E-WELL

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.

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.

In relation to the Brussels IIa recast and building on the results of former research studies, Child Focus, the University of Antwerp, Centre IKO, CFPE-Enfants Disparus, Missing Children Europe and the French Central Authority conducted a large-scale research study on the psychological effects of an international child abduction on the wellbeing of abducted children.

Facts about the topic

Every year, thousands of children in the EU become victims of an international child abduction by a parent. The Brussels IIa Regulation aims to help solve these issues. The outcomes of these procedures will influence to a great extent the daily lives of children: the country they will live in, the language they will speak, and the family members and relatives they will have regular contact with. But the procedure, and the way it is carried out, can also influence the future life of the abducted children.

The increasing political focus on the rights of the child (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child & the European Convention on the Exercise of Children’s Rights) amplifies the need for information on the needs and wishes of children themselves in all matters affecting them directly. The UNCRC stipulates that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies (Art. 3). Judges often use the concept of the “best interest of the child” but not always in a consistent manner.

Impact

This research study has enabled project partners to gather concrete information on the specific aspects of an international child abduction influencing the wellbeing of children. The final goal was to formulate recommendations and create good practices for legal and other professionals who deal with cases on avoiding possible trauma for the children involved.