We continue our close cooperation with partner organizations from the European network for missing and vulnerable children. This year, we gathered in Brussels immediately after May 25th, the International Missing Children’s Day, when we remember all children who have gone missing.
The focus of this year’s conference was on the growing risks children face in the digital environment, particularly in relation to grooming, online exploitation, and child disappearances. Participants discussed the improvement of early risk identification systems, strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation, and the need for stronger child protection mechanisms at both national and European levels.
ASTRA’s representative participated as a panelist in the session titled “From Risk Identification to Protection: Addressing Grooming and Disappearance”, dedicated to the connection between grooming and child disappearances, as well as the challenges of providing timely protection and support to children at risk. During the panel, practical experiences were shared, with a special focus on the importance of accessible support services, a multidisciplinary approach, and the development of preventive mechanisms to protect children from exploitation and human trafficking.
The conference once again highlighted the alarming rise in grooming cases that may lead to child disappearances and further exploitation. According to data presented by Missing Children Europe, professionals and hotline services across Europe are recording an increasing link between online grooming and cases of children running away from home or care institutions, with children in alternative care settings being particularly vulnerable.