This country profile presents the administrative data collected in Luxembourg during the 2023–2024 data collection exercise with the support of national data providers and national researchers.
The list of 13 indicators developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) for the purposes of this data collection exercise is presented in Annex 1.
The data collected in other countries and the methodological report are published in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database.
Interpreting the data collected in Luxembourg
Due to the nature of the statistical systems in Luxembourg, all data presented in this country profile refers to cases where victims, perpetrators, and offences were identified. However, a direct link between the number of victims, perpetrators, and offences cannot be established. Therefore, data should be interpreted with caution.
For instance, victims in cases of domestic violence means all victims that were recorded in a case that, among other offences, included domestic violence. Therefore, not all victims were necessarily victims of domestic violence, however, as the exact number cannot be established, all victims identified in the case involving domestic violence are counted. Similarly, cases that include females mean that, among all victims in a case, at least one female was identified, and, while the case was recorded as being against a female victim, not all victims in the case were necessarily females.
Domestic violence
EIGE defines domestic violence as ‘all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit, irrespective of biological or legal family ties, or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence as the victim’.
In Luxembourg, there is no legal definition of domestic violence and no distinction between intimate partner and domestic violence. However the law on domestic violence of September 2003 (Loi modifiée du 8 septembre 2003 sur la violence domestique) defines the conditions and indicators that must be fulfilled to proceed to an expulsion of a perpetrator of domestic violence by defining also the potential victims in case of domestic violence in a household or a shared home.
Police data is available on victims in cases involving domestic violence. Domestic violence data refers to violence between family members and intimate partners, specifically, current spouses and current cohabitating spouses.
Victims in cases related to domestic violence
In 2022, police recorded 1,095 women victims in cases related to domestic violence. During the year, women represented most victims in cases that involved domestic violence (1,095 out of 1,826).
Figure 1 Annual number of female and total victims in cases related to domestic violence (Indicator 1), 2018-2022
The police data recorded in Luxembourg sheds light on the extent to which women suffer from domestic violence. Findings of the EU-GBV survey also show that 30 % of women in Luxembourg have experienced physical violence (including threats) or sexual violence by a domestic perpetrator during adulthood.
Victims in cases involving specific forms of domestic violence
As part of EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise, national data providers in Luxembourg shared data on the annual number of victims recorded by the police in cases related to physical, psychological and sexual domestic violence (Indicators 4-6).
Figure 2 Annual number of female and total victims in cases related to physical, psychological, and sexual domestic violence (Indicators 4-6), 2018-2022
Femicide: Number of women killed
EIGE defines femicide as ‘killing of women and girls because of their gender’. It is the most severe manifestation of gender-based violence. EIGE’s femicide classification framework distinguishes between killings committed by intimate partners and family members and other forms of femicide, which are less common.
There is no legal definition of femicide in Luxembourg. However, data is available on women victims of domestic homicide and any homicide.
Between 2018 and 2022, police recorded 5 women victims of homicide committed by a domestic perpetrator. During this period, women represented 50 % of victims killed by a domestic perpetrator (5 out of 10).
In the same period, police recorded 10 women victims of homicide committed by any perpetrator. Between 2018 and 2022, women comprised 45 % of homicide victims killed by any perpetrator (10 out of 22).
Figure 3 Annual number of female and total victims of domestic homicide, and homicide in any relationship (Indicator 9), 2018-2022
Rape: Number of women victims in cases involving rape
EIGE defines rape as ‘sexual penetration, whether vaginal, anal or oral, through the use of object or body parts, without consent, using force, coercion or by taking advantage of the vulnerability of the victim’.
In Luxembourg, rape is criminalised under Article 375 of the Criminal Code and is defined as ‘any act of sexual penetration, of any nature and by any means, committed against a person who does not consent to it.’
Between 2018 and 2022, police recorded 59 women victims in cases related to domestic rape. During this period, women represented 78 % of victims in cases related to domestic rape (59 out of 76).
In the same period, police recorded 143 women victims in cases that involved any rape. Between 2018 and 2022, women comprised 77 % of victims in cases related to any rape (143 out of 185).
