Missing Children Europe

This is not an April Fool’s joke. From 3 April 2026, online platforms in the EU will no longer be able to detect child sexual abuse material. Because of political gridlock, a legal framework that enabled detection and underpinned 99% of reports to law enforcement is expiring. The consequences are immediate: fewer reports to authorities, fewer investigations and fewer victims identified. During a similar gap in 2021, reports dropped by 58%. 247 children’s rights organisations from across Europe and beyond are calling on policymakers to act urgently and ensure a permanent framework for detection. Children cannot pay the price of political deadlock. Read and share our full statement: https://lnkd.in/e955VdAM #ChildProtection #InterimRegulation #EU #OnlineSafety #ChildRights

📣 Together with other organisations from the Child Rights Action Group (CRAG), COFACE Families Europe calls on the EU to invest in all children, everywhere.    Children's rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) should be protected, respected, and actively promoted. This means prioritising and mainstreaming children’s rights and including references to the UNCRC and the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child across all funding instruments in the next EU long-term budget.   🔗 Read the full joint reaction here: https://bit.ly/47tu67H. European Commission | European Parliament | Council of the European Union | European People's Party | Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament | Renew Europe | The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament #childrights #familysupport #EUBudget #MFF

Last week, Missing Children Europe attended the 47th Meeting of the Lanzarote Committee, mandated to monitor the effective implementation of the Council of Europe convention to prevent and combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For our organisation and network, it is always a valuable opportunity to participate to such meetings, as they provide a forum for exchange, mutual learning, and influence to effectively protect all children across and beyond the continent, online and offline. In the EU, and beyond, we are committed to combat and eliminate the sexual exploitation and abuse of all children. Behind every number there is a child, a story, a lived experience, a family.

Coming Soon: A Practical Handbook on Challenges and Best Practices in Combating Child Trafficking We are excited to announce the imminent publication of a practical handbook that draws on insights from SafeBorders’ activities, offering a comprehensive look at the challenges and best practices in fighting child trafficking across the EU. By examining what works—and where improvements are needed—this handbook provides actionable strategies for practitioners, prosecutors and judges, supporting more effective prevention, protection and prosecution of child trafficking cases. A must-read for anyone committed to safeguarding children and strengthening cross-border anti-trafficking efforts. 👉https://lnkd.in/e5u8P_Gt #ChildProtection #EndHumanTrafficking #Justice #HumanRights #BestPractices

👏 Yesterday we hosted our final partner meeting in Brussels for the project "Young, Queer & Away from Home"! 💡 The two year project, which ends on the 31st of March 2026, offers insight into the structural vulnerabilities faced by LGBTIQ+ young people who leave or are forced away from home, & demonstrates the necessity of integrating LGBTIQ+ perspectives into child protection discourse. 🔥 Shout out to our lovely project partners IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation and University of Portsmouth, to the members of the Youth Board,  to our incredible experts on the Professional Board, and to our PO Eugenia Yumi Miyashita, for the unwavering dedication, contributions, and continued support. 📝Interested in learning more? Take our online course free or charge here   https://lnkd.in/ezKhWY9M Or read our full research report https://lnkd.in/e47--za5

The SafeBorders initiative is empowering judges and prosecutors across Europe and the Western Balkans to prevent child trafficking and safeguard vulnerable children. Specialized Prosecutors: Trainings equip prosecutors with the skills to detect trafficking early, handle children’s testimonies safely and mentor others- stopping traffickers and protecting children. Judges: Seminars deepen judges’ understanding of trafficking dynamics, victim identification and cross-border cooperation, ensuring court decisions prioritize children’s safety and rights. By strengthening judicial expertise, SafeBorders reinforces both prevention and protection, keeping children safe and traffickers accountable. 👉https://lnkd.in/e5u8P_Gt #ChildProtection #PreventChildTrafficking #EndHumanTrafficking #Justice #HumanRights

📢 New report out now! What does it really mean to rebuild your life in a new country? Our latest research from YoU Decide shares the voices of 288 displaced young people in Czechia, Hungary, and Poland. 💬 Their stories show resilience, ambition, and hope for the future, but also real challenges in education, housing, jobs, and access to support. 👉 If we want better policies that truly support their transition to adulthood, we need to start by listening. A huge thank you to every young person who trusted us with their story and made this research possible 💙Special thanks to Heartwarmingly research team for their incredible work in bringing this report to life. 🔗 Read the report: https://lnkd.in/eXByBUkE Terre des hommes foundation @FundacjaItaka Organizace pro pomoc uprchlíkům, z.s. ✏️ Sketches by Anastasiya Krapivkina #YoUDecide #YouthVoices #RefugeeYouth

🎙️ We’re happy to share that our Podcasthon episode is now live! As part of this global initiative bringing together podcasters from around the world, we joined Michel Godart to talk about the work of Missing Children Europe: our mission, activities, and the vital role our members play every day in protecting children across Europe. If you understand French, tune in to learn more about our work on prevention, awareness raising, and the 116 000 missing children hotline network. 🎧https://lnkd.in/e2m4Max9 #Podcasthon #MissingChildrenEurope #116000Hotline

📢 Dear European Parliament, mental health must remain a political priority! Mental health challenges affects 1 in 6 Europeans. That’s around 84 million people. Yet discussions are underway to merge the upcoming mental health report with one on neurological or brain health. Merging them risks narrowing the debate and reducing the visibility of mental health as a cross-cutting societal issue.  Today, as part of 25 civil society organisations across health, social inclusion, disability rights, youth and ageing, we are urging the European Parliament to maintain a separate Own-Initiative Report on Mental Health. Mental health is shaped by socieconomic determinants such as poverty, discrimination, housing, education and working conditions, and requires action far beyond healthcare systems. A dedicated parliamentary report is essential to ensure prevention, social inclusion and rights-based approaches remain central to EU policy.  We therefore call on the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health (SANT) to maintain a standalone report on mental health and build on the progress already made in advancing a comprehensive EU mental health agenda. 📝 Read the joint letter here: https://lnkd.in/esthRbDe #MentalHealth #EUHealthPolicy #MentalHealthMatters #PublicHealth #EU

Prevention begins with the people who meet vulnerable children first. Police officers, coastguards, social workers, healthcare professionals, educators and civil society organizations often encounter early signs of child trafficking. Through SafeBorders training seminars, frontline workers will gain practical skills to: 🔹 Recognize early indicators of trafficking 🔹 Respond quickly and safely 🔹 Provide victim-centered support 🔹 Activate protection and referral mechanisms The better trained frontline professionals are, the stronger our early detection and protection systems become. 👉 https://lnkd.in/e5u8P_Gt #SafeBorders #FrontlineWorkers #ChildSafety #PreventTrafficking