#LostinMigration: Recommendations to EU and national leaders to end the disappearance, suffering and exploitation of children in migration

PRESS RELEASE

Athens/Brussels, 13 March 2017

#LostinMigration: Recommendations to EU and national leaders to end the disappearance, suffering and exploitation of children in migration

Coinciding with the informal Justice and Home Affairs Council, Missing Children Europe joined hands with the Maltese President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society to bring together key stakeholders concerned with the protection of migrant children’s rights across Europe between the 26-27 January.

At the conference, 160 professionals, among them “The Smile of the Child”, national member of MCE from Greece, took stock of the situation and the current challenges of this children rights crisis. Based on the research, expertise and recommendations put forward by stakeholders at the “Lost in migration” conference, forward looking operational and policy recommendations were developed for policy makers.

These recommendations include 10 operational and policy recommendations and 7 cross-cutting recommendations on the overall policy framework, data and funding. They have been drafted and endorsed together with over 45 child rights organisations.

The recommendations include aspects on improving accommodation and reception conditions, ensuring access to trained guardians for children, the right for children to be heard and informed and more. These conclusions will be shared with EU and national Ministers, Commissioners and Heads of States and policies will be monitored over the next year to see whether progress has been made to protect children in light of these recommendations. If you want to endorse these recommendations, you can still do so through this form. We invite you to share these recommendations with your national politicians.

For more information, please contact the team of “The Smile of the Child” at press@hamogelo.gr or Federica Toscano federica.toscano@missingchildreneurope.eu, focal point for missing unaccompanied migrant children at Missing Children Europe.

About The Smile of the Child

The Smile of the Child is an internationally recognized non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization in Greece in the critical field of child protection, support of children and families with children in need, as well as free public health service for children, both in prevention and treatment. The Smile of the Child operates the European Hotline for Missing Children 116000 and is member of Missing Children Europe and its Board of Directors.
Website: www.hamogelo.gr

About Missing Children Europe

Missing Children Europe (MCE) is the European federation for missing and sexually exploited children. The MCE network unites 30 organisations in 26 European countries. MCE ensures that there is a link between researchers, the police and organisations on the ground to protectchildren from all acts of violence, abuse or neglect caused by or linked to them going.
Website: http://missingchildreneurope.eu/