Petra Bayr is a Member of the Austrian National Council and SPÖ spokesperson for foreign affairs and global development. She is currently Chairperson of the Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, President of the European Parliamentarian Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF), Member of the Committee on Strategy, Investment and Policy of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, and Board Member and Treasurer of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA).
Born on April 28th 1968 in Vienna
1974 - 1978 | Primary School in Vienna |
1978 - 1986 | Secondary School in Vienna, Matura |
1983 - 1986 | Editor of a pupil’s magazine |
1984 - 1985 | Freelancer at the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation ORF and different youth magazines |
1986 | Inscription at the University of Vienna, studies of sociology and pedagogic |
1986 - 1996 | Moderator and coach in extracurricular youth work |
1994 - 1997 | Employee at the ÖIAG, the Austrian Industry Holding Corporation |
1994 - 1996 | Parliamentary assistant |
1997 - 2001 | Coordinator at “ega” communications- and culture-centre for women |
2001 -2022 | Civil society networking, anti-racism activities and international relations at the SPÖ Vienna |
2011 - 2013 | Master of Arts Human Rights, Danube University Krems, Master Thesis: Die österreichische Aids Politik betrachtet durch eine Menschenrechtsbrille |
2013 - 2017 | Master of Legal Studies, Danube University Krems, Master Thesis: Der Straftatbestand der Verhetzung im österreichischen Strafgesetzbuch |
1984 - 1997 | Youth section of the Trade Union for Private Employees, inter alia chairperson of the pupils’ and later of the students’ trade union, deputy chair of the federal youth section |
1985 - 2002 | Activist at the women’s section of the trade union for Private Employees |
Since 1986 | Activist at Social Democratic Party of Austria in Favoriten (a district of Vienna) e.g. at “Young Generation”, at a local section, at the women’s organisation |
1990 - 1992 | Chair of the Women’s Commission of the Austrian Youth Council (ÖBJR) |
1994 - 1996 | Member of the District Parliament of Favoriten/Vienna, responsible for drug prevention |
1996 - 2002 | Member of the Vienna City Council, focus on environment, urban planning and inclusion of people with disabilities |
1999 - 2001 | Chair of “Young Generation” of the SPÖ Favoriten |
1999 - 2003 | Chair of “Young Generation” of the SPÖ Vienna and member of the Executive Board of the SPÖ Vienna |
Since 2000 | Chair of the SPÖ Women’s Organisation in Favoriten and deputy chair of the Social Democratic Party in Favoriten/Vienna |
Since 2002 | Member of the Austrian National Council, SPÖ spokesperson for global development, chairperson of the sub-committee for development cooperation |
2003 | Founder of Plattform stopFGM – Austrian Platform to end female genital mutilation |
2007 - 2011 | Vice chairperson of the committee on environment of the National Assembly and spokesperson on environment of the Social Democratic Party |
Since 2009 | Deputy chair of SPÖ Women’s Organisation in Vienna |
2008 - 2010 | Co-chair of the "Leadership and Accoutability Programme Committee" and member of the "Conference Coordination Committee" to prepare the XVIII international Aids Conference "Rights Here, Right Now" |
2009 - 2015 | Member of the Executive Committee of the European Parliamentarian Forum on Population and Development (EPF) |
2010 - 2016 | Deputy Chair of Globe Europe (Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment) |
2011 - 2017 | Head of Austrian AWEPA Section (Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa) |
2011 | Founder of “mother´s night ” – an Austrian platform to raise awareness for maternal mortality in the global south |
2011 - 2017 | Member of the Governing Council of AWEPA |
Since 2012 | Member of the Board of Trustees of Rechtskomitee Lambda, Austria’s lgbt-rights organisation; |
2012-2021 | Member of the Inter Parliamentarian Union (IPU), Member of the Advisory Group on Health |
2012 - 2016 | Senior Parliamentarian Advisor for FGM programmes of AWEPA International |
2013 - 2017 | Steering Committees Member of the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism |
Since 2015 | Board Member of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), Co-Convenor of the Gender Equality and Population Programme (2015), Treasurer (2016-2019, 2021 - today), Convenor of the International Law and Human Rights Programme (2020) |
2015 - 2017 | Member of the Governing Council of AWEPA International, political coordinator on aid effectiveness |
2017 - 2020 | Vice President of International Planned Parenthood Federation Europe (IPPF EN) |
Since 2017 | Member of UNITE Parliamentarians Network to End HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and Tuberculosis |
Since 2018 | Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) |
2018 - 2020 | Vice President of European Parliamentarian Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) |
2020-2022 | Chairperson of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe |
2020-2024 | President of the European Parliamentarian Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) |
Since 2020 | Member of the Committee on Strategy, Investment and Policy von International Planned Parenthood Federation |
2022-2024 | General Rapporteur on Combating Racism and Intolerance (PACE) |
Since 2022 | Second Vice-Chair of the Council for Human Rightsand Relief, Global Council For Political Renewal (GCPR) |
Since 07/2023 | SPÖ Parliamentary Group's Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Global Development Policy |
Since 10/2023 | President of the Women Working Group of the Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) |
Since 01/2024 | Chairperson of the Committee on the Election of Judges to the European Court of Human Rights |