A three-day seminar at the Chamber of Employees recently focused on key issues affecting children and adolescents in Luxembourg. The event, organised for the fifth time by the Ombudsman for Children’s Rights (OKAJU), brought together experts to discuss justice, inclusion, and origins.
Ombudsman Charel Schmit delivered a strong message regarding children’s right to know their biological origins. He stated Luxembourg’s current laws – particularly regarding anonymous births established in the 1970s – fail to align with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Schmit emphasised this right extends to children born through assisted reproductive technology (ART), urging lawmakers to modernise legislation.
The discussion also addressed surrogacy arrangements, with Schmit stressing that no child should face discrimination in accessing ancestral information. OKAJU reissued its position paper on the matter, pressing for prompt legislative action.
The seminar examined inclusive education, with Schmit advocating for child-centred solutions. While acknowledging practical resource limitations, he maintained every child holds an unconditional right to formal education.
“The priority must always be the child’s best interests”, Schmit stated, emphasising the need for tailored educational settings. He framed inclusion as an ongoing dialogue rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, calling for diverse solutions to ensure all children receive appropriate schooling.
The seminar also drew insights from the Netflix series “Adolescence” to discuss approaches to underage offenders. OKAJU Charel Schmit emphasised that children who commit crimes should not be stigmatised as “monster children”, but rather require appropriate support systems and meaningful interventions.
Regarding young victims of abuse, violence, or offences, Schmit stressed the urgent need to enhance support structures through strengthened inter-agency cooperation and earlier implementation of information-sharing protocols.
Schmit highlighted the complex overlap between victims and perpetrators, specifically addressing the phenomenon of “paedohunting”, clearly stating that vigilante justice by private citizens remains unacceptable. However, he acknowledged growing public frustration with current systems.
The discussion revealed significant concerns about online child protection. Schmit criticised the slow response times compared to other digital crimes, noting: “In cases of financial crime or terrorism, platforms are blocked within 24 hours or earlier. We need similar urgency when harmful content involving children circulates online.”
