A staggering 47 child migrants vanish every day in Europe

 

A staggering 47 child migrants vanish every day in Europe, according to a recent investigation by Lost in Europe, a cross-border journalism collective. The research reveals that over 50,000 child migrants have gone missing since 2021, with many feared to have fallen prey to human traffickers or exploitation.

The data, requested from 31 European countries, shows that at least 51,433 unaccompanied refugee minors were registered as missing between 2021 and the end of 2023. However, the actual figure could be higher due to inadequate documentation and some countries not collecting data on such children at all.

Italy and Austria lead in registrations of missing unaccompanied minors, with 22,899 and 20,077 cases respectively, followed by Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland. However, experts note that higher numbers in Italy and Austria do not necessarily indicate more cases, but rather more efficient data collection systems.

The fate of missing unaccompanied migrant children is worrying, with many at risk of being targeted by traffickers, exploited by smugglers, or subjected to abuse in the sex industry. Others disappear voluntarily due to mistrust of authorities or to escape unsafe reception conditions.

Multiple factors contribute to the disappearance of migrant children, including concerns about human trafficking, exploitation, and unsafe reception conditions. Many move to other countries to reunite with relatives or friends without registering it, making them vulnerable to exploitation.

Children make up around 40% of the world's displaced people, according to the United Nations. While fleeing wars and conflicts, thousands of children find themselves separated from their families and relatives, and others travel alone, sent ahead by parents seeking to ensure their survival.

Afghanistan was the country of origin for at least one in three unaccompanied minors who went missing in Europe between 2021 and 2023, with the number of Afghan children arriving in Europe increasing following the Taliban takeover of power in August 2021.

Experts emphasize that the situation represents a crisis in child protection, exacerbated by punitive border policies and the lack of safe and legal routes for children in Europe to move between member states safely.

Registering migrant children and acknowledging their rights, including access to education, is crucial for their safety. Experts stress that understanding that there is a future for them in the system, rather than outside of it, is key to keeping them safe.

The EU's new Pact on Migration and Asylum, approved by the European Parliament in April 2024, has raised concerns about its impact on children on the move. Measures such as including children within detention for screening purposes have been criticized as a clear breach of their rights under international law and likely to increase their vulnerability to going missing, abuse, and trafficking.

In conclusion, the disappearance of nearly 47 child migrants every day in Europe is a staggering crisis that requires urgent attention and action. Ensuring the safety and protection of these vulnerable children is crucial, and this can only be achieved through efficient data collection, registration, and acknowledgment of their rights, including access to education and safe and legal routes for movement within Europe.