In a world where an estimated one billion children experience violence each year and 250,000 children are reported missing in the EU alone, there is a clear need for coordinated action. The causes and effects of violence on missing children are diverse and complex, including issues like grooming, trafficking, exploitation, and domestic violence, among others.
In light of numerous evolving challenges, Missing Children Europe has reaffirmed its strong commitment to protecting children across Europe through its latest call for proposals for EU member organisations. Missing Children Europe has re-granted over 100,000 EUR to eight member organisations within our network, as part of our annual operating grant funded by the European Commission
These grants provide vital support for projects focused on improving child protection and promoting children’s rights across Europe. Here’s a glimpse into the impactful projects that Missing Children Europe’s member organisations will be working on:
- Our Bulgarian member organisation Centre Nadja Foundation will implement a project called Every child has the right to protection from all forms of violence. The main goal of the project is to increase public sensitivity to the phenomenon of violence against children with a focus on prevention and to promote children’s right to freedom from violence.
- Our Finnish member organisation Lasten perusoikeudet Children´s Fundamental Rights ry will develop a preventive safety programme for children, their parents and for schools. The Keep Safe project will teach children how to stay safe and who to reach out to for support when needed.
- The project of ITAKA Foundation, our Polish member organisation, aims to increase awareness about how different types of violence and abuse contribute to children going missing. Additionally, it seeks to promote the crucial role of the 116 000 hotline through prevention and advocacy activities.
- Our Croatian member Centre for missing and exploited children was awarded funding for their project Find Me Too, which is an initiative aimed at raising public awareness about missing children and the importance of the 116000 hotlines. The project is a continuation of last year’s project Find Me through which organised a humanitarian run that gathered more than 450 participants.
- Our member organisation in France, 116 000 Enfants Disparus, will develop a new project whose main objective is to raise awareness about the issue of children who run away among national education professionals and children, and to facilitate the accessibility to the 116000 missing children hotline.
- The NEFELI project, developed by our Greek member The Smile of the Child, seeks to raise public awareness on the 116000 hotlines, to highlight the 116 000 Hotline not only for reporting a case of a child that goes missing but also as a contact point for parents/ caregivers and other adults for seeking advice and support.
- Our Czech member Cesta z krize aims to raise awareness about the 116 000 missing children hotlines in the Czech Republic, focusing on both children and adults. Through a comprehensive media campaign, they seek to inform the public about the availability of this vital support service and the importance of mental health care.
- Our Lithuanian member MPFSC will develop the #SafeSteps: Preventing all forms of violence leading to or resulting from children going missing project. The project’s aim will be to prevent all forms of violence and abuse that can lead to the disappearance of children who run away from home or care.
These projects reflect a multi-faceted approach to tackling the complex issue of missing children and violence prevention. By empowering organisations across our network, Missing Children Europe continues to be at the forefront of efforts to protect and promote the well-being of children, young people, and families across Europe.