The bust of Hermann Gmeiner, founder of SOS Children's Villages, has been removed from a Vienna park following mounting allegations of child abuse against the late humanitarian. The statue's removal comes as numerous advocates have called for the renaming of Vienna's Hermann Gmeiner Park, located behind the Old Stock Exchange building.
According to reports from local media outlet meinbezirk.at, the statue of the deceased Gmeiner has been dismantled and removed from its location in the park. The artwork was carefully taken down by the Cultural Department MA7 in collaboration with restoration experts, who handled the removal process to ensure the sculpture's preservation during the controversial decision.
The park itself is also slated for renaming, according to statements from the office of Cultural City Councilor Veronica Kaup-Hasler of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ). The Inner City district representation plans to vote on December 18th on a proposal that would rename the green space back to "Börsepark," which was the area's original name until 1993 when it was renamed to honor Gmeiner.
The allegations against Hermann Gmeiner, who founded the international SOS Children's Villages organization, have sparked widespread controversy and calls for accountability. The removal of his statue and the proposed park renaming represent significant steps in addressing the growing concerns about honoring individuals accused of serious misconduct, particularly those involving children in care facilities.
This development reflects broader discussions about how institutions and communities should respond when allegations emerge against previously celebrated figures. The decision to remove the memorial and rename the park demonstrates Vienna's commitment to reassessing public honors in light of new information about the conduct of those being commemorated.
