Missing Children Europe

Missing Children Europe is the European federation for missing and sexually exploited children, representing 31 member organisations from 27 European countries. Missing Children Europe coordinates the network of 116 000 hotlines for missing children, a dedicated service for children (at risk of) going missing and their families.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Missing Children Europe welcomes the European Commission’s commitment to combat child sexual abuse online. Please find attached our statement in response to the impact assessment, elaborating on the following main points • The fight against sexual abuse is one that must cover all areas in which potential abusers may gain access to children, including online • The fight against sexual abuses…

Missing Children Europe is the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children connecting 32 European organisations committed to prevent that children go missing and to protect them from any harm that leads to or results from going missing.

MCE strongly welcomes and fully supports the European Commissions initiative to develop an Action Plan on the protection of children against crime. This initiative reflects an important and timely recognition that childrens safety requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and cross-border response, one that addresses both online and offline threats within a coherent EU policy framework.

Each year, over 250 000 children are reported missing in Europe one child disappearing every two minutes. Children go missing for a wide range of reasons, including violence, harassment, conflicts, abuse, and exploitation. The effects are far-reaching, not only for the missing children themselves but also for their families and communities, often resulting in long-term trauma and broader societal consequences.

Missing Children Europe (MCE) is the European federation of 31 grassroots organisation working for the prevention, protection, and support of missing children’s cases. Every year an estimated two hundred thousand children go missing in Europe.

Missing Children Europes contribution to the public consultation on the European Commissions proposal for an update of the criminal law rules on child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation under the recast of Directive 2011/93/EU.

Missing Children Europe is the European federation of 31 grassroot organisations working for the prevention, protection, and support of missing children’s cases. Missing Children Europe welcomes the Commission’s proposal to review Directive 2011/93/EU on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. Every year an estimated two hundred thousand children go missing in Europe.

Missing Children Europe is the European federation for missing and sexually exploited children, representing 31 organisations from 27 European countries. We provide the link between research, policies and organisations on the ground to protect children from any kind of violence, abuse or neglect that is caused by or results from them going missing.

Missing Children Europe welcome the important fundamental rights reinforcements in the proposal, most notably, the enlargement of the scope of the Regulation to include siblings as well as families formed in transit countries. We also welcome the strengthened emphasis rights for unaccompanied minors, in particular the best interest of the child as set out in article 13 of the proposal.

The EU’s revision of the European Statistical System should make it possible to produce statistics in a quick and timely manner to close the data gap on children who slip through the net of our child protection systems and include children who go missing. Up to date statistics are crucial to provide the best support and protection to vulnerable children at risk.