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

Data are collected by the police, the Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Justice. Data 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.

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.

Luxembourg has created a new National Centre for Victims of Violence (CNVV), which has been in operation since 29 April 2025. The CNVV provides unconditional access, a professional and caring approach, 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 innovative 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 facilitation of 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: ASTI (Association de soutien aux travailleurs immigrés), CLAE (Centre de liaison, d'information et d'aide pour les associations des projets au Luxembourg), ALOS-LDH (Action Luxembourg Ouvert et Solidaire-Ligue des droits de l'homme), Info-Handicap, Chiens guides d'aveugles au Luxembourg, CARITAS and CNFL (Conseil national des femmes du Luxembourg).

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. In all cases, when a victim participates in criminal proceedings and does not have a lawyer, one is appointed 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 of claiming 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 eighteen months of receiving the complaint or report, of the prosecution’s action taken on the case, including, where applicable, the discontinuation of proceedings in the case and the underlying reason. When the case is closed by the Public Prosecutor's Office, the information to the victim must specify the conditions under which the victim may initiate proceedings by way of a direct summons or a complaint with 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. Restorative justice enables the parties involved in a criminal offence (perpetrator and victim in the broadest sense of the term) to work together to deal with the consequences of the offence. By listening and establishing a direct or indirect dialogue between the victim and the perpetrator, all the material and emotional repercussions associated with the commission of the offence can be addressed and even restored.

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, including taking part in the workstream meeting on hate speech and hate crime prevention organized by the European Commission and the Council of Europe.

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.