human rights law, and its 2021-22 budget In February, the government put forward the emphasized a “gas-led recovery” over Freedom of Information Bill, which contained renewable energy. measures to improve access to information, including by abolishing official secrecy. Concerns remained over the effectiveness of AUSTRIA the procedure should the authorities decide to deny access to information, as well as the Republic of Austria lack of an independent information Head of state: Alexander Van der Bellen commissioner and an effective mechanism Head of government: Karl Nehammer (replaced for the protection of whistle-blowers. The bill Alexander Schallenberg in December, who replaced was passed to the relevant ministry in April, Sebastian Kurz in October) but no revised proposal was presented to parliament by the end of the year. Reforms of Some bans on public assemblies the intelligence service, which entered into disproportionately restricted the right to force on 1 December, fell short of ensuring freedom of peaceful assembly. Whistle- protection for whistle-blowers and blowers lacked effective protection. There establishing an independent oversight was insufficient support for women mechanism. survivors of gender-based violence. Afghan nationals continued to be deported to WOMEN’S AND GIRLS’ RIGHTS Afghanistan until shortly before the Taliban The number of femicides remained high and takeover of the country in August. The the authorities again failed to provide regular use of facial recognition technology sufficient resources to improve access to was introduced in law enforcement women’s support services. Barriers in operations in August 2020. Failures to accessing affordable and safe abortion effectively investigate allegations of ill- services persisted. treatment by the police persisted. Social Migrant women caring for older people in assistance benefits in some states were their homes received low wages, worked inadequate. The right to adequate housing excessively long hours without adequate was not protected. breaks and faced barriers in accessing social security benefits because of multiple FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY 1 discrimination. The authorities used laws enacted to counter the Covid-19 pandemic to ban some public REFUGEES’ AND MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS assemblies. Courts found that, in some Between January and August, 64 Afghan cases, the bans constituted a nationals were deported to Afghanistan, disproportionate restriction of the right to despite a real risk of serious human rights freedom of peaceful assembly. violations upon return. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION In August, the government opposed the evacuation of Afghans fleeing the Taliban Civil society organizations raised concerns takeover of Afghanistan. The government also over a decline in press freedoms. Fifteen civil continued to oppose the relocation of asylum society organizations described as excessive seekers from the Greek islands. the criminal prosecution of Julian H., who In July, the Styrian Regional Administrative played a key role in the making of the so- Court ruled that a group of seven asylum called “Ibiza video” alleging high-level seekers had been illegally pushed back to corruption. His trial, which began in Slovenia, noting that such illegal pushbacks September, was ongoing at the end of the were a recurrent practice. year. Amnesty International Report 2021/22 80