On Saturday, our colleagues from RTL Radio hosted a discussion with Annette Michels of La voix des Survivant(es), Andrée Birnbaum, Director General of Femmes en Détresse, and Charel Schmit, the Ombudsman for Children’s Rights, addressing domestic violence and the urgent need to better protect affected children and adolescents.
All three experts agreed that Luxembourg must improve its support systems for underage victims of domestic violence. Michels voiced particular concern that despite the Grand Duchy’s extensive support services, many children continue to suffer profoundly. Drawing from her own childhood experience with violence, she described living “in constant fear”.
Birnbaum highlighted a specific legal gap: when a violent parent (such as a father who abuses the mother) is removed from the home, they often retain visitation rights. This, she argued, fails to protect children who become “indirect victims” of the abuse.
Ombudsman Schmit echoed these concerns, emphasising that “children must not come second”. Michels further proposed amending legislation to formally recognise children as “co-victims” in such cases.
