If you are a victim or witness of sexual exploitation, don’t be afraid to report it. People are on hand to help you! Your report could help a victim of sexual exploitation and, potentially, prevent other similar cases. Each year millions of children throughout the world are victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. No country is immune and children in Luxembourg are also victims of various forms of sexual violence every year.
The purpose of this website is to enable the general public to learn more about the subject and to report suspected cases by clicking on the three red buttons at the bottom of the page. You will find information on the different forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation as well as advice and contact details for the services which exist to help children who are victims of sexual exploitation.
Who are we?
ECPAT Luxembourg
ECPAT Luxembourg was founded in 1995 and enjoys the status of non-governmental development organisation (NGO) which was granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1999. ECPAT Luxembourg is also a member of the international ECPAT network (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography And Trafficking of children for sexual purposes). ECPAT is committed to putting an end to all forms of commercial sexual exploitation of children, namely: • Child prostitution • Child sexual abuse images • Trafficking of children for sexual purposes
BEE SECURE
BEE SECURE is a joint initiative of the Ministry of the Economy, the Ministry for Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region, as well as the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth. Coordinated by the National Youth Service (SNJ), it is implemented by three complementary partners: the National Youth Service, (SNJ), Security made in Lëtzebuerg (SMILE g.i.e.) and KannerJugendtelefon, which manages the BEE SECURE Helpline and the BEE SECURE Stopline. The BEE SECURE initiative encompasses different awareness raising activities promoting a more secure use of new information and communication technologies. BEE SECURE is a project co-financed by the European Commission and is a member of the international Insafe and INHOPE networks.
Criminal Investigation Department, Child Protection Unit
The Grand Ducal Police has jurisdiction throughout the Grand Duchy and is composed of central departments, such as the Criminal Investigation Department (SPJ - Service de Police Judiciaire) with its various specialised units, including a Child Protection Unit. It also includes regional units with intervention services, local police stations and a criminal investigation service, a number of whose officers are specialists in child protection. Cases of sexual abuse are dealt with by a member of the Child Protection Unit or the criminal investigation service. The SPJ’s Child Protection Unit collaborates closely with ECPAT Luxembourg and BEE SECURE on initiatives relating to online reporting. It is this unit that receives the reports from individuals, evaluates the information received and passes it, if necessary, to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Public Prosecutor’s Office
The Public Prosecutor’s Office, represented by the public prosecutor or his deputies, receives police statements and reports as well as complaints and accusations from private individuals, and assesses what course of action to take. In the event of a crime/offence caught in the act, the police immediately notifies the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which decides how to proceed: it may order a house search or the arrest of the suspect in order for him/her to appear before an examining magistrate who may take further measures, including remanding the accused in custody. If the suspect is not caught in the act, the police notifies the Public Prosecutor’s Office of any offence by means of statements and reports, enabling the Public Prosecutor’s Office to decide how to proceed with the inquiry: continue the inquiry, hand the case over to the examining magistrate or summon the individual concerned to appear before a court to account for the offence of which he/she has been accused. As well as the criminal investigation, the Public Prosecutor’s Office is responsible for child protection: to that end it is vested with powers enabling it to take measures in an emergency to protect a child in danger.Information
Child sex tourism
Child sex tourism (CST) is defined as the sexual exploitation of children by people travelling from one place to another where they have sexual relations with minors. They often travel from a richer country to a less developed destination, but tourists/travellers who have sexual relations with children may also travel within their own country or region. Sex tourism is a growing phenomenon and an increasing number of children are involved in this cross-border sex trade. It has become increasingly common for tourists and/or travellers to witness this phenomenon when travelling. In a survey conducted by ECPAT Luxembourg, Luxembourg tourists expressed their rejection of child sex tourism and their desire to take action. ECPAT Luxembourg and the national police responded by setting up this mechanism for reporting cases of child sexual exploitation in the context of travel and tourism.
Grooming
Grooming is a process by which an adult person seeks to befriend an adolescent or child under the age of 16, on the Internet, to “prepare” the child/adolescent with a view to having sexual relations with him or her. This applies to explicit, implicit and even veiled sexual propositions whether followed by an encounter between the adult and the child or not.
This practice, currently mushrooming in Europe where most children have permanent and unsupervised access to the Internet, exposes children in a very direct way to the dangers posed by paedophiles and individuals seeking to exploit children commercially and sexually. Statistics from several European countries show that 8 out of 10 girls aged 10 to 15 have already received sexual propositions at least once on the Internet from someone within their circle of friends/family or from a stranger. You can report cases of grooming via this website or contact people actively working on this issue for appropriate advice.
