On October 21st, experts convened in Athens for the conference “Cooperation between Civil Society Organizations and Law Enforcement Agencies: Strengthening Multi-Disciplinary Responses for Missing Children in Europe.” The event brought together high-ranking officials from the Greek government, judiciary, and law enforcement, as well as representatives from the Police Expert Network on Missing People (PEN-MP) from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden, INTERPOL, CISCO, academic researchers. Missing Children Europe and The Smile of the Child’s Youth Panel also presented their recommendations on addressing missing children’s cases. Co-hosted by Missing Children Europe and its Greek member, The Smile of the Child, the conference was held in the historic Zappeio Megaro. For a complete agenda, please click here.

In the first panel, “Legal and Institutional Framework to Foster Effective Cooperation Between Actors Working in Law Enforcement and Civil Society Organizations,” Alain Remue, Commander of the Missing Persons Unit of the Belgian Federal Police, stressed the need for all parties involved in missing child cases—law enforcement and NGOs—to remember the three Cs: complement, communicate, and coordinate. Susanne Welander, National Coordinator of DVI Sweden, Missing Persons/Unidentified Bodies, noted the effective collaboration with NGOs and media in Sweden, aided by the country’s smaller size. Izanne De Wit, National Coordinator of the Missing Persons Unit of the National Police of The Netherlands and President of PEN-MP, emphasized the critical importance of this cooperation during the “golden hour” after a child is reported missing. Xeni Dimitriou, former Prosecutor General of the Supreme Court in Greece, proposed a law on missing children, stating that “It is imperative to have a specific regulation which would contribute to the organisation of the activities of the stakeholders in private and public sector for effective cooperation, systematisation of their actions and activities, timely prevention, and management of each case of a missing child.”

In a discussion on “The Role of Technology,” Antonis Tsiboukis, CEO of Cisco Greece, Cyprus, and Malta, showcased the collaborative efforts of tech companies in the U.S. and Greece with The Smile of the Child through the Smile Academy, where they provide certifications and employment support for young adults. Dr. Rosemary Nalubega, INTERPOL’s Assistant Director for Vulnerable Communities, introduced INTERPOL’s advanced technological tools—such as biometric identification systems, color-coded international alerts, and global databases on child exploitation intelligence—that assist national investigations into missing persons. She emphasized, “In the fight against child abduction and exploitation, technology is a powerful ally. By harnessing the latest innovations, INTERPOL is at the forefront of efforts to protect missing children, leveraging cutting-edge solutions to stay one step ahead of criminals and bring hope to families.”

Nel Broothaerts, CEO of Child Focus, discussed the organization’s technology-driven initiatives to aid children, stating, “Technology is undoubtedly the cornerstone of our future. While we’ve encountered significant challenges and learned valuable lessons along the way, sustainability remains essential. Key considerations include financial implications, partner selection, effective stakeholder management, and appropriate technology choices.” Additionally, Theresa Ryan-Rouger, Senior Project Officer at Missing Children Europe, shared insights into MCE’s tech-based projects targeting children, including the CESAGRAM project on online child sexual abuse and grooming, which will culminate in a final conference on December 9 and 10.

Leaders from various European NGOs, alongside a researcher from Sciences Po, engaged in a discussion on “Human Trafficking and Exploitation”: they highlighted the role of the 116 000 hotlines, shared specific cases of missing children, and explored how underlying structural issues could have been better addressed. A parallel session focused on international parental abduction, where speakers noted that police often regard these cases as domestic matters, leading to inadequate responses. They emphasized that, in most cases, the mother is the abductor. Proposed solutions included mediation during divorce proceedings and guidelines for cross-border police cooperation.

The conference followed with a panel by the MCE Youth Board, who shared their experiences from going missing, and one member of the European Student Voluntary Network “YouSmile” from The Smile of the Child, who presented her expertise on teenagers who run away. The panel offered recommendations in addressing missing children’s cases, such as encouraging family mediation, training professionals to recognise early signs of abuse, improving information-sharing between civil society organisations and law enforcement, and ensuring the child has support and an adult they can talk to freely, particularly when facing conflicts with other family members.

In her closing remarks, Aagje Ieven, Secretary General of Missing Children Europe, highlighted the need for better training and collaboration to protect children. “Safeguarding children is a shared responsibility,” she stated, calling for cooperation among professionals, civil society, law enforcement, educators, and policymakers, with political will as a key driver of progress.

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Press Inquiries

Maria Carapuço, Communications Assistant at Missing Children Europe

communicationsassistant@missingchildreneurope.eu

 

About Missing Children Europe

Missing Children Europe represents 32 Non-Governmental Organisations active in 27 countries across Europe for the prevention, protection and support of missing and sexually exploited children and their families. We provide the link between research, policies, and organisations on the ground to protect children from any form of violence, abuse, or neglect that is caused by or results from them going missing. Missing Children Europe coordinates the network of 116000 hotlines for missing children, and the network of cross border family mediators and facilitates coordination of cases that involve cross-border issues, ensuring that vulnerable children receive the help they need no matter where they are in Europe.

 

About The Smile of the Child

The Smile of the Child is a Greek organisation dedicated to supporting children who are victims of violence, missing children, children with health problems and children victims of poverty. “The Smile of the Child” participates in numerous European and international networks as an active member, including Missing Children Europe (MCE), the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect (ISPCAN), Child Helpline International (CHI), WeProtect Global Alliance to end child sexual abuse and exploitation online, Eurochild, and many others.