ANNUAL REVIEW 2016 Courtesy of Jeffrey De Keyser, Who We Are
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ANNUAL REVIEW 2016 www.jeffreydekeyser.com Courtesy of Jeffrey De Keyser, Who we are Missing Children Europe brings together 29 grassroots NGOs in 26 countries in Europe to work towards the prevention and protection of children who go missing and are sexually exploited. We connect research, policy and professionals on the ground to “We help protect children safeguard children from any violence, abuse or neglect that is caused by or results from them going missing. and reunite families” Our cross-border projects ensure missing children and their families get the support they need anywhere in Europe. 163 786 calls were received by 23 hotlines for missing children 2016 celebrated the 15th anniversary of Missing Children Europe; an opportunity to take stock, and to reflect on the road ahead. 19% Ever since our establishment, we’ve been of cases were cross-border in nature driven by our goal to protect children from any harm that leads to or results from their going missing. In doing so, we built bridges between law enforcement, migration authorities and child protection agents, “My husband and I have been involved in protecting children ever since between researchers and practitioners, between the European and Belgium woke up to the shock of child abductions, sexual abuse and the grassroots levels. Together, we collected evidence and data on murder, now 20 years ago. Even today, so many children are deprived the complex problem of missing children, and translated them into of a safe relationship with both parents, or see no other option than to concrete policies and practical solutions. We helped establish hotlines run away from the place that should have protected them from harm, for missing children, providing psychological, legal and administrative to escape conflict or exploitation. Many of these struggles, many of support to children and families 24/7 across Europe, and created a these stories are unheard. These children rely on us to give them a voice network of Cross-Border Family Mediators covering five continents, and to protect their rights, as children, and as human beings. This is specialised in finding sustainable solutions in the interest of children what Missing Children Europe stands for. Whether a child goes missing whose parents separate. We provided practical tools and training to as it runs away, is trafficked, abducted by a parent following a family professionals faced with the disappearance of thousands of children break up, or is simply lost. By bringing together organisations from every who arrive in Europe as they escape war and poverty. We listened corner of Europe, Missing Children Europe contributes to the creation of to children who run away from conflict at home or in care institutions, a safety net for children that have slipped through the cracks, and are to understand their suffering and their needs. Over the years, our no longer heard, helped or protected.” membership has grown to a powerful network that leads operations at both the national and local levels across Europe, helping thousands of children and families in need. Her Majesty Queen Paola of Belgium, Chair of the Patrons’ Council of Missing Children Europe In Europe alone, at least 250 000 children are reported missing each year, and each disappearance is one too many. In a changing and globalised world, disappearances of children have become more “Europe should mean safety for children. A single exploited child is one complex, requiring more efficient responses and robust prevention too many. Member States need to urgently step up action to ensure strategies. Ahead of these challenges, we will announce an ambitious that unaccompanied minors enter and stay in the protection system. new 4-year strategy in the course of 2017, which will continue to strive I support Missing Children Europe’s valuable efforts on the ground to for integrated child protection systems that better protect children concretely help vulnerable children. The EU needs to do more also to from disappearance, abuse and exploitation. Our work will remain tackle trafficking, abuse, child labour and sexual exploitation, forced soundly embedded in the UN Child Rights Convention, and align with begging and other criminal activities involving children. We cannot turn the Sustainable Development Goal 16.2 to end abuse, exploitation, our back on these thousands of kids”. trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children. For families concerned, the disappearance of a child may very well be Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, Member of the European Parliament the most traumatising experience one could imagine. For the children and Co-Chair of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on involved, going missing is often the beginning of a journey of suffering Children’s Rights and harm, including exploitation and abuse. Whatever the cause, whatever the outcome, wherever in Europe, Missing Children Europe will continue to work relentlessly to prevent