| LUXEMBOURG Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Grand Duche de Luxembourg Joined United Nations: 24 October 1945 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Updated 18 October 2012 |
Chapter II Luxembourgers and Their Rights
Article 9 [Citizenship, Political Rights]
(1) The status of Luxembourger shall be acquired, retained, and lost in accordance with the rules determined by civil law.
(2) The Constitution and the other laws relating to political rights determine what conditions in addition to this status are
necessary for the exercise of these rights.
(3) By way of derogation from the preceding paragraph, the law may confer the exercise of political rights to
non-Luxembourgers.
Article 10 [Naturalization]
(1) Naturalization is granted by the legislature.
(2) The law determines the effects of naturalization.
Article 11 [Basic Rights]
(1) There is no distinction of orders in the State.
(2) Luxembourgers are equal before the law; they alone are eligible for civil and military service, save as the law may in
particular cases otherwise provide.
(3) The State guarantees the natural rights of the individual and of the family.
(4) The law guarantees the right to work and assure to every citizen the exercise of this right.
(5) The law organizes the social security, health protection, and rest of workers and guarantee the freedom of trade unions.
(6) The law guarantees freedom of trade and industry, the exercise of the professions and of agricultural labor, subject to any
restrictions that may be imposed by the legislature.
Article 12 [Individual Freedom]
Individual freedom shall be guaranteed. No one may be prosecuted except for the cases and according to the procedure laid
down by the law. Except in flagrante delicto, no one may be arrested without the reasoned order of the judge served at the time
of arrest or within twenty four hours at the latest.
Article 13 [Legal Judge]
No one may be deprived, against his will, of the Judge assigned to him by the law.
Article 14 [Nulla Poena Sine Lege]
No penalty may be fixed or applied except in pursuance of the law.
Article 15 [Home]
The home is inviolable. No domiciliary visit may be made except in cases and according to the procedure laid down by the law.
Article 16 [Property, Compensation]
No one may be deprived of his property except on grounds of public interest in cases and in the manner laid down by the law
and in consideration of prior and just compensation.
Article 17 [No Confiscation]
Confiscation of property as a penalty may not be instituted.
Article 18 [Abolished Penalties]
The death penalty on political grounds and civil death and branding are hereby abolished.
Article 19 [Freedom of Religion]
Freedom of religion and of public worship as well as freedom to express one's religious opinions are guaranteed, subject to the
repression of offenses committed in the exercise of such freedoms.
Article 20 [No Forced Religion]
No one may be forced to take part in any way whatsoever in the acts and ceremonies of a religion or to observe its days of rest.
Article 21 [Civil Marriage]
Civil marriage must always precede the nuptial benediction.
Article 22 [State and Church]
The State's intervention in the appointment and installation of heads of religions, the mode of appointing and dismissing other
ministers of religion, the right of any of them to correspond with their superiors and to publish their acts and decisions, as well
as the Church's relations with the State shall be made the subject of conventions to be submitted to the Chamber of Deputies
for the provisions governing its intervention.
Article 23 [Education, Health]
(1) The State ensures that every Luxembourger receives primary education which is compulsory and provided free of charge.
Medical and social assistance is regulated by the law.
(2) The State sets up secondary educational establishments and the necessary courses of higher education. It also establishes
free vocational training courses.
(3) The law determines the means of supporting State education and the conditions under which it is to be supervised by the
Government and the communes; it also regulates all educational matters and creates a fund for the exceptionally gifted.
(4) Every Luxembourger is free to pursue his studies in the Grand Duchy or abroad and to attend universities of his own
choosing, subject to the provisions of the law concerning admission to employment and the exercise of certain callings.
Article 24 [Expression]
Freedom of speech in all matters and freedom of the press is guaranteed, subject to the repression of offenses committed in the
exercise of these freedoms. No censorship may ever be introduced. Security may not be demanded of writers, publishers, or
printers. Stamp duty on native journals and periodicals is hereby abolished. No publisher, printer, or distributor may be
prosecuted if the author is known, if he is a Luxembourger, and resident in the Grand Duchy.
