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Luxembourg's Ministry of Justice launched an awareness campaign on Saturday 18 November 2023 to mark the European Day on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.
This campaign aims to inform the public about the essential implications of the new law intended to strengthen the protection of children against sexual abuse and exploitation.
The ministry noted that sexual violence and abuse against children has profound and lasting consequences for victims, causing long-term trauma. The new legal provisions seek to remedy this situation by strengthening legislation. The main elements of this new law (adopted in parliament in July 2023) are:
- tougher penalties for sexual abuse;
- an extension of the statute of limitations for sexual offences against minors;
- the rape of a minor is imprescriptible (no statute of limitations).
According to the ministry, sexual abuse of children and adolescents, whether it occurs online or offline, is treated equally, with enhanced penalties and extended statutes of limitations.
The ministry added that this new law is aimed at adapting legislation to international commitments regarding the protection of minors and filling the gaps that have emerged due to "significant technological advances".
In summary, this new law aims to precisely define consent to a sexual act, repress any non-consensual sexual act, including when the victim has not put up physical resistance, and establish a more precise definition of rape and create a standalone offence of "rape of a minor". It also aims to extend the sanctions applicable to incestuous relations with a minor to the latter's trusted people.
The aim of this campaign (consisting of a poster campaign, etc.) is to inform victims of their rights, to warn perpetrators of the consequences of their actions and to raise awareness among the general public to be more vigilant in protecting children and adolescents.
