What does feminism in Luxembourg mean?

The Grand Duchy granted women suffrage in 1919 and abortion was fully legalised in 2014

Alexandra Thill
15/11/2025

Following a guest article in the Luxemburger Wort by Democratic Party politician Gérard Schockmel, who wrote that feminism aims to “systematically discriminate against men”, gender equality campaigners in the Grand Duchy spoke about what the movement means to them.GENDER

“Feminism is a movement that advocates equality for all genders,” Isabelle Schmoetten who heads the charity Women and Gender in Luxembourg (CID Fraen an Gender) told the Luxemburger Wort.

“Feminism is humanism," said Claudine Speltz from the National Council of Women in Luxembourg (CNFL), an umbrella organisation of different women's organisations. “It's about treating every person in such a way that they can exercise all their rights," she told the Luxemburger Wort.

Continued: https://www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/what-does-feminism-in-luxembourg-mean/104173755.html

Luxembourg – Critics, some from own party, round on Schockmel’s op-ed on abortion

Democratic Party’s minister for equality and its international section among those who argue MP’s attack on feminism is unjustified

Duncan Roberts
Oct 13, 2025

Democrat Party MP Gérard Schockmel came under fire at the weekend from several quarters, including those from his own party, after the Luxemburger Wort published a guest opinion column he had written on plans to include the freedom to getting an abortion in the Luxembourg constitution.

The opinion piece, titled How feminism dominates the abortion debate, argues that modern feminism is far removed from the fight for women’s rights made by Simone Veil, a French Holocaust survivor who became the first elected president of the European Parliament in 1979.

Continued: https://www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/critics-some-from-own-party-round-on-schockmel-s-op-ed-on-abortion/96969953.html

13.10.2025

Abortion freedom to be enshrined in Luxembourg’s constitution

Abortion freedom to be enshrined in Luxembourg's constitution
RTL Today
Oct 6, 2025

In recent weeks, lawmakers have debated whether Luxembourg's Constitution should refer to abortion as a right or a freedom.

On Friday, the parliamentary committee on institutions settled the question, with an overwhelming majority of MPs voting in favour of the term "freedom."

As explained by constitutional law expert Luc Heuschling the term offers stronger protection for doctors' freedom of conscience. Under this framework, women have the freedom to request the procedure, while doctors retain the freedom to decline to perform it.

Continued: https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2343852.html

06.10.2025

News

enshrining abortion rights in constitution

Luxembourg – If you oppose abortion, just don’t get one

Enshrining access to abortion in Luxembourg’s constitution would safeguard a human right, says editor-in-chief Cordula Schnuer

Cordula Schnuer, Editor-in-chief
20/09/2025

Luxembourg’s chief Catholic - Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich - has likened enshrining the right to abortion in the constitution to totalitarianism, saying people need to be free to express their opinion in a democratic country and that there are also women who oppose abortion becoming a constitutional right.

Hollerich is free to say this exactly because we live in a democracy. No one is refusing his right to his opinion, which includes believing that even in case of rape or incest women should not seek an abortion.

Continued: https://www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/if-you-oppose-abortion-just-don-t-get-one/91254221.html

20.09.2025

Opinion

Cordula Schnuer

Jean-Claude Hollerich

Luxembourg – Parliament opens debate on constitutional abortion rights

Céline Eischen – adapted for RTL Today
16.09.2025

Luxembourg's parliamentary process to enshrine abortion rights in the Constitution has begun, with most parties supportive, the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) still undecided, and the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) opposed.

The initiative was tabled by Marc Baum of The Left (déi Lénk), who insisted that abortion rights should be anchored in the Constitution. After the meeting, he said he was willing to work towards compromises and adjust the wording if necessary. With the exception of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV), he added, most parties had already clarified their stance.

