Homepage - Missing Children Europe

FAQs

Call the hotline if you are a:

child who is missing from home / care or a child who is thinking of leaving home / care
parent or carer of a missing child
child, young person, or adult who has information about a missing child

Make a report to the police if you know of a child who has gone missing. This can be done by anybody, not just the parents or carers. You may also call the 116 000 hotline for support, advice, and to share valuable information about a missing child.

Who answers the calls?

Professionally trained Hotline Operators.

Does the 116 000 hotline work in my country?

The 116 000 number works in 32 countries in Europe. You can find the list of countries here.

The 116 000 hotline is not available in my country, who can I contact instead?

Always contact your national police to report a missing child or to share information relating to a missing child.

Other national hotlines or children’s organisations are available in your country, you can find this online.

Who can call the 116 000 hotline?

Everyone. Children, young people, parents or carers, families, and third party adults.

If you know about a missing child or if you know of a child at risk of going missing, the 116 000 hotline will be able to support you.

What information am I required to give when I call the 116 000 hotline?

You will be asked for details related to the missing child and their circumstances.

The more information provided the more help this will be for the protection of the child.

Do I have to share my details, I want to remain anonymous?

No, you do not have to share your details. Only share your details should you wish to.

Figures & Trends

More than 250 000 children disappear each year in Europe

Let’s change that!

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Current Campaign

International Missing Children’s Day

Learn moreOur campaigns

Latest news

June 1, 2021

International child abduction

Join the INCLUDE Conference: Child-friendly procedures in cases of international child abduction

May 24, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop children from going missing: 17% increase in cases reported to 116000 hotlines in Europe in 2020

May 11, 2021

Stigma associating runaways with “attention seeking” and “problematic behaviour” link to increased risk of negative experiences and inadequate support

April 20, 2021

Over 18,000 children in migration missing in Europe between 2018-2020

More news

OUR IMPACT

What we have achieved so far

Supporting frontline professionals

200 professionals empowered to elaborate joint messages and recommendations to improve the respect of the rights of children under the Initiative for Children in Migration.

Advocating for child centred policy

Accessible, 24/7 available EU reserved number 116000 for missing child hotlines.

Mediation in international child abduction cases in Brussels II ter regulation.

Raising awareness and challenging narratives

1M people reached through our Tiny and Apollo campaign.

Over 200k people reached through the Runaway Prevention Month campaign.

Our impact

We need you on our side!

Learn how you can help support Missing Children Europe and what projects need your funding.

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We strive to protect and empower children to prevent them from going missing, and to keep them from harm when they do go missing