Though not proven in court, these allegations are based on credible and plausible testimonies, and have been documented internally by SOS-Kinderdorf Austria.

The abuse allegations involve eight former children and young people from four locations, with victims receiving compensation payments, and Gmeiner, who died in 1986, being the focus of scrutiny due to credible reports.

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to transparency, actively handing over relevant documents to an independent inquiry, and following up on new reports of abuse from victims and staff.

The abuse occurred between the 1950s and 1980s, with credible testimonies supporting these claims, although they have not been legally confirmed.

Victims have undergone protection procedures and received compensation in recent years, with allegations supported by plausible accounts.

Founded in 1951 by Hermann Gmeiner in Imst, Austria, SOS Children's Villages has grown into a global organization caring for children whose parents are unable to do so, but its legacy is now marred by these recent abuse revelations.

The allegations gained public attention after a report by the Wiener weekly newspaper 'Falter', which uncovered these cases amidst ongoing investigations into other recent abuse allegations involving staff.

While the allegations against Gmeiner have been known internally for years, they only surfaced publicly during current investigations into abuse within the organization.

Recent revelations of abuse within SOS Children's Villages Austria have emerged during an internal review, uncovering credible allegations against the organization's founder, Hermann Gmeiner, involving eight victims at four locations in Austria between the 1950s and 1980s.

These abuse cases were documented internally and only became public recently through investigative reporting, prompting a broader effort by SOS-Kinderdorf Austria to address past misconduct and increase transparency.

Victims, who came forward between 2013 and 2023, have undergone protective procedures, received compensation ranging from 5,000 to 25,000 euros, and been offered therapy, although no court rulings have confirmed the incidents.

The organization emphasizes that it has supported nearly 4 million children worldwide and has no known abuse cases involving Gmeiner outside Austria.

All victims associated with Gmeiner's alleged abuse have been compensated, and the organization is actively reviewing both historic and recent allegations as part of its ongoing inquiry.