Missing Children Europe is the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children connecting 31 grassroot organisations in 26 countries across Europe. The organizations are all committed to the same goals: to prevent children from going missing, and to protect children from any violence, abuse or exploitation that leads to or results from them going missing.
Each year over 250, 000 children slip through the net in the European Union. Children go missing for a wide range of reasons, including conflict, violence, abuse and exploitation. MCE supports professionals to better protect and empower children through research, training, advocacy, awareness, facilitating exchange and cross-border cooperation. They also coordinate the network of 116000 missing children hotlines, and the Cross-Border Family Mediators network.
In light of the war in Ukraine, Max Stenbeck Charitable Trust supported MCE in establishing a helpdesk in order to rapidly increase family reunifications and reduce the number of missing episodes for children separated from their families while seeking refuge in the EU.