremism. Their Website includes a list of information points for civic education (Politsche Bildung) and against disinformation (Gib Fake News keine Chance). The Federal Network of Austrian Youth Information Centres has also organized a ‘Get Active Team’ (Mitmachen) together with the Department for Families and Youth at the Federal Chancellery. Through this project, a group of young Austrians is enabled to take part in workshops of political participation, where they can weigh in their own ideas.