Respect.lu Highlights Rising Radicalisation Concerns in 2024 Annual Report

Respect.lu recently presented its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting a year marked by growing social polarisation, digital challenges and increasing complexity in the cases it handled.

In total, respect.lu addressed 71 situations, including fifteen which were supported within the framework of the “Dialogue Instead of Hate” programme. The organisation noted an overall increase in complexity among the cases it accompanied in 2024.

According to respect.lu, the dynamics of radicalisation highlighted the growing need for long-term and individually tailored interventions. Karin Weyer, Director of respect.lu, commented: "Radicalisation is often rooted in quite ordinary life stories. What we encounter are individuals with complex biographical disruptions, a sense of disorientation and a longing for belonging – nothing unusual, especially during adolescence. That is precisely why individual approaches, careful trust-building and collaboration with actors from the social and, when necessary, legal system are essential. The ultimate goal is always to reach the person – and thus create a path back into society.”

A thematic focus in 2024 was placed on exploring the power of narratives, particularly through the film project D'Land am Schiet (The Land in the Shadows), which critically examines populist and polarising stories.

At the same time, respect.lu noted that the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping public opinion presented new challenges for preventive and educational efforts.

According to respect.lu, a total of fifteen training sessions involving around 400 participants were held in 2024. The organisation also reported hosting fifteen public events that reached approximately 1,000 people.

A central focus of this year’s prevention efforts was the critical examination of narratives. The film D’Land am Schiet had its exclusive premiere in March 2024, followed by a public release in October 2024. Screenings were held in six cinemas across Luxembourg, as well as in four other European capital cities.