and protect children. To grant every child the right to feel safe and happy. “Being part of the Cross-Border Family Mediators’ network has given me the possibility to exchange information and experience with a group of mediators with the same mission: supporting parents resolve child Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, President of Missing Children Europe abduction cases. Being able to work together with a known mediator in and UN Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution another country is one of the biggest advantages of being part of the and child pornography network. The network provides a solution to parents who are in need of a specialised mediator. I am proud to be one of these mediators.” Anneke van Teijlingen, Mediator, Cross-Border Family Mediators’ network (Coordinated by Missing Children Europe) Members Member Missing Children Europe’s members work on the ground to prevent, protect Applicant member and support missing and sexually exploited children and their families Member + Applicant member through grassroots efforts and programmes. These efforts include awareness raising, publicity appeals, managing the national hotline for missing children, corss-border support, linking parents and law enforcement during investigations and more. 19% of missing children cases involved a cross-border element in 2016. Missing Children Europe supports cross-border cooperation between 29 members in 26 countries across Europe. Members 1. Albania A LO 116 2. Austria 147 Rat auf Draht 3. Belgium Child Focus 4. Bulgaria Nadja Centre Foundation 5. Croatia Centre for missing and exploited children 6. Cyprus Consortium: SPAVO & HFC 7. Czech Republic Cesta z krize z. u 8. Denmark Thora Center 9. Estonia Estonian Advice Center 10. France APEV, CFPE-Enfants Disparus, La Mouette 11. Finland Lasten perusoikeudet 12. Germany Weisser Ring 13. Greece Smile of the Child 14. Hungary Kék Vonal 15. Italy SOS Il Telefono Azzurro Onlus 16. Ireland Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children 17. Lithuania Missing Persons’ Families Support Centre 18. Portugal Instituto de Apoio à Criança 19. Poland Itaka 20. Romania Focus Romania*, Salvati Copiii 21. Serbia Astra 22. Slovakia Linka detskej istoty, n. o. 23. Spain Fundación ANAR 24. Switzerland Missing Children Switzerland, Fondation Suisse du Service Social International 25. The Netherlands The International Child Abduction Centre 26. United Kingdom Missing People “The support of Missing Children Europe has Applicant members been crucial to the efforts of “The Smile of 27. Latvia Bezvests.lv the Child” to prevent migrant children from 28. Finland Kaapatut Lapset ry going missing in Greece. The contribution of 29. Portugal Associação Portuguesa de Crianças Desaparecidas Missing Children Europe has also been im- 30. Spain Fundacion Alia2 portant in communicating the urgent need for cooperation in dealing with the refugee crisis to the European audience. As an or- * Closed operations in 2016 ganisation working on the frontline of this crisis we felt that our experience, practices and data could be heard and channelled at the European level through the work of 95% Missing Children Europe and that its con- crete recommendations and proposals of the members surveyed agree or to EU and national leaders reflected the strongly agree that our efforts have a actual needs of migrant children in need of positive impact on missing children 96% better protection and quality care.” and their families on the ground of the members surveyed agree or strongly agree that our efforts add Piji Protopsaltis, Coordinator, 83% value to their work The Smile of the Child (Greek member) of the members surveyed consider that our work responds very or extremely well to their needs Real stories at her school and agreed to go to a local hospital for observation and psychological support. During this process, the hotline brought to- gether the local child protection workers who were responsible for Carol’s care, the hospital psychologist, the police and Carol’s mother to decide upon the best solution for Carol. Because of the risk of Carol running away again or being lured back into a situation of child kristinvandeneede.com sexual exploitation, they decided it was best if she was temporarily placed in care out of the reach of the man who had groomed her. The 116 000 hotline offered support to the parents through family counselling sessions and organised for them to receive parenting skills training from the local child protection service. Thanks to these efforts and continued aftercare Courtesy of Kristin Van den Eede, with Carol and her mother, Carol was able to return home after six months. Follow-up by the Her case first came to the attention of the hotline has found a much improved situation. Running into trouble 116 000 hotline in Hungary (operated by Kek Carol is happier at home, is no longer in contact Vonal) when the man emailed to say that he with the man who groomed her and has not run When a 13-year-old girl from Hungary ran away had Carol with him and was asking for advice away from home again.