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1. Intercultural awareness

2. Young people's rights

3. Key initiatives to safeguard democracy and prevent radicalisation leading to violent extremism

Intercultural awareness

Promoting intercultural awareness among young people is a core element of social inclusion policies in Luxembourg and is embedded in institutional frameworks defined by national action plans and public services. Young people are explicitly identified as priority target groups in the National Action Plan on Integration and Living Together and the National Action Plan against Racism, which provide a strategic framework for initiatives promoting dialogue, equality and participation.

The current Government Programme further underlines the importance of cultural exchanges and European youth mobility as tools to strengthen intercultural understanding and social cohesion. Programmes such as Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and ALMA (Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve) are supported as instruments that foster intercultural learning, solidarity and European citizenship, particularly for young people with fewer opportunities.

Within the education system, the Service de l’intégration et de l’accueil scolaires (SIA) supports schools in addressing interculturality, diversity and inclusion. The SIA provides expertise, guidance and training to educational professionals and contributes to the prevention of discrimination and exclusion from an early age.

In the field of non-formal education, the National Youth Service (SNJ) promotes intercultural awareness and democratic values through structured educational activities. The Centre de Cinqfontaines, operated by the SNJ, develops programmes on human rights, remembrance, antisemitism prevention and democratic culture, notably in cooperation with partners such as the Centre for Political Education (ZpB). These activities primarily target young people and youth professionals.

At local level, municipalities contribute to intercultural awareness through institutional frameworks such as the municipal pact for intercultural living together (Gemengepakt vum Zesummeliewen). This framework supports local initiatives promoting dialogue, participation and social cohesion, including actions specifically targeting young people.

The law of 23 August 2023 on intercultural living together has brought forth the citizen's pact (‘Biergerpakt’). The signatories undertake to participate in the approach of intercultural living together and to promote the values associated with it. By becoming a part of the citizens' pact, individuals gain entry to the intercultural living-together program, which serves as a platform for participants to delve deeper into Luxembourg, encompassing its languages, history, values, traditions and administrative processes.

Civil society organisations also play an important role in promoting intercultural awareness and social cohesion. The Association for the Support of Migrant Workers (ASTI) implements workshops and awareness-raising activities addressing diversity, equality and participation (see 5.8 Raising political awareness among young people). In addition, organisations such as Young Caritas and Croix-Rouge Jeunesse engage young people in volunteer activities, solidarity projects and group-based initiatives that bring together participants from different social and cultural backgrounds. Through these practical experiences, young people develop intercultural competences, empathy and a sense of social responsibility, thereby contributing to inclusive and cohesive communities.

Young people's rights

The protection and promotion of young people’s rights in Luxembourg are ensured through legal frameworks and institutional bodies established by law, complemented by national action plans and public services.

A key institutional actor in this field is the Ombudsman for Children and Young People (Ombudsman fir Kanner a Jugendlecher – OKaJu), an independent body established by law. OKaJu is mandated to safeguard and promote the rights of children and young people, raise awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and monitor its implementation in Luxembourg. It can receive complaints from children, young people or their representatives and issue recommendations to competent authorities.

In addition, the Ombudsman of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, also an independent authority defined by law, contributes to safeguarding fundamental rights by handling complaints related to the functioning of public authorities. Young people, or their legal representatives, may address the Ombudsman in cases where they consider that their rights have not been respected by public administrations.

In addition to legal protection mechanisms, young people’s rights in Luxembourg are promoted through policy frameworks aimed at ensuring effective access to essential services for children and adolescents in vulnerable situations. In this context, Luxembourg implements the European Child Guarantee through a national action plan designed to prevent and combat social exclusion.

The national implementation of the Child Guarantee identifies children and young people at risk of poverty or social exclusion as priority target groups and promotes a coordinated approach across policy areas, including education, healthcare, housing, nutrition and participation. By strengthening access to rights and services at an early stage, the Child Guarantee contributes to reducing inequalities and preventing long-term social exclusion among young people.

In addition, the National Action Plan for the Rights of the Child provides a comprehensive framework for implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Plan identifies children and young people as rights holders and addresses key areas such as participation, protection, access to services and equal opportunities. Several measures within the Plan explicitly concern adolescents and young people, particularly in relation to education, protection against discrimination and access to support services.

Young people’s rights are also promoted through sectoral action plans addressing discrimination and inequality, including the National Action Plan for LGBTIQ+ Equality, the National Action Plan on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the National Action Plan against Racism, all of which identify children and young people as priority target groups.

Key initiatives to safeguard democracy and prevent radicalisation leading to violent extremism

Safeguarding democracy and preventing radicalisation leading to violent extremism among young people is addressed through coordinated institutional initiatives combining prevention, education and support. These initiatives are embedded in national prevention strategies and implemented through cooperation between ministries, public services and specialised partner organisations.

A key specialised actor in the prevention of radicalisation is respect.lu, which operates as a national resource centre supported by public authorities. respect.lu implements prevention, awareness-raising, training and counselling activities targeting young people, families and professionals, with a focus on early prevention, resilience-building and deradicalization.

Democratic education and human rights education implemented through schools, youth work and non-formal education settings further contribute to preventing radicalisation and promoting active citizenship among young people. These initiatives aim to strengthen critical thinking, social cohesion and young people’s engagement in democratic life. The Centre for Political Education (ZpB; Zentrum fir politesch Bildung) is an important stakeholder with regard to citizenship education. It develops programmes and initiatives to safeguard democracy against and prevent radicalisation which leads to violent extremism (see: 5.8 Raising political awareness among young people).

In addition to face-to-face prevention and support initiatives, Luxembourg also addresses risks related to online hate speech, racism and radicalisation through institutional digital safety frameworks. In this context, the BEE SECURE initiative provides dedicated mechanisms to support young people and the wider public in dealing with harmful online content. The BEE SECURE Stopline allows users to report illegal or harmful online content, including racist or hate-based material, while the BEE SECURE Helpline offers confidential advice and support to individuals, including young people, who are confronted with online risks such as hate speech, cyberbullying or extremist content. These services contribute to safeguarding democratic values and preventing radicalisation by promoting awareness, early reporting and access to support.