Minister of Justice Sam Tanson and Minister of Police Henri Kox published the relevant figures in a response to a parliamentary question posed by CSV MP Nancy Arendt (CSV).
Between 13 March and 13 July, 75 reports for violence against minors were registered with the public prosecutor's office, compared to 156 reports in the same period in 2019. In 2018, the figure reached 125.
Some of the reports contained infractions against more than one article of the criminal code.
During the four month period, 58 placements occurred in which 63 children were placed in a special institution or in a foster family. During the same period in 2019, 140 children had to be placed, with 149 in 2018.
The National Office for Children stressed it was not just about court-ordered placements. Four children aged between 3 and 12 as well as five adolescents aged 12 to 18 had been transferred to an institution on a voluntary basis. A child under the age of five was also placed with a foster family voluntarily.
The reasons behind the placements varied from family issues, to health issues or inadequate support measures.
It must be noted that the decrease in reports in the Grand Duchy could be explained by school closures. Teaching staff are often able to spot and report suspicions pertaining to their pupils, which would not be feasible in distance learning.
Victims of physical and sexual abuse are also often unable to report it until many months or years later.
