What is violence?
It’s the intention to cause harm to someone and prevent their well-being. It’s being malicious. Violence can take place anywhere – within your family, among friends, at home, at school or even online.
You meet adults every day. Most of them are nice, but unfortunately some of them are dangerous to children. They may harm a child or do embarrassing things with their body. These are criminal acts that are punishable by law. For children to be protected, these people need to be reported, punished and treated.
What are the different types of violence?
- Physical violence: hitting or hurting someone physically
- Mental violence: bullying, insulting or excluding someone, either face-to-face or online
- Sexual violence: touching or stroking someone’s body in an intimate (or sexual) way, against their wishes
- Negligence or abandonment: leaving a child alone and not taking care of them.
How to protect yourself?
First of all, you have the right to say “NO” out loud, to run away and to seek help. Adults have a duty to protect you, as specified in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
You should be able to trust adultsMaybe your parents, or someone in your family, a neighbour you think is nice, a friend's parents, a teacher at school or at the conservatoire. It could also be a coach at your sports club, or perhaps an educator. , and in turn they should protect and defend you:
- Against violence
- Against mistreatment
- Against a lack of care and attention from those who look after you, including in your family and any establishments that welcome children and young people.
If adults aren’t protecting you, click on Help.
No violence is acceptable
Your body belongs to you
No one has the right to hurt you, touch you, hug you or cuddle you if you don’t want them to. You have to agree to it, this means ‘giving your consent’.
Le consentement, c’est quoi ?
Your consent is when you agree to do something or to have physical, sexual or intimate contact with someone. You have the right to say NO to hugs and other expressions of physical contact. When you agree or disagree, the other person must respect your decision. If you say yes to start with and then change your mind, you still have the right to say NO. The other person must always respect your decision.
Above all, don’t shut yourself off
Victims often isolate themselves because they feel embarrassed or guilty, through no fault of their own. Even if you are afraid or embarrassed, it’s important to talk to someone. You’re not alone in facing abuse or violence, and you don’t have to overcome this problem on your own. Isolating yourself will only make you more vulnerable.
Talk about it to an adult you can trust to help you and support you, or get directly in touch with one of the help services here. services here. The staff at these services are trained to advise, support and assist young people who are in tricky situations. They will be able to help and guide you.
The different types of violence
Physical violence
Mental violence
Digital violence
Sexual violence
Negligence or abandonement
Trafficking
What measures exist to protect you?
Luxembourg has a zero-tolerance approach to violence
No violence is tolerated. In Luxembourg, there are laws against all forms of violence.
You have doubts...
You’re wondering if you’re a victim of violence?
You think that something isn’t right and you don’t know how to get through it?
You’re being bullied in real life or online?
No violence is acceptable!
Talk to an adult you can trust, whether a family member, a coach or a teacher, or contact someone here.