National frameworks to address hate crime in Luxembourg
This page provides information on the national frameworks to address hate crime in Luxembourg. The information provided here should be viewed alongside data presented on Luxembourg's hate crime report page.
Hate crime recording and data collection
Hate crime data are collected by the police, the Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Justice, but are not made publicly available.
The judicial authorities' IT system does not currently allow for a distinction between the different types of discrimination falling within the scope of Articles 454 and 457-1 of the Penal Code.
In Luxembourg the Grand-Ducal Police is the sole law enforcement body that records hate crimes. All complaints are entered into the police information database by officers issuing police reports. This complaint data is then processed by the Information Processing and Operations Department. The aggravating circumstance for any offence with a discriminatory motive (Art. 80), is an additional category and is recorded alongside the primary offence.
Hate crime victim support
Support to victims of hate crimes is provided as part of the general victim support system in Luxembourg. Victims of hate crime are not defined in the country's legislation.
A new National Centre for Victims of Violence (CNVV) has been in operation since 29 April 2025. The CNVV provides unconditional access, a professional and caring approach, and on-site outpatient care, and ensures that emergency support is offered as quickly as possible to any victim – adult or minor – of physical, sexual or psychological violence. The aim of this project is to enhance the support available to victims through a multidisciplinary team offering assistance and comprehensive support at a single location, in collaboration with operational partners. This support is based on four pillars: psychosocial support, medical assistance, police intervention and support in filing complaints, and legal information. The new centre serves as a complementary contact point within the national victim support network, particularly outside the regular office hours of existing services. Where necessary, the centre will also refer victims to specialized services for medium- and long-term follow-up.
General victim support is provided by the state and civil society organizations (CSOs). There are state-run services that assist children, youth and adults following an attack on their physical or psychological integrity. CSOs also provide general support, as well as support focused on certain categories of victim, such as children and youth. The following organizations have been accredited to provide victim support: Association de soutien aux travailleurs immigrés, (ASTI, the Association for the Support of Immigrant Workers), Centre de liaison, d'information et d'aide pour les associations des projets au Luxembourg (CLAE, the Liaison, information and support centre for project associations in Luxembourg), Action Luxembourg Ouvert et Solidaire-Ligue des droits de l'homme (ALOS-LDH, Luxembourg League for Human Rights), Info-Handicap, Chiens guides d'aveugles au Luxembourg (the Luxembourgish Guide Dog Association), Hëllef um Terrain (HUT, Help on the Ground), Conseil national des femmes du Luxembourg (CNFL, the National Council of Women of Luxembourg), the Passerell association, the Rosa Lëtzebuerg non-profit association, and Ingo-Handicap – Luxembourg's national information and meeting center for people with disabilities.
Police are obliged to provide victims with interpretation services. Victims can be interviewed by an officer of the same sex and accompanied by a person or lawyer of their choice and must be informed of the available support services. Some victims qualify for the status of a particularly vulnerable victim (including minors, victims who suffered an attack on their physical or psychological integrity) and can receive special protection measures. Legal assistance is also available to victims.
Victims of crime can participate in legal proceedings as a civil party and claim compensation. The state may decide to cover the cost of compensation if the perpetrator is unable to pay. Victims participating in criminal proceedings without a lawyer are automatically appointed one by the President of the Bar or a judge. Furthermore, the Centre for Equal Treatment assists persons who consider themselves victims of hate crime by providing them with a counselling and guidance service aimed at informing victims about their individual rights, legislation, case law and ways to claim their rights.
Under Article 23 (4) and (5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, it is the State Prosecutor's responsibility to inform the victim, within 18 months of receiving the complaint or report, of the action taken by the prosecutor on the case, including, where applicable, the decision to discontinue proceedings and the underlying reason for the decision. When the case is closed by the Public Prosecutor's Office, information provided to the victim must specify the conditions under which the victim may initiate proceedings by way of a direct summons or a complaint with a civil party status application.
In all criminal proceedings and at all stages of the proceedings, including during the execution of the sentence, the victim and the perpetrator of an offence may be offered a restorative justice measure, in accordance with Article 8-1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Hate crime capacity building
Magistrates from the two public prosecutors' offices responsible for the prosecution of hate crimes and incitement to hatred receive specialized and continuous training in this area. This includes participating in the workstream meeting on hate speech and hate crime prevention organized by the European Commission and the Council of Europe.
Each trainee judge completes a course on human rights. Occasionally, training and awareness-raising sessions on hate crimes are available for interested magistrates. These internal sessions are conducted by a prosecutor with expertise in the prosecution of hate crime-related offences.
The initial training of police cadets at the Police School include mandatory courses on human rights, constitutional principles, fundamental rights and public freedoms, police ethics and the fight against extremism/fanaticism, terrorism, radicalization and ideological crimes, intercultural training integrated into conflict management, and LGBTIQ+ awareness training.
Continuous training for police officers and civilian members of the Grand Ducal Police include the following optional courses: interviewing techniques (including human rights-compliant practices), anti-discrimination training, and intercultural training.