In October 2025, serious sexual abuse allegations against a former director of the SOS Children’s Village in Mersch became public.
The case raised several questions concerning the handling of such abuse cases – namely, how they should be reported and destigmatised. These and other topics were discussed on Thursday during a joint meeting of the parliamentary education and justice committees. Minister of Justice Elisabeth Margue, Minister of Education Claude Meisch, and representatives of the public prosecutor’s office faced questions from MPs.
The number of reported abuse cases affecting minors has increased significantly. In 2021, 1,021 cases were reported, a figure that jumped to 2,206 in 2025. David Lentz, prosecutor at the Luxembourg City Public Prosecutor’s Office, stated that the increase can be partially explained by greater awareness and a growing willingness among victims to come forward.
Justice Minister Elisabeth Margue addressed reporters after the meeting and outlined several improvements currently in the works. She pointed in particular to the new youth protection law and youth criminal code, which the minister believes will provide a stronger framework for action in such situations. Margue noted, for example, that the bills would make it compulsory for individuals who witness an offence against a minor to report it – a more specific requirement than the current broad obligation to report crimes. According to Margue, this change aims to shed more light on such cases.
While MP Carole Hartmann of the Democratic Party (DP) also welcomed the measures included in the draft bills, she noted that there is still room for improvement regarding points of contact. Hartmann stated that it is worth considering whether such points of contact should be more clearly separated between those dealing with the protection of minors and those handling prosecution of minors. In her view, this would make it clearer to the public which institutions to contact depending on the situation.
For MP Dan Biancalana of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), who requested the session, the case of the Children’s Village in Mersch has highlighted that certain measures are not being properly enforced. In particular, Biancalana questioned the general functioning of institutions, including their policies regarding documentation, transmission, flagging, and archiving of abuse cases. The MP noted that the follow-up of cases was “significantly more difficult, if not non-existent” in the case of the Children’s Village. According to Biancalana, the necessary conclusions need to be drawn from such examples.
MP Djuna Bernard of the Green Party (Déi Gréng) echoed this sentiment, calling for more transparent and uniform rules. She highlighted the significant size of the youth sector and expressed her wish for clearer rules that apply to everyone. Bernard noted that uniformity is particularly important as organisations operate in very different ways, with some employing professionals while others rely on volunteers or individuals with no background in education.
The government is currently awaiting the opinions of the Council of State on the draft bills related to youth protection and the youth criminal code.
Meanwhile, the Luxembourg Children’s Village Foundation has tasked two expert commissions with independently reviewing the abuse cases in Mersch. Additionally, the foundation plans to commission an audit.