Figure 4 Annual number of female and total victims in cases related to domestic rape, and any rape (Indicator 8), 2018-2022
Protecting victims in cases of intimate partner and domestic violence
A protection order, in the context of violence against women, is defined as ‘a legal injunction that requires an offender to refrain from doing certain acts and to stay away from the victim’. Protection orders can be adopted under criminal or civil laws. They are fast legal remedies to protect people at risk of any form of violence by prohibiting or restraining certain behaviour by the perpetrators.
Protection orders for victims in cases of intimate partner violence
In 2022, 548 protection order applications were filed for women in cases related to intimate partner violence. During the same year, 173 protection orders were granted to women in cases involving intimate partner violence.
Figure 5 Annual number of protection orders (applied and granted) for women in cases related to intimate partner violence (Indicator 10), 2019-2022
Protection orders for victims in cases of domestic violence
In 2022, 711 protection order applications were filed for women in cases related to domestic violence. During the same year, 224 protection orders were granted to women in cases related to domestic violence.
Figure 6 Annual number of protection orders (applied and granted) for women in cases related to domestic violence (Indicator 10), 2019-2022
Perpetrators related to intimate partner violence and domestic violence
Perpetrators are defined as ‘persons brought into formal contact with the police and suspected/arrested or cautioned for a criminal offence’.
Perpetrators recorded
In 2022, police recorded 941 male perpetrators in cases involving domestic violence. The data presented below is not disaggregated by the sex of the victim.
Figure 7 Annual number of male perpetrators recorded in cases related to domestic violence (Indicator 3), 2018-2022
Perpetrators prosecuted
In 2022, 121 men were prosecuted for domestic violence. Of these men, 100 were prosecuted for domestic violence in cases that included women victims.
The data below relates to perpetrators whose cases have been transmitted to the court (renvoi / citation). This means that the case is sent to trial after the police and judicial investigation is complete.
Figure 8 Annual number of male perpetrators prosecuted for domestic violence in cases including female and total victims (Indicator 11), 2014-2022
Perpetrators sentenced
In 2022, 19 men were sentenced for intimate partner violence against total victims. In the same year, 91 men were sentenced for domestic violence against total victims.
Figure 9 Annual number of male perpetrators sentenced for intimate partner violence and domestic violence against total victims (Indicator 12), 2014-2022
Perpetrators with final convictions including prison sentences
Data from the justice sector shows one male perpetrator with a final conviction including a prison sentence for intimate partner violence in the year 2022. In the same year, 20 men had final convictions which included prison sentences for domestic violence.
The data refers to the number of male perpetrators that should be in prison per reference year, based on their conviction (not the number of people that are held in prison for intimate partner violence or domestic violence).
Figure 10 Annual number of male perpetrators with final convictions including prison sentences for intimate partner violence or domestic violence against total victims (Indicator 13), 2014-2022
Summary of data availability and next steps
Findings from EIGE’s 2023-2024 data collection exercise in Luxembourg underscore the persistent threat of domestic violence to the safety and well-being of women and girls.
The collection of robust administrative data on intimate partner violence and domestic violence is essential to ensure effective policymaking, resource allocation, and the development of targeted interventions to support victims and prevent further violence.
EIGE’s research shows that, in Luxembourg, data is available on victims, offences and perpetrators in cases involving domestic violence. EIGE also managed to retrieve data on victims in cases involving specific forms of domestic violence. However, data related to intimate partner violence is limited and has only been shared for certain indicators.
Data is also available on victims of homicide committed by domestic perpetrators, and any perpetrator. Similarly, figures have been shared on victims in cases involving rape.
In terms of the justice sector, data is available on protection orders for victims in cases of intimate partner violence and domestic violence. Data is also available on perpetrators prosecuted, sentenced, and with final convictions including prison sentences for intimate partner violence and/or domestic violence.
However, a direct link between the number of victims, perpetrators, and offences cannot be established due to the nature of the statistical system in Luxembourg. This makes it challenging to explore the true extent to reported violence against women and domestic violence in the country.
In May 2024, the EU adopted Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence. Article 44 establishes that Member States must work with EIGE to collect administrative data on these forms of violence and must adhere to common standards. EIGE remains committed to supporting Member States in their efforts to collect comprehensive, reliable data on violence against women and domestic violence.
Further details on the data collected during EIGE’s 2023–2024 data collection exercise are available in EIGE’s Gender Statistics Database and on its website.
Annexes
Annex 1: List of EIGE’s 13 indicators on intimate partner violence and domestic violence