Almost 47 child migrants disappeared in Europe every day since 2021, research discloses.
31 European countries shared data of unaccompanied refugee minors who went missing, amounting to at least 51,433 cases from 2021 to 2023. These numbers could possibly be higher, as some countries didn't collect data on minor refugees or had inadequate documentation. A report from 2021 showed that at least 18,000 child migrants disappeared after arriving in Europe between 2018 and 2020.
Aagje Ieven, the secretary general of Missing Children Europe, a federation uniting organizations in Europe, mentioned that the discovered cases represent only a fraction of the actual missing kids. From the contacted countries, 20 replied, while 7 were missing required data and 11 didn't respond. Italy and Slovakia's data was found in official reports by Lost in Europe.
Italy and Austria had the highest number of registered missing unaccompanied minors, with 22,899 and 20,077 cases respectively. Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland had about 2,200 to 1,200 reported cases each. Ieven said it's important for all countries to report better, because kids are more protected when they're in the system.
Children are more vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation, and other dangers when they're missing. Factors leading to missing children include possible human trafficking, sexual exploitation, lack of trust in authorities, unsafe conditions, and moving to other countries.
Lost in Europe found that one in three unaccompanied minors who went missing in Europe between 2021 and 2023 were from Afghanistan. Other significant countries of origin were Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Morocco. Durr from ECPAT UK said the EU's new Pact on Migration and Asylum will create a crisis in child protection, exacerbated by its punitive border policies and lack of safe, legal routes. Durr also expressed concerns about the impact on children of the EU's measure to include them in detention for screening.
Ieven believes that registering refugees, acknowledging their rights, and providing opportunities are key to keeping kids safe. She highlighted the importance of the system for providing safety. Lost in Europe investigates the disappearance of child migrants in Europe.
Paraphrased text:
Data introduced by 31 European countries revealed that at least 51,433 unaccompanied refugee minors were reported missing between 2021 and 2023. The actual numbers might be higher as some nations didn't record cases while others lacked proper documentation. In 2021, it was found that at least 18,000 child migrants disappeared after reaching Europe from 2018 to 2020.
The research led by Missing Children Europe, a federation connecting European grassroot organizations, highlighted that more cases might be uncovered as the tip of the iceberg becomes visible. Out of the contacted 31 countries, Lost in Europe obtained responses from 20, received data for two countries that didn't reply (Italy and Slovakia), and found that seven required information while 11 failed to reply.
Italy and Austria have the leading figures in missing unaccompanied minors, registering 22,899 and 20,077 cases respectively, followed by Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland with about 2,200 to 1,200 cases. Ieven mentioned the high counts in Italy and Austria could indicate more efficient data collection in those countries. "We need to get all of the countries to more diligently report," she told CNN.
Children often face dangers like human trafficking, sexual exploitation, violence, or escaping unsafe conditions. Some might choose to move to other countries unregistered, as Ieven noted.
Afghanistan was a significant country of origin for a third of the unaccompanied minors who vanished in Europe from 2021 to 2023, after the Taliban seized power in August 2021. Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Morocco were also significant countries of origin, based on data collected by Lost in Europe.
Durr, from ECPAT UK, said the situation represents a child protection crisis, intensified by punitive border policies and the absence of secure routes for children moving between European states.
The Austrian Interior Ministry revealed that accommodating a high number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minor refugees creates specific challenges regarding legal aid and reception, as stated by Lost in Europe.
EU member states are legally required to record missing children within 24 hours. However, this has been commonly overlooked, as Ieven mentioned to CNN. Durr additionally raises alarm about the impact of the EU's new Migration and Asylum Pact approved in 2024, which could include children in detention for screening purposes, violating their rights and increasing their vulnerability to disappearance, abuse, and trafficking.
Granting minors their rights and access to education ensures their security, according to Ieven. "What will keep them safe is understanding that there is a future for them in the system, instead of outside of it," she said. Unaccompanied children went missing in Europe due to various factors, with human trafficking and sexual exploitation being major concerns. Lost in Europe is dedicated to scrutinizing the absence of child migrants in Europe.
Read also:
Source: edition.cnn.com
