More than 250 000 children disappear each year in Europe. There are many reasons to why they go missing: the asylum process is too complex and takes too long, in addition, the chances to get an approval can be small. There’s no clear information on children’s rights or what services that are available to them. They can also go missing because they have been forced into sexual or labour exploitation, or are indebted to smugglers. Research has found that cases of migrant children are less prioritised than other child disappearances.
Regardless of why they go missing, once they disappear outside the protection systems, these children are extremely vulnerable – mentally, emotionally and to those who want to do them harm. Not investing in the protection of these children, will come at a great cost for the European societies.
Multi-level approach to close protection gaps
The H&M Foundation joined forces with Missing Children Europe, the European federation for missing and sexually exploited children, who represent a network of 29 NGO’s in 26 countries.
With a total donation of 11.3 million Swedish krona 2017-2021, our project aimed to close the protection gaps which lead to the disappearance and exploitation of children in migration.
Among other things a practical app was launched which can help map services and information on children’s rights in the country they find themselves in. The app was developed together with migrant children who have fled their home country.