Article 25 [Assembly]
Luxembourgers have the right to assemble peaceably and unarmed in compliance with the laws governing the exercise of this
right which may not require prior authorization. This provision does not apply to open-air political, religious, or other meetings
which are fully governed by laws and police regulations.
Article 26 [Association]
Luxembourgers enjoy freedom of association. This right shall not be made subject to any prior authorization.
Article 27 [Petition]
Everyone has the right to address petitions signed by one or more persons to the public authorities. Only constituted authorities
have the right to address petitions collectively.
Article 28 [Correspondence]
(1) The secrecy of correspondence is inviolable. The law determines the agents responsible for the violation of the secrecy of
correspondence entrusted to the postal services.
(2) The law determines the guarantee to be afforded to the secrecy of telegrams.
Article 29 [Language]
The law shall regulate the use of languages in administrative and
judicial matters.
Article 30 [Proceedings Against Public Officials]
No prior authorization is required for instituting proceedings against public officials for their administrative acts, except as
provided for in respect of members of the Government.
Article 31 [Punishment of Public Officials]
Public officials, to whatever order they may belong, members of the Government excepted, may be deprived of their office,
honors, and pensions only in the manner laid down by law.
Article 9 [Citizenship, Political Rights]
(1) The status of Luxembourger shall be acquired, retained, and lost in accordance with the rules determined by civil law.
(2) The Constitution and the other laws relating to political rights determine what conditions in addition to this status are
necessary for the exercise of these rights.
(3) By way of derogation from the preceding paragraph, the law may confer the exercise of political rights to
non-Luxembourgers.
Article 10 [Naturalization]
(1) Naturalization is granted by the legislature.
(2) The law determines the effects of naturalization.
Article 11 [Basic Rights]
(1) There is no distinction of orders in the State.
(2) Luxembourgers are equal before the law; they alone are eligible for civil and military service, save as the law may in
particular cases otherwise provide.
(3) The State guarantees the natural rights of the individual and of the family.
(4) The law guarantees the right to work and assure to every citizen the exercise of this right.
(5) The law organizes the social security, health protection, and rest of workers and guarantee the freedom of trade unions.
(6) The law guarantees freedom of trade and industry, the exercise of the professions and of agricultural labor, subject to any
restrictions that may be imposed by the legislature.
Article 12 [Individual Freedom]
Individual freedom shall be guaranteed. No one may be prosecuted except for the cases and according to the procedure laid
down by the law. Except in flagrante delicto, no one may be arrested without the reasoned order of the judge served at the time
of arrest or within twenty four hours at the latest.
Article 13 [Legal Judge]
No one may be deprived, against his will, of the Judge assigned to him by the law.
Article 14 [Nulla Poena Sine Lege]
No penalty may be fixed or applied except in pursuance of the law.
Article 15 [Home]
The home is inviolable. No domiciliary visit may be made except in cases and according to the procedure laid down by the law.
Article 16 [Property, Compensation]
No one may be deprived of his property except on grounds of public interest in cases and in the manner laid down by the law
and in consideration of prior and just compensation.
Article 17 [No Confiscation]
Confiscation of property as a penalty may not be instituted.
Article 18 [Abolished Penalties]
The death penalty on political grounds and civil death and branding are hereby abolished.
Article 19 [Freedom of Religion]
Freedom of religion and of public worship as well as freedom to express one's religious opinions are guaranteed, subject to the
repression of offenses committed in the exercise of such freedoms.
Article 20 [No Forced Religion]
No one may be forced to take part in any way whatsoever in the acts and ceremonies of a religion or to observe its days of rest.
Article 21 [Civil Marriage]
Civil marriage must always precede the nuptial benediction.
Article 22 [State and Church]
The State's intervention in the appointment and installation of heads of religions, the mode of appointing and dismissing other
ministers of religion, the right of any of them to correspond with their superiors and to publish their acts and decisions, as well
as the Church's relations with the State shall be made the subject of conventions to be submitted to the Chamber of Deputies
for the provisions governing its intervention.
Article 23 [Education, Health]
(1) The State ensures that every Luxembourger receives primary education which is compulsory and provided free of charge.
Medical and social assistance is regulated by the law.
(2) The State sets up secondary educational establishments and the necessary courses of higher education. It also establishes
free vocational training courses.