Child sexual abuse images
Producing, selling, distributing, possessing or buying pornographic content featuring children is a serious offence. Children appearing in pornographic material, whether online or in print, photos or videos, are deemed to be victims of sexual abuse and each time a different individual views the material the child is re-victimised. Nowadays, enormous quantities of this illegal content are circulating online and may occasionally be found on sites that are not illegal. Your reports could be of great assistance to organisations and law enforcement agencies working to eliminate this content. The United Nations has estimated that 750,000 sexual predators are online at any moment of the day. The term “sexting” is a combination of the English words “sex” and “texting” (the sending of text messages via SMS). It refers to the exchange of intimate messages or photos by means of mobile phones, webcams and social networks. The greatest danger of sexting is that these photos, supposedly a private token of confidence, could be circulated on the web! For more information on sexting: https://www.bee-secure.lu/fr/themes/sextingCriminal liability / obstruction of justice
Any individual aware of a crime* committed against a child (under the age of 18), the effects of which could still be mitigated or prevented, or the perpetrators of which might be prevented from committing further crimes, and who fails to inform the judiciary, shall be liable to a prison sentence, under article 140 of the Penal Code. Professional secrecy cannot be invoked when the crime has been perpetrated against a child.
* Only crimes, and not offences (such as grooming or pornography featuring children) fall within the offence of obstruction of justice.
Libel / slander / hoax
The three types of child sexual exploitation described on this website are offences punishable by Luxembourg law and it is important to remember that it is illegal to make accusations against someone without grounds. This does not mean that you must be in possession of all the evidence in order to report a suspected case, but your report must be based on a serious suspicion. To be accused of an offence of a sexual nature can have extremely damaging consequences for an individual. As a result, you will be asked to identify yourself when making a report and to confirm that you are aware of the fact that a defamatory report may have legal consequences. The only type of report that may be made anonymously is reporting child sex abuse images to the BEE SECURE Stopline, where Internet websites and/or web pages are reported. Anyone reporting a non-existent danger (hoax), which triggers intervention by the police or another surveillance or rescue agency, risks a prison sentence of up to 5 years.Advice
Advice for witnesses of child sexual abuse or exploitation
If you are aware that a child is being, or has been, sexually abused, you must report it. Do not leave a child in a situation of abuse, whether you are a relative, teacher, coach/trainer or simply a responsible citizen. The protection and well-being of children concerns us all.- If you are aware of a child being sexually abused here in Luxembourg, you must report it to the police on the following number: 12321
- If you have witnessed a case of child sex tourism when travelling abroad, you can report it here.
- If you are aware of a case of grooming you can report it online here.
Advice for young victims of sexual abuse or exploitation
If you are a victim of sexual exploitation or abuse, you can contact specialised protection services in Luxembourg for help and someone to talk to. Don’t keep it to yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are people who will listen to you! You may also choose to call:- KANNERJUGENDTELEFON – TEL : 116 111 Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 5pm to 10pm | Tuesday and Thursday from 2pm to 10pm and Saturday from 2pm to 8pm
- ALUPSE – TEL : 26 18 48 1 Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm or
- SOS DÉTRESSE – TEL.: 45 45 45 Open daily from 3pm to 11pm | Friday and Saturday from 11pm to 7am where you will be able to talk with someone who can help you and provide further advice. In the useful addresses tab you will find telephone numbers or websites for all the services able to help you
Useful addresses
Child Protection Unit (Grand Ducal Police)
“Child Protection Unit”Tél : 12321
BEE SECURE Stopline
The BEE SECURE Stopline aims to provide an anonymous framework for reporting illegal content found on the Internet and to handle these reports in collaboration with the competent national and international authorities.BEE SECURE Helpline
The BEE SECURE Helpline provides children, adolescents, parents and educators with personalised guidance and advice on everything to do with the use of new media.Tél : 8002 – 1234
KannerJugendtelefon (KJT)
The KJT initiative is intended first and foremost for children and young people, offering them a receptive ear and unhindered, readily accessible help. You can call 116 111 or, write to us at Online Help, or visit our website for more information: www.kjt.luOmbuds-Comité fir d’Rechter vum Kand (ORK)
ORK is a neutral point of contact for promoting the “Convention on the Rights of the Child” in Luxembourg and ensuring it is respected. ORK can be contacted by any child or adolescent under the age of 18 whose rights have not been respected in some way. They can speak freely and express their opinion by phone or email.Tél : 26 123 124
National Office for Children (ONE)
The National Children’s Office (ONE) is a centralised service providing information on support and assistance available for children in need and their families. Children, adolescents, family members or professionals can go directly to ONE to seek help. In coordination with childcare providers, ONE offers specialised support to deal with the psycho-social distress of children, youth and their families.Tél : 247-73696
Service central d’assistance sociale (SCAS) – victim support service
