Missing children in Europe: shared responsibility and systemic action.
On 12 June 2025, an international conference was held pt. Missing persons under 18 in Europe. Challenges, prevention and systemic solutions in the context of parental kidnapping and teenage runaways. The event was organised by ITAKA Foundation - Centre for Missing Persons and federation Missing Children Europe in cooperation with Ministry of the Interior and Administration.
The College of Vocational Training and services and organisations facing a common challenge
The conference was attended by representatives of the College of Vocational Training inter alia, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Dr Irena Malinowska and Director of the Institute of Criminology and Homeland Security Dr. Janusz Bryk. Also present were Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs and Administration Czesław Mroczek. At the opening, he stressed that the phenomenon of missing children and adolescents - especially runaways and parental abductions - is an increasingly serious challenge for European countries.
- We need to strengthen and develop even more effective cooperation mechanisms in Europe to react faster and better protect the youngest," he pointed out.
The event was also attended by representatives of national and international institutions, services and non-governmental organisations involved in the search for missing persons.
Thematic panels and conference objectives
The conference included three thematic panels dedicated to parental abductions, missing children in the context of the war in Ukraine and migration and teenage runaways.
It also discussed psychological and legal aspects of disappearances and an analysis of the actions of the services and NGOs. A key objective of the event was to develop common standards for action in Europe and to share good practice.
Parental kidnapping needs better legal cooperation in Europe
Parental abductions remain one of the most difficult legal and emotional challenges in missing children cases. In 2024, 1,338 such cases were reported in Europe, which was nearly 18.5 per cent. of all cases handled by European hotlines. The scale of parental abductions is increasing. Differing legal procedures in EU countries lengthen the process of returning a child home.
- We need uniform, harmonised procedures and real cooperation between countries to act effectively in such situations," stressed Deputy Minister Czesław Mroczek.
The deputy head of the Interior Ministry added that the disappearance of the child is a one of the most traumatic experiences for families - regardless of the child's social status, place of residence or age.
- That is why it is so important that we jointly evaluated existing procedures and searched for new tools. Such as will allow for faster and more effective exploration," said Czesław Mroczek.
Teenage runaways are an alarming sign of crisis
Another theme of the conference was teenage runaways. According to 116,000 as much as 66 per cent. of all missing children in Europe are runaways from homes or institutions care. In Poland, 1,413 such cases were reported in 2024 among people in 14-17 years old. A child running away is always a dramatic sign of a crisis in their environment - family, school or peers.
- It is our duty to create such a systemwhich will make it possible to catch these signals earlier and support young people accordingly," the deputy head of the Interior Ministry pointed out.
Polish police modernise search procedures
He spoke about the police's efforts to find missing children Superintendent Tomasz Michułka, Deputy Chief Constable of the Police.
- Every disappearance of a minor is a case that requires a great deal of attention and empathy from officers. I am pleased that in recent months Child Alert procedure proved effective again. However, by analysing each of its launches, we see room for further improvement," said Superintendent Tomasz Michułka.
He added that In the police, the final stage of work on the amendment is underway of the Regulations of the Police Chief Commandant on the conduct of searches for missing persons. The changes are intended to simplify the classification of searches and introduce more precise rules for triggering procedures in the case of missing children.
Common European recommendations
Anna Jurkiewicz, CEO of the ITAKA Foundation, pointed out that the conference has a mainly practical dimension, and not just analytical. She expressed the hope that the event would be followed by a concrete set of recommendations for institutions at national and European level. The conference was unique in that took place in the final weeks of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. Deputy Minister Czeslaw Mroczek emphasised that Poland wants to be an active participant and initiator of European cooperation on child protection.
