EU-level experts gather in Warsaw to discuss responses for missing children in 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.

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.

European experts gather in Warsaw to address rising child disappearances, focusing on the reasons at the root of why children run away, and why parents abduct their own kids.

Two weeks ago, the ITAKA Foundation and Missing Children Europe hosted the international conference “Disappearances of Minors in Europe – Challenges, Prevention, and Systemic Solutions in the Context of Parental Abductions and Teenagers who Run Away.” Held at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Warsaw, the event brought together European experts, legal practitioners, law enforcement, NGOs, and policymakers to address two of the most pressing causes of child disappearances: parental abductions and teenage runaways.

The conference, which took place during the final days of Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, underscored the need for stronger international collaboration and systemic reforms to protect missing children. Discussions were structured across three panels, focusing on cross-border parental abductions, the impact of the war in Ukraine on child disappearances in migration, and the growing crisis of teenagers running away due to adverse experiences.

“The figures are alarming. Every year, over 250,000* children go missing in the EU for many different reasons. In cases of parental abduction, it’s vital that we not just respond to the consequences but focus on prevention and raising awareness. Only then can we ensure that the child’s best interests are always put first”, said Aagje Ieven, Secretary General of Missing Children Europe, who opened the first panel alongside legal and law enforcement experts from across the EU.

The conference also presented findings from the RADAR project, led by Missing Children Europe and implemented in part by ITAKA. While running away is often framed as an impulsive, dangerous decision by a child, the research urged listeners to understand the complexity of the issue – as children often run away from home as a result of trauma or unmet needs. Insights from this research are shaping new strategies for early intervention and support.

Beyond sharing knowledge, the conference was a call to action. The organisers aim to develop concrete recommendations to improve prevention, cross-border cooperation, and legal responses within the EU.

Coinciding with the conference, Missing Children Europe released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting the progress made in advancing the rights and safety of children throughout Europe including advocacy and research efforts, and the coordination of the 116 000 missing children hotline network. The newly published Figures and Trends Report reveals that in 2024 alone, the 116 000 hotlines recorded 124,375 points of contact related to missing children, nearly double the number recorded in 2023. While this data does not capture the entire scale of the problem, it underscores the urgent need for coordinated action and systemic prevention.

The day after the conference, on 13 June, representatives from Missing Children Europe’s member organisations gathered in Warsaw for the General Assembly to discuss a new strategy focused on shared values and driving social change.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Fundacja ITAKA for their generous hosting and to all member organisations for their unwavering dedication and commitment to protecting missing children across Europe.

* Missing Children in the European Union, EU Parliament Report, 2013