Domestic Violence Reports Up 62%: Is Luxembourg Still Safe for Women?

Behind women's safety movements stand thousands of women, who were once frightened, silenced or subjected to physical or psychological aggression. Some did not know they could stand up for themselves. Others knew that they could, but their voices went unheard. And even when someone finally listened, they were often blamed for what had happened to them..

As someone who believes in democratic values, I absolutely agree that everyone, regardless of sex, ethnicity, etc., has an equal right to safety. Still, available data shows that among victims whose sex is recorded, women are more frequently affected by violence.

Even if women do not experience violence on every one of their daily journeys, there is still fear lingering in poorly lit streets, car parks, public transport, grocery shops, gyms and even within their own homes.
And countless "pocket guides", suggesting that women should attend self-defence classes, cover themselves properly or choose safer routes home, only feed that fear.

The numbers are rising

According to Luxembourg's official domestic violence statistics, police interventions rose from 802 in 2015 to 1,297 in 2025, an increase of nearly 62% over a decade. In the past year alone, cases rose by approximately 10%.
These figures concern domestic violence, not violence against women exclusively. However, women accounted for 81.6% of victims in cases resulting in the perpetrator's removal from the home.

Violence against women also takes other forms, including sexual assault, workplace harassment, stalking and, in the most extreme cases, femicide, which are not all reflected in domestic violence statistics.

The rise in recorded incidents does not necessarily mean that violence itself has increased. Greater awareness and more women recognising and reporting abusive behaviour may also be contributing to higher figures.

What has been done so far?

Luxembourg has seen several initiatives addressing violence against women over the years. Orange Week, first organised in the country in 2017, brought together public institutions and associations to raise awareness of gender-based violence through marches, debates and public events.

In 2025, the association La Voix des Survivantes brought demands for stronger action against sexual violence into parliamentary discussions. More recently, Ask for Angela, officially launched in Luxembourg in July 2026, introduced a system allowing people feeling unsafe in bars and other participating venues to discreetly seek help from trained staff.

Trusted authorities are crucial

The importance of trusting the authorities is something I have also experienced while travelling solo. Once, while taking a boat from Naples, Italy, to Tunisia to visit a friend, I arrived in Tunis around midnight after a 24-hour journey. Carrying two backpacks and having no internet connection, I was taken aside by the police for questioning. I was the only woman among 30 men who had also been stopped, apparently because of issues with their documents.

Two policemen were questioning us all in an open room. After waiting for an hour while others were being investigated, it was finally my turn. The police, smirking with his colleague, asked me exactly how much money I was carrying and other clearly unnecessary and provocative questions.

When I asked whether I could access Wi-Fi to contact my friend waiting at the harbour, one of the policemen said that if I opened my mouth again, they would send me straight back to Italy. At that very moment, I would have been relieved to see even a simple poster supporting women's safety behind them, to be sure that the authorities respect and value the voices of people.

Discussing my experience with a friend afterwards raised the possibility that such treatment was a way of intimidating travellers into paying money, or simply an abuse of authority.

I also have friends abroad who have experienced different forms of assaults but never reported them to the police, convinced that "they would not do anything about it".

But after this and a handful of other encounters with men, seemingly determined to prove their authority, Luxembourg has felt like milk and honey, honestly. Not because I believe nothing could happen here, but because I have first hand seen the police respond to incidents and take complaints seriously.

The limits of safety

Despite the country's reputation as one of the safest in the world, serious incidents can still occur in Luxembourg. In January 2026, a 35-year-old estate agent was killed in a knife attack during an apartment viewing in Limpertsberg, while another woman was seriously injured. Police arrested the suspected attacker within approximately twenty minutes of receiving the alert.

Although such cases are relatively rare in Luxembourg, the incident raised concerns about safety in the real estate sector, with agencies reconsidering their precautions to take during property viewings. Yet additional precautions have their limits, particularly when someone is determined to commit a violent act.

Meanwhile, Luxembourg's government continues to invest in crime prevention. Luxembourg City alone has 130 public-space surveillance cameras, with another 110 approved for the Gare district.

In June 2025, the government also introduced a national action plan against gender-based violence, comprising 62 measures. Luxembourg also has several women's shelters, including those operated by Femmes en Détresse and the Fondation Maison de la Porte Ouverte. The National Centre for Victims of Violence provides medical, social and legal assistance, while its national helpline is available 24 hours a day.

Public support has also been visible. The Ask for Angela march on 2 October 2026 attracted approximately 600 participants, reflecting public concern about women's safety.

More recently, a public petition calling for the legalisation of pepper spray and other non-lethal self-defence weapons collected more than 5,600 signatures, exceeding the 5,500 required for a debate in the parliament. The petition argues that the proposed reform would improve protection for vulnerable groups, including women, older people and night workers who travel alone in public spaces.

Harassment in the workplace

Beyond public spaces and their own homes, the workplace is another environment where women may feel unsafe. Power imbalances can expose them to various forms of harassment, particularly when they speak up about their needs, defend their values or demand equal treatment. In environments where women are still perceived as less capable or deserving of recognition, some may feel compelled to adopt a more agreeable, "likeable" persona to avoid conflict, maintain professional relationships or protect their jobs.

The boundaries between professional and personal life have also become increasingly blurred. Platforms such as LinkedIn, company websites and social media make employees more visible, revealing where they work and which events they attend. While this information is intended to support professional connections, some individuals use it to approach others for personal reasons, crossing boundaries that can, in some cases, lead to harassment or stalking.

Addressing the roots of violence

Going back to the fear that so many women face every day, practical safety measures can, and already do, make a difference. Better lighting in streets, parks and car parks, as well as safer public transport, could further reduce that fear.

Nevertheless, no advice can guarantee anyone's safety, and even the most cautious person can become a victim of violence. Prevention must therefore go beyond holding perpetrators accountable by fostering empathy, respect and a strong sense of ethics from childhood, alongside making psychotherapy more affordable and accessible in Luxembourg.

But these are not addressing the underlying issues, and surely we should be trying to stamp out such violence from its source, rather than trying to find remedies to help after violence has been carried out. Much has been written about people such as Andrew Tate whose messaging is described as misogynistic, promoting toxic masculinity, denigrates women and radicalises young boys and teenagers. A number of political leaders (not in Luxembourg, thankfully) are also known to denigrate women, showing that the issue is a societal one.

Ultimately, a safer society depends on its people. Alongside practical safety measures, keeping conversations about violence, boundaries and responsibility visible remains essential.