Amnesty International, Innocence en danger ('Innocence in Danger'), and La voix des survivant(e)s ('The Voice of Survivors') have called for a demonstration in Luxembourg City at 3pm on Saturday, urging immediate improvements to child protection against violence in the country.
Protesters have been asked to bring a teddy bear as a symbol of support. The demonstration comes against the backdrop of weekly reports of child rape in Luxembourg and the recent high-profile case of Lyhanna in France, where an eleven-year-old girl was killed by a man with a history of sexual offences, despite previous warnings about the danger he posed.
The failings that led to her death have sparked widespread outrage beyond France's borders.
The three organisations highlight that victims and their parents are still too often dismissed or not taken seriously when they report suspicions of abuse. They also criticise the length of procedures in Luxembourg, arguing that the system is too slow to offer protection.
Around a month ago, La voix des survivant(e)s addressed an open letter to PM Luc Frieden in connection with the Lyhanna case, but has yet to receive a response.
Speaking to RTL on Saturday morning, President Ana Pinto acknowledged recent progress and praised good cooperation with the police and public prosecutor, but stressed that further measures are needed to prevent more children from becoming victims.
During the same interview, Pinto also addressed a separate controversy involving a campaign poster released by the Ettelbruck Multidisciplinary Arts Centre (CAPE).
Writing in a personal capacity on Facebook, Pinto had criticised the poster, which showed a young girl alongside the Luxembourgish slogan "there's something for everyone". She argued that the combination of the image and wording was sexually suggestive.
CAPE subsequently apologised and withdrew the poster. Pinto welcomed the arts centre's rapid response to her concerns.
