The founding members of the non-profit include Serge and René Kollwelter, Tom Krieps, and Guy Foetz, all affiliated with organisations and political parties such as the Association for the Support of Immigrant Workers (ASTI), the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), the Left Party (déi Lénk), as well as the Green Party (déi Gréng), and the Pirate Party.
While supporting the fight against organised begging, the founders express concern about what they perceive as an “undignified hunt” targeting ordinary beggars in the capital.
The primary objective of this non-profit is to offer moral, legal, and other necessary support to individuals engaged in begging.
The association emphasises common legal arguments against the prohibition of begging and calls for adherence to the rule of law. In a press release introducing the new non-profit, it underscores that the act of begging stems from social inequalities or life’s unforeseen challenges. Consequently, the association argues that enforcing repressive measures and displacing the poor from the city centre contradicts the principles of social justice within a democratic society.
While acknowledging that the public prosecutor’s office is likely to dismiss all cases related to simple begging, the members of the non-profit seek legal certainty and aim to provide assistance to beggars in navigating the legal landscape.
However, the non-profit faces a legal roadblock – it cannot independently initiate legal proceedings.
Explaining the predicament, Tom Krieps, a lawyer and co-founder of the non-profit, clarifies, “The only avenue for legal action against [the begging ban] is to identify an affected party, someone who is homeless and willing to contest Minister Gloden’s decision.”
The non-profit aims to persuade a beggar to pursue legal action and pledges support throughout the process. With four in-house lawyers volunteering their services pro bono, the association seeks to make legal recourse accessible.
In addition, “Solidaritéit mat den Heescherten” is committed to proactive engagement. The association plans to conduct public events and conferences to shed light on the legal and social aspects of begging, emphasising the growing disparities in society, as outlined in their press release.
Among their initiatives is an event involving a “chain of lanterns” in Luxembourg City on Candlemas Day (Liichtmëssdag in Luxembourgish). This event coincides with the day when children in Luxembourg traditionally go door-to-door seeking sweets while carrying lanterns.
