Advocacy groups denounce newspaper for platforming presumed child sex abuser

In a press release, spokespeople for the International Women's Day in Luxembourg (JIF) have expressed outrage at the editorial decision of Luxembourg's largest daily newspaper – Luxemburger Wort – to dedicate an entire page of its Friday print to a man found guilty of child sex abuse crimes in a first instance verdict. The JIF association is criticising the paper for providing a platform to the man, who they claim used the opportunity to present himself as a victim.

The association also strongly denounced the article's failure to acknowledge the victims of his alleged crimes: "As the country's leading daily newspaper, Luxemburger Wort bears a huge responsibility for the way in which the facts of society are presented. By publishing this one-sided account, without contradiction, without any perspective from the victims (who, it should be remembered, are still minors and cannot express themselves publicly), the editorial team has made a clear choice: to give all the media space to the presumed perpetrator."

JIF officials further argue that this approach reinforces harmful narratives, trivialises sexual violence, and reflects a broader media pattern of treating such issues as sensationalist content rather than serious societal problems. In this context, JIF highlights alarming statistics from Planning Familial about the prevalence and long-term impact of sexual abuse and denounces the media's role in perpetuating the harmful dynamic of portraying aggressors as victims.

Similarly, the association The Voice of Survivors (La Voix des Survivant(e)s) expressed shock and dismay at Wort's editorial decision. According to the group, the presumed abuser distorted the facts in the interview and failed to mention his victims even once.

The man in question was convicted in a first instance but has appealed the ruling.