“Listen” young runaways say

PRESS RELEASE

Athens, 3 November 2020

“Listen” young runaways say

Young runaways are campaigning this November to shed light on the issues they deal with. Running away is often seen as “problem behaviour”, but if you would “listen to us, you would know that running away, is a way for us to deal with problems that need addressing”, runaways say. *Sam, 25 years old - who ran away from home for the first time at age 10. “When I ran away from home I didn’t feel in danger, I was more afraid when I was at home. I was ten years old and I thought that nothing would be more dangerous than being in my house.”

That is why, together with Missing Children Europe and members of the RADAR project, a group of young runaways are campaigning this November, during International Runaway Prevention Month, to focus on the issues of children and young people that run away.

Children and young people who run away from their homes are the largest group of missing children across Europe. In 2019, young runaways made up 54.5% of the missing children cases reported to the 116 000 European hotline for missing children. In that same year, 14% of those children were not found.

That is why Missing Children Europe and its members reached out to young people across Europe who have experience of (being at risk of) running away to listen to their stories. To help change the negative perceptions of runaways and to improve the support available to them, the campaign “Listen. Change. Protect.”, was developed by this group of young people.

Throughout November, the #ListenChangeProtect campaign highlights the results of consultations held with children and young people who have experienced running away. The young people indicated that:
● Listening to children and young people who run away enables adults to get to the root causes that led them to run away, and to guide runaways to solutions for underlying problems.
● Changing negative perceptions of running away is necessary to encourage children and young people to ask for help and guarantee more effective and targeted responses to their needs.
● Re-building trust between young runaways and the adults in their lives is essential to be able to provide the support and guidance needed.
● Ensuring collective action within society for the right change to happen.

Ms. Aagje Ieven, Secretary General at Missing Children Europe stated;
“Young runaways are often misunderstood and approached with prejudice. The young people we work ask that we really listen to their concerns and experiences and that we take them seriously as experts of their own lives. Running away is their answer to a problem they are dealing with, but that we may not be seeing. So, the first thing we need to do is listen. Only then can we build trust and find the best way to provide them with the safe environment and protection they deserve.”

Mr. Costas Yannopoulos, President of “The Smile of the Child” stated;
“Every child who leaves home is by definition a child in danger and is exposed to unforeseen situations beyond its imagination and control. Our children should not get to the point of thinking that leaving home is a way to solve their problems. Under the prevailing conditions, now more than ever, there is a great need to seek for meaningful relationship with them, stand by them and listen to them with compassion. Psychological distancing is insidious; Unfortunately, we underestimate what’s happening within our own homes. Our experience shows that most incidents are related to family problems and the lack of communication.

We hold a great responsibility as a society to make sure our children gain access to the right information, to also provide for children who may live in an abusive family environment; there are institutions that stand for their protection, and they may reach out to them to receive substantial help without risking their lives in unpredictable paths. Talking to our children should be our top priority! Let’s raise awareness on the National Helpline SOS 1056 and the European Hotline for Missing Children 116000, so that they get to know that on the “other side of the line” there is always a psychologist from "The Smile of the Child" available to listen to them and give advice on a 24/7 basis at any moment, every day, all year round, free-of-charge and anonymous. Now, also through the Chat 1056 application, they can ask for help by texting and expressing their concern without getting noticed by their surroundings.”  

The campaign will take place in Belgium, Greece, Poland and Portugal.

Keep an eye out for our posters online or at a transport hub in the capital cities of these countries.

About RADAR
RADAR (Running Away: Drivers - Awareness - Responses) project aims to reframe runaway behaviour as an indicator of underlying adverse childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, mental health problems, or living with a family member with mental health problems and/or addiction. The project will raise awareness on the topic of runaway children through research with the provision of advocacy tools, development of trainings and toolkits as well as a Mass Open Online Course for professionals in relevant fields.

About Missing Children Europe - MCE
Missing Children Europe is the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children, representing 31 grassroot NGOs in 26 European countries. Missing Children Europe coordinates the network of missing children hotlines available through the 116 000 number. The hotline is currently active in 31 countries in Europe.