IBF – Intervention Center for Trafficked Women*

Trafficking in Women* is a violation of women*’s and human rights. In 1998 LEFÖ founded the Intervention Centre for Trafficked Women* and thereby established the first victim protection organization for trafficked women* is Austria.

Since 1996 LEFÖ’s work is based on the following definition:

Trafficking in women* is …

• when women* migrate due to deception or false promises are subjected to a forced situation in the destination country;
• when women* are forced to deliver services due to their lack of access to rights;
• when women* are deprived of their dignity or their personal or sexual integrity by husband*s or employers.

LEFÖ – Intervention centre for trafficked women* (LEFÖ-IBF) is a recognised victim protection organization according to §25 Abs 3 SPG, that, with a mandate from the Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Chancellery of the Republic of Austria – section Women and Equality, offers its services in the entirety of Austria. Mandated by the Ministry of Justice LEFÖ-IBF offers trafficked women* and girls* psychosocial and legal victim assistance services.

• 24h reachability for trafficked women*
• Safe accommodation with socio-cultural mediation in protection shelters
• Apartments for independent living with initial psychosocial assistence
• Psychosocial, psychological, social, health and life counselling as well as psychotherapy
• Ensuring access to medical assistance
• Counselling and intervention concerning residency and employment rights
• Accompaniment to police interrogations
• Psychosocial and legal support in legal proceedings
• Assistance for detainees pending deportation in cases of suspected trafficking in women*
• Online outreach for early identification and vulnerable groups
• Mediation (upon request) to German courses, further education and integration offers
• Buddy-programme
• Support in seeking employment and accommodation or preparation for safe returns including risk assessments, in collaboration with organizations in the countries of origin

We offer unconditional support, catered to individual needs for trafficked women* and girls* from the age of 15.
Confidential – Anonymous – Free of Charge

The primary objective of LEFÖ-IBF is to strengthen the agency of trafficked women* and girls* through intervention and the provision of our services.

Our goals are:

• Protection and security for trafficked women* and girls*
• Empowerment of trafficked women* and girls*
• Protection of migrant women* from violence, exploitation and women*’s and human rights violations
• Prevention of trafficking in women*
• Improvement of working and living conditions of migrant women* in Austria
• Strengthening women* in their migration process in order to support them in solving dependency, violence and exploitation relationships and to enable them to find their way into a dignified, independent and self-determined life

National and international networking and cooperation are an important factor in achieving these goals. LEFÖ-IBF is a member of the Austrian Task Force on combating Human Trafficking, participates in the EU Civil Society Platform, is a member of the European NGO Platform La Strada International and the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women.

Trainings, lectures and workshops on trafficking in women: tailor-made trainings by experts from LEFÖ-IBF.

Please direct inquiries to: ibf@lefoe.at

We provide trainings for:

• NGOs in the social sector or who work with refugees
• Schools, universities and other educational institutions
• Hospitals and other institutions in the health care sector
• Administrative agencies and other governmental institutions
• Embassies and consulates

Become part of our Buddy-Network if you …

… would like to get involved in a feminist context for a longer period of time and support a woman settling in Vienna.
… have 2-4 hours time every week.
… are open for new perspectives.
… speak German well and are interested in getting to know the work of a feminist organization that campaigns for the rights of migrant women.

For more information about our buddy program, contact us at buddy@lefoe.at.

If you are interested in an internship at LEFÖ-IBF, contact us at ibf@lefoe.at.