“Today’s meeting is another important step in the European Parliament’s ongoing discussion on the prevention of children going missing and the actions required when this happens”, Ewa Kopacz, Vice-President of the European Parliament and European Parliament Coordinator on Children’s Rights.

Last Thursday, Missing Children Europe (MCE) held its annual policy symposium at the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels to present key recommendations for the upcoming political cycle. Co-hosted by , the event, titled “Closing the Gaps in Child Protection,” gathered speakers from the European Parliament, the European Commission, law enforcement, MCE member organisations, and MCE Youth Board, discussing obstacles and solutions to better protect children (at risk of) going missing.

EP Vice-President Ewa Kopacz opened the event by sharing that “[in her] experience working with parental abduction cases, the immediate activation of procedures, cross-border cooperation, and efficient collaboration between actors are crucial”, adding how “[she hopes] the European Parliament will listen to the recommendations of MCE.” MEP Hilde Vautmans stressed the need to protect children in migration, who are “at a great risk to get exploited and abused and often go missing”. The MEP stated that “the consequences of conflict, of exploitation, can last a lifetime, affecting their physical and mental well-being and hampering their potential to contribute to society”. For this reason, “more cross-border cooperation is necessary, and 116 000 hotlines [for missing children] play a key role in this and must therefore be funded in a continuous and strong way.”

Each year, over 250,000 children are reported missing in the European Union, This was the highlight of Patrycja Szczepańska’s speech, Board Member of the Itaka Foundation – Center for Missing People (Poland) and Missing Children Europe. For Szczepańska, “Our vision is simple yet powerful: to create a Europe where every child is safe, secure, and protected from violence, abuse, and neglect.”

Preventing the disappearance of children requires mediation in custody disputes, improved information sharing between different actors, and multi-stakeholder cooperation at both national and cross-border levels – so concluded Missing Children Europe Youth Board members Miina Kokoi and Lisa Marie Schaumburg, who shared their experiences of missing and violence during their childhood and passed on their recommendations to the decision-makers present in the room. Kokoi’s intervention focused on her experience with international parental abduction, and she highlighted that, despite each child’s unique experience of going missing, “similarities between cases of crimes against children indicate broader issues in legislation, policies, and multi-professional responses”. Schaumburg centered her speech on the importance of training professionals in the field to recognize signs of abuse, emphasizing the need for “adequate documentation so cases can be followed”.

Aagje Ieven, Secretary General of Missing Children Europe, presented MCE EU Memorandum, outlining eight key recommendations to address missing children in the new political cycle. Ieven’s intervention focused on immediate responses, prevention, support systems and justice, and the evolving risks in our digital age. She stressed the importance of better data collection of missing children’s cases, investment in preventive measures, professional training. “Cooperation is also crucial, we need networks like Europol and PEN-MP (Police Expert Network of Missing Persons), as well as civil society organisations, to cooperate and communicate better to protect vulnerable children,” the Secretary General added.

The session followed with a discussion panel, which explored ways to turn recommendations into action, with speakers offering expertise and actionable insights. Marie-Cécile Rouillon, the European Commission Coordinator for the Rights of the Child, recalled initiatives Children’s Participation Platform, the European Child Guarantee, and the need for a swift implementation of the Pact on Asylum and Migration. Rouillon emphasized how “We must address the root causes of vulnerability—whether linked to children without parental care, those affected by war, or victims of abduction. Strengthening guardianship systems and implementing protective measures is non-negotiable.”

When asked about the case of the child alert issued by France and Belgium in mid-October, Child Focus’ Policy Coordinator Sofia Mahjoub shared her concern with the misuse of public appeals when a child goes missing, as it is invasive of their privacy and can have consequences on the emotional and psychological well-being of the child. Mahjoub added that “the decision to issue a public appeal is always a last resort. Together with law enforcement, we carefully assess each case and explore all available methods to locate a missing child, ensuring the least possible impact on their privacy and dignity.”

 

Photos

Available here. Credits to Alain Sannen.

 

Logos

Available here.

 

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.