The victim support service of the SCAS is intended for victims (children, adolescents, adults) whose mental and/or physical integrity has been violated following a criminal offence (such as threats, domestic violence, sexual assaults, assault and battery, sexual abuse, obsessive harassment or “stalking”). The service is also directed at those who by virtue of their relationship with the victim(s) have had to share their suffering as well as for those who have witnessed criminal offences. The service offers these individuals psychological and psychotherapeutic counselling, informs them about their rights and can support them during the legal process. Tél : 47 58 21-1 Femmes en Détresse (FED) FED aims to provide women, their children, and girls with effective protection against violence by developing and managing hostels for women and girls in distress as well as information and consultation centres.Tél : 40 73 35
SOS Détresse
Anyone looking for a frank and confidential discussion can call SOS Détresse, whether to discuss questions they are asking themselves, problems, concerns, how they are feeling, their personal situation or relationships. Email support is also available around the clock.Tél : 45 45 45
(3pm – 11pm 7 days a week – Fri/Sat 11pm – 7am)
ALUPSE
The ALUPSE-DIALOGUE takes care of any situation in which children, adolescents and young adults up to the age of 21 find themselves a victim of physical violence, mental violence, sexual abuse, negligence or institutional abuse.Tél : 26 18 48 1
FAQ
Cases of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation are dealt with by specialised police services which have received specific training on the issue. The reporting form is hosted directly on the police forces’ website. This website (www.childprotection.lu) only provides the link to this form. As a result, the protection of your data and private life is fully guaranteed. The information you provide will only be accessible to the police and judiciary, who are legally authorised to handle it.
The online mechanism has been designed to make it easier for you to submit a report by avoiding an initial visit to a police station in person. Online, you can provide information at your leisure without having to discuss face to face a subject which is sensitive or difficult to address.
Anonymous reporting online is not permitted under Luxembourg law. The individual wishing to report an incident will therefore be required to identify him/herself and state that they have understood the terms of the legal prohibition of hoax/slander/defamation.
If someone warns of a danger (and in the situations described on this website, a danger to a minor), which one knows not to exist and which results in intervention by the police or another monitoring or rescue agency, or even the justice system, that individual risks a prison sentence of up to five years.
Libel/slander is a false accusation damaging someone’s honour. A slanderous report aims to accuse with malicious intent another individual of an act which he/she did not commit. Libel/slander is prohibited by law and may result in criminal penalties provided for in sections 443 et seq. of the Penal Code.
A specialised police officer may contact you to clarify information. If the police contact you, don’t worry, their questions will focus on the matter you have reported. Making contact may also mean that your information has been of use in an investigation/inquiry.
Once a report has been submitted it cannot be withdrawn except by getting in touch directly with the police and explaining that there has been a mistake. It is also possible to get in touch directly with the police if you wish to add something to your report.
If the situation is urgent, call the local police in your area. If you saw something suspicious while travelling, you can report it even if you have no material evidence to prove that an offence has been committed. By submitting a report, you can alert the authorities and increase their vigilance in respect of a specific individual or place. You can describe what you have seen on the reporting form and the police will decide if the information requires further examination. You can even submit your report after your trip. Nevertheless, it is always preferable for the report to be made as quickly as possible and in situ to ensure rapid follow up. Report here.
No. No report can be submitted directly to ECPAT Luxembourg. This is to ensure the protection of your data and that only legally authorised individuals will be privy to the information you have provided.
ECPAT Luxembourg’s role is limited to providing you with information, via this website and www.ecpat.lu, on how the reporting mechanism works and on the problem of child sexual exploitation. ECPAT Luxembourg does not deal with individual cases; there are other services in Luxembourg for this purpose.
Child sex tourism is not a legal term. This concept refers to crimes of a sexual nature committed against children while travelling abroad (for tourism or other purposes). It may therefore concern various sexual acts against children, such as rape (defined by article 375 of the Penal Code), the sexual exploitation of minors involved in prostitution (defined by articles 379-381 of the Penal Code), the production of child sexual abuse images, or other forms of sexual abuse of minors (for example grooming). To complete the legal framework and to reduce impunity for sexual offences committed outside Luxembourg's territory, the Grand Duchy also has at its disposal laws providing for extraterritorial competence for these offences. These provisions enable the judiciary to prosecute Luxembourg nationals or residents who have committed a sexual offence against minors abroad (article 5-2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure), irrespective of whether these acts are punished or not in the country in which they were committed (article 5-1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure).
In Luxembourg, the law states that any person under the age of 18 is deemed to be a child. At an international level, article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulates that a child is defined as any human being below the age of 18, except if majority is reached at an earlier age under the applicable legislation.
