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Young Runaways and Missing Children in Europe: Towards More Effective Cross-border Cooperation

This timely international symposium provides an invaluable opportunity to discuss how to tackle the problem of young runaways and missing children in Europe. The symposium will examine how to improve child protection across the EU and explore innovative methods of collaboration between Member States.

An estimated one million children go missing every year within the European Union. Runaways or criminal/parental abductions often become a European matter due to cross-border disappearances. To tackle this issue, it is vital that Member States increase their cooperation through effective and innovative information sharing. The Treaty of Lisbon explicitly requires the EU to promote the protection of the rights of the child and this also implies continuous improvement of the EU framework for dealing with young runaways and missing children.

Some cases of disappearances, such as runaways from home or from institutional care may be anticipated through the identification of root causes and improved inter-agency cooperation. Police services, care agencies, local authorities as well as justice professionals all have an important role to play in preventing and tackling national and international young runaways. Although some good progress has been made, there is more work to be done, in particular regarding data collection on missing children and young runaways.  Because of major variations in practice at local, national and European levels, it is indeed difficult to collect accurate data in the field.

This timely international symposium provides an invaluable opportunity to discuss how to tackle the problem of young runaways and missing children in Europe. The symposium will examine how to improve child protection across the EU and explore innovative methods of collaboration between Member States.

Public Policy Exchange welcomes the participation of all key partners, responsible authorities and stakeholders. The symposium will support the exchange of ideas and encourage delegates to engage in thought-provoking topical debate.

Delegates will:

  • Discuss current policy frameworks for dealing with young runaways and missing children in Europe
  • Examine innovative projects in providing EU citizens with more knowledge of child rights and protection
  • Explore new solutions for cooperation across Europe at local, national and European levels
  • Analyse the role of stakeholders in implementing EU decisions and projects for missing children

For further details, please refer to the enclosed event brochure. Do feel free to circulate this information to relevant colleagues within your organisation.

In the meantime, to ensure your organisation is represented, please book online or complete and return the registration form at your earliest convenience in order to secure your delegate place(s).


Download Abstract & Programme

Source: http://www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/DJ02-PPE2.php

Tags: Public policy, Europe, young runaways, missing children in Europe, public policy exchange
Published Aug. 9, 2013 3:17 PM