Continued: https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2337060.html

16.09.2025

News

Carole Hartmann

Christian Social People's Party

LUXEMBOURG’s journey to constitutionalising abortion begins

Loretta Marie Perera
15.09.2025

The next step for enshrining abortion into Luxembourg's constitution kicked off on Monday with a demonstration preceding the first parliamentary meeting on the topic.

On Monday, 15 September, a gathering of around 70 people took off outside the Chamber of Deputies. Through unrelenting rain, attendees included party members from the Left, the Greens, and LSAP as well as representatives of organisations including OGBL and Amnesty International.

Continued: https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2336878.html

LUXEMBOURG – Healthcare rights are not political extremism

Written by Jana Degrott
Published on 15.09.2025

Cardinal Hollerich’s recent statements opposing constitutional protection for abortion access fundamentally misunderstand the nature of healthcare rights and constitutional protection.

The cardinal suggests that constitutional protection is unnecessary since abortion is already legal in Luxembourg. However, legal access without constitutional protection leaves medical care vulnerable to political shifts and legal uncertainties that can prove fatal. The tragic cases across Europe demonstrate this clearly:

Continued: https://delano.lu/article/healthcare-rights-are-not-political-extremism

15.09.2025

Opinion

Cardinal Hollerich

constitutional right to abortion

Luxembourg: Three-day reflection period abolished for women seeking abortion

Motion to extend period during which women can get an abortion from 12 to 14 weeks however fails

Cordula Schnuer, Editor-in-chief
July 9, 2025

Parliament this week scrapped a mandatory three-day waiting period between seeking a doctor’s consultation on an abortion and the procedure being carried out.

The government in January had sent the draft law to the Chamber of Deputies for review and adoption as part of the regular lawmaking proceedings. The assembly on Tuesday voted on the text, with a broad majority - all parties except for the right-wing populist ADR - supporting the bill.

Continued: https://www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/luxembourg-abolishes-mandatory-three-day-waiting-period-for-women-seeking-abortion/76844850.html

09.07.2025

News

abortion law reform

three-day waiting period

Why are so many European microstates against abortion?

In Andorra and Liechtenstein, abortion is still banned. In Monaco, it is illegal to perform an abortion. San Marino is an exception: in 2022 abortion was finally legalised. From the seaside principality of Monaco to the hilly enclave of San Marino, ENTR set out to meet those who fought sometimes insurmountable battles in the smallest of countries to break one of the biggest taboos.

June 12, 2025
By: Renée BERTINI, Jade BRIEND-GUY

“I didn't actually know I was pregnant, because I was on the pill". Under the already scorching May sun, Juliette Rapaire, 30, begins her story with a scenario common to many who choose to have an abortion. "It was the end of 2022, I went to see a gynaecologist for ovarian cysts, and he told me that I was pregnant. I was almost a month pregnant, so it was still within the legal time frame to get an abortion in France."

The young Monegasque woman then decided to contact a French gynaecologist practicing just across Monaco’s borders. On paper, abortion has been decriminalised in the microstate since 2019. People choosing to terminate their pregnancy no longer risk a fine or imprisonment. But doctors and midwives who conduct abortions still risk sanctions: five to ten years in prison and a blanket ban on practicing medicine. This means people from Monaco trying to get an abortion still do so elsewhere, mainly in France.

Continued: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250612-why-are-so-many-european-microstates-against-abortion-monaco-san-marino

Luxembourg – Government to end abortion reflection period, ban virginity exams

Jan 11, 2025

The Luxembourg government has approved a bill to abolish the mandatory three-day reflection period for abortions and ban virginity certificates and hymenoplasty, marking a significant step forward for women's rights.

The Ministries of Health and Justice announced on Friday evening that the Government Council has approved a bill seeking to strengthen women's rights in Luxembourg by abolishing the mandatory reflection period ahead of an abortion. The bill, which aims at combating practices undermining human dignity, will thus abolish the deadline, currently set at three days.

Continued: https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2266193.html

11.01.2025