Cases of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation are dealt with by specialised police services which have received specific training on the issue. The reporting form is hosted directly on the police forces’ website. This website (www.childprotection.lu) only provides the link to this form. As a result, the protection of your data and private life is fully guaranteed. The information you provide will only be accessible to the police and judiciary, who are legally authorised to handle it.
The online mechanism has been designed to make it easier for you to submit a report by avoiding an initial visit to a police station in person. Online, you can provide information at your leisure without having to discuss face to face a subject which is sensitive or difficult to address.
Anonymous reporting online is not permitted under Luxembourg law. The individual wishing to report an incident will therefore be required to identify him/herself and state that they have understood the terms of the legal prohibition of hoax/slander/defamation.
If someone warns of a danger (and in the situations described on this website, a danger to a minor), which one knows not to exist and which results in intervention by the police or another monitoring or rescue agency, or even the justice system, that individual risks a prison sentence of up to five years.
Libel/slander is a false accusation damaging someone’s honour. A slanderous report aims to accuse with malicious intent another individual of an act which he/she did not commit. Libel/slander is prohibited by law and may result in criminal penalties provided for in sections 443 et seq. of the Penal Code.
A specialised police officer may contact you to clarify information. If the police contact you, don’t worry, their questions will focus on the matter you have reported. Making contact may also mean that your information has been of use in an investigation/inquiry.
- You can report someone who has made sexual propositions to you on the Internet.
- You can report someone who asks you for nude photographs and/or asks you to undress in front of a webcam.
- You can report someone not known to you outside the Internet who tries to persuade you to meet him/her in secret.
- You can report any of the above situations whether it has happened to you personally or to a child you know.
No. No report can be submitted directly to ECPAT Luxembourg. This is to ensure the protection of your data and that only legally authorised individuals will be privy to the information you have provided. ECPAT Luxembourg’s role is limited to providing you with information, via this website and www.ecpat.lu, on how the reporting mechanism works and on the problem of child sexual exploitation. ECPAT Luxembourg does not deal with individual cases; there are other services in Luxembourg for this purpose.
Grooming is a process by which an adult person seeks to befriend an adolescent or child under the age of 16, on the Internet, to “prepare” the child/adolescent with a view to having sexual relations with him or her. This applies to explicit, implicit and even veiled sexual propositions. Grooming is often carried out through “chat rooms”, social networks or games on tablets and/or “smartphones”. It is not rare for the child to be offered a monetary reward or other inducement, lending the offence a commercial aspect. Grooming is a growing phenomenon affecting an increasing number of European minors. Since 2011, Luxembourg law has been amended to respond to this reality and, under article 385-2 of the Penal Code, it has become a criminal offence for an adult to make sexual propositions to a minor under the age of 16 or to an individual purporting to be such through means of electronic communication. The sentence is between one month and three years in prison and a fine of between 251 and 50,000 euros. If the propositions have been followed by a meeting, the sentences applied are more severe ranging between one and five years in prison and a fine of up to 75,000 euros. The online dissemination of pornographic images depicting a minor is also punishable by law.
In Luxembourg, the law states that any person under the age of 18 is deemed to be a child. At an international level, article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulates that a child is defined as any human being below the age of 18, except if majority is reached at an earlier age under the applicable legislation.
The form for reporting child sex abuse images is forwarded directly to the specialised BEE SECURE Stopline team, which deals with these reports in collaboration with the competent national and international authorities.
Yes, you can make an anonymous report. Individuals who submit a report will receive an identification number that they can use to track the progress of their report.
As soon as a report has been sent to the BEE SECURE Stopline it is no longer possible to add to or withdraw it.
You can report illegal content that you have encountered on the Internet, for example if you see images of a pornographic nature featuring children. Report here.
According to article 383 of the Penal Code, the production, carriage and commercial dissemination of any form of image or other material of a pornographic nature featuring a child is prohibited and punished by a prison sentence of between one and five years as well as a fine of between 251 euros and 75,000 euros. Recording or disseminating a pornographic image or representation featuring a minor shall be punished by between one month and three years in prison and a fine of between 251 and 50,000 euros. The use of an electronic communication network to disseminate such an image or representation to an undetermined audience shall be punished by between one and five years in prison and a fine of between 251 and 100,000 euros. Under article 384 of the Penal Code it shall also be prohibited to acquire, possess and view this type of material. These acts are liable to a prison sentence of between one month and three years and a fine of between 251 euros and 50,000 euros.
In Luxembourg, the law states that any person under the age of 18 is deemed to be a child. At an international level, article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulates that a child is defined as any human being below the age of 18, except if majority is reached at an earlier age under the applicable legislation.