(3) The law determines the means of supporting State education and the conditions under which it is to be supervised by the
Government and the communes; it also regulates all educational matters and creates a fund for the exceptionally gifted.
(4) Every Luxembourger is free to pursue his studies in the Grand Duchy or abroad and to attend universities of his own
choosing, subject to the provisions of the law concerning admission to employment and the exercise of certain callings.
Article 24 [Expression]
Freedom of speech in all matters and freedom of the press is guaranteed, subject to the repression of offenses committed in the
exercise of these freedoms. No censorship may ever be introduced. Security may not be demanded of writers, publishers, or
printers. Stamp duty on native journals and periodicals is hereby abolished. No publisher, printer, or distributor may be
prosecuted if the author is known, if he is a Luxembourger, and resident in the Grand Duchy.
Article 25 [Assembly]
Luxembourgers have the right to assemble peaceably and unarmed in compliance with the laws governing the exercise of this
right which may not require prior authorization. This provision does not apply to open-air political, religious, or other meetings
which are fully governed by laws and police regulations.
Article 26 [Association]
Luxembourgers enjoy freedom of association. This right shall not be made subject to any prior authorization.
Article 27 [Petition]
Everyone has the right to address petitions signed by one or more persons to the public authorities. Only constituted authorities
have the right to address petitions collectively.
Article 28 [Correspondence]
(1) The secrecy of correspondence is inviolable. The law determines the agents responsible for the violation of the secrecy of
correspondence entrusted to the postal services.
(2) The law determines the guarantee to be afforded to the secrecy of telegrams.
Article 29 [Language]
The law shall regulate the use of languages in administrative and
judicial matters.
Article 30 [Proceedings Against Public Officials]
No prior authorization is required for instituting proceedings against public officials for their administrative acts, except as
provided for in respect of members of the Government.
Article 31 [Punishment of Public Officials]
Public officials, to whatever order they may belong, members of the Government excepted, may be deprived of their office,
honors, and pensions only in the manner laid down by law.
Luxembourg has been around since the time of Julius Caesar; however it is formally
recognized as coming into being with the construction of Luxembourg Castle in 963. It was a
fief of the Holy Roman Empire until 1354, when Charles IV declared it as a duchy. In 1451 the
House of Luxembourg collapsed when Duchess Elizabeth of Gorlitz died childless,
transferring power to France's House of Burgundy. In 1477 power transferred into the
hands of the Hapsburgs who ruled Luxembourg until 1795 and becoming a department of
France following the French Revolution. In 1815 William IV, Prince of Orange proclaimed
Luxembourg under the auspices of Holland and under control of Belgium in 1830.
Luxembourg's independence was formally ratified in 1867 and its constitution adopted on 17
October 1868, but remained a possession of the Kings of the Netherlands until 1890 when
the grand duchy passed to the House of Nassau-Weilburg due to a Nassau inheritance pact
of 1783. It has been revised an amended several times, the most recent on 12 January 1998.
Human Rights are enumerated in Chapter II, are detailed below, and conform to the United
Nations 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Luxembourg is a signatory.
For the full English text of Luxembourg's constitution, click here.
recognized as coming into being with the construction of Luxembourg Castle in 963. It was a
fief of the Holy Roman Empire until 1354, when Charles IV declared it as a duchy. In 1451 the
House of Luxembourg collapsed when Duchess Elizabeth of Gorlitz died childless,
transferring power to France's House of Burgundy. In 1477 power transferred into the
hands of the Hapsburgs who ruled Luxembourg until 1795 and becoming a department of
France following the French Revolution. In 1815 William IV, Prince of Orange proclaimed
Luxembourg under the auspices of Holland and under control of Belgium in 1830.
Luxembourg's independence was formally ratified in 1867 and its constitution adopted on 17
October 1868, but remained a possession of the Kings of the Netherlands until 1890 when
the grand duchy passed to the House of Nassau-Weilburg due to a Nassau inheritance pact
of 1783. It has been revised an amended several times, the most recent on 12 January 1998.
Human Rights are enumerated in Chapter II, are detailed below, and conform to the United
Nations 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Luxembourg is a signatory.
For the full English text of Luxembourg's constitution, click here.