A high-level conference in Brussels, organized by "Hope For Children" and Missing Children Europe, has called for harmonized data and stronger cross-border cooperation. Experts warned that child disappearance rarely happens in isolation, often signaling deeper experiences of abuse or grooming.

“Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center and Missing Children Europe (MCE) brought together policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and child protection experts in Brussels on May 28 and 29 for a Conference entitled “Safeguarding Missing Children: Sexual Violence and Mental Health Resilience”, organised under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU.

“Hope For Children” said in a press release on Wednesday that the event was hosted by the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU. "The conference explored how child disappearance intersects with grooming, sexual violence, and mental health. Discussions underlined that children rarely disappear in isolation: running away or going missing can often be connected to deeper experiences of abuse, grooming, mental health struggles, or lack of safety,’" the press release noted.

The conference opened with contributions from Elena Ioannou, Attaché Social Policy and Equality at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union; Clea Hadjistephanou Papaellina, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare of Cyprus; Andria Neocleous, Executive Director of Hope For Children; and Sandrine Pépit, Vice-President of Missing Children Europe. Loucas Fourlas, Member of the European Parliament (EPP, Cyprus), also contributed through a video message.

The conference explored the issue through three thematic panels. The first focused on police investigations and cross-border cooperation, highlighting the urgent need for harmonised data collection to support effective responses in missing children cases across Europe, with contributions from representatives from law enforcement and academia from Greece, Belgium and Finland.

"The second panel addressed online grooming and digital risks for children, bringing together child protection experts from Belgium, Cyprus and Serbia," the press release added.

The final panel examined mental health issues as both a driver and a consequence of disappearance, examining how psychological well-being intersects with identity, belonging and vulnerability, particularly for already marginalised young people. Drawing on perspectives from clinical psychology, child helplines, youth advocacy and mental health policy, the discussion highlighted the complex factors that can place young people at greater risk.

In the afternoon, interactive case-study sessions fostered practical exchanges and cross-sector collaboration to better protect children at risk.

Among the participants were representatives of MCE member organizations from 27 member states, including the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Violence in the Family (SPAVO). Both Hope For Children and SPAVO have been members of MCE since 2011 and jointly operate the European Hotline for Missing Children (116000) in Cyprus.

"Participants called for stronger cross-border cooperation, more harmonised data collection and child-centred support systems that recognise both the risks that can lead to disappearance, and the harm children may experience while missing," the press release said.

Closing the conference, Aagje Ieven, Secretary-General of Missing Children Europe, pointed out that “we need the data and we need to be convincing, if we are asking for big changes. We have to make much better arguments."

Andria Neocleous, Executive Director of Hope For Children, emphasized that “the conference showcased important child safeguarding interventions and best practices, while demonstrating how MCE can serve as a key platform for the exchange and implementation of such practices across the European Union”.

They both thanked participants and underlined the need for stronger evidence to drive policy change, the press release concluded.

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)