Impact - 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.

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.

Our impact

Supporting frontline professionals

Over 306 trained professionals across

1 free online course
6 expert webinars
2 online academic trainings
1 live conference

Raising awareness andchallenging narratives

644K people reached through Missing Children Europe‘s social media channels in 2023.

71.8K people reached by IMCD campaign on the 116000 hotlines about the issue of missing children in Europe and the vital role that the 116000 hotline and Missing Children Europe network play in supporting children and families in need.

5.8K social media impressions during our Mediation Week campaign.

5,592 Facebook followers

6,537 X followers

5,158 LinkedIn followers

Advocating for child-centred policy

In 2023, policy and advocacy work revolved around the below achievements:

The Council of Europe issued a Recommendation on the Rights and the best interests of the Child in Parental Separation Proceedings which included some of Missing Children Europe’s recommendations on supporting children during legal divorce proceeding and on involving children in alternative dispute resolution methods.

The European Commission’s published its Proposal for a new Victim’s Rights Directive which referred to the 116 000 hotlines as one of the 116 lines which should be supported to provide EU wide coverage functioning as a first contact point, offering emotional support and referral between 116 services and towards specialised support services.

Missing Children Europe has continued its advocacy regarding children from Ukraine forcibly transferred to Russia and Russian-occupied territories and supported our member NGO, Magnolia, working on these cases in Ukraine, in sharing challenges at a public hearing in the European Parliament.

The 8^th HCCH Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the 1980 Child Abduction convention, recognised the work of Missing Children Europe alongside other national and international organisation, in the prevention of parental abductions.

Supporting child participation

1 young person shared her story of going missing at our European conference on Missing Children in Europe: for better cooperation between countries and 116 000 hotlines., held in Paris in November of 2023. She addressed a wide audience of professionals from across Europe to inform and educate them on her experience and recommendations for an improved child protection system

20 young survivors of grooming and missing were interviewed as part of our CESAGRAM proejct to understand the survivor’s perspective on pathways from grooming to missing, and gather their recommendations for prevention.

4 young people took part in evaluating and improving children participation mechanisms at Missing Children Europe through an assessment of our practices and approaches. The assessment will serve as guidance for the implementation of a Youth Board at Missing Children in Europe in 2024

Using scientific data to define priorities

21 hotlines

provided data for the Figures and Trends 2023 report.

Managed

2 active research projects,

one on improving statistical data on missing children, and one on the survivor perspective on grooming and missing.

Secured funding for for further projects,

which include a research component on LGBTIQ+ children going missing.

We need you on our side!

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

Donate to help

Want to know more? Sign up to our newsletter and stay up to date with Missing Children Europe projects, news and events.

Looking for help?