As the disappearance of Madeleine McCann lingers on in spite of the wide publicity generated to find the child, we are reminded of this continuous occurrence of missing children and, of course, of their vulnerability. Madeleine’s case is not an isolated one – tens of thousands of cases have been reported to the authorities across the EU on an annual basis. This can be deduced even though no statistics are available for the whole bloc. The United Kingdom alone has in recent years estimated a total of 70,000 cases annually although actual abductions are dramatically less. Various member states have adopted different measures to alleviate this problem.

In Malta’s case, even though there is no specific police department dealing with such cases involving children, a section within the force investigates all missing persons and the media, as we witness from time to time, is effectively utilised. The Department of Social Welfare Standards also deals with such cases including those of abductions involving third countries.

Last week the European Commission marked, together with the rest of the international community, Missing Children’s Day for the third year running. It may be a symbolic approach, yet it follows measures that are being taken on this issue. A new telephone number, still expected to be launched, has been dedicated as a single hotline that would allow reports on lost children to be recorded. This could be very useful as a pan-European tool and an easy-to-remember procedure.

Next Monday, perhaps timed with the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, the European Forum for the Rights of the Child shall be meeting in Berlin and all EU Ministers responsible for justice are expected to be present. Its agenda shall be wide and encompass other problems that children face – including child pornography and pederasty. The forum shall include member states, international organisations and other stakeholders. It is also planned to pave the way for a strategy on the rights of the child.

Children’s rights are enshrined in the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, relating to their development, right to education and protection from child labour. EU Commissioner Frattini, responsible for justice, freedom and security, has stated that the rights of children and their protection are a priority both for himself and the European Commission. The European Parliament too has placed some focus on the issue as it recently conducted a hearing delving into the subject.

Legislative action and funding programmes have contributed to the general well-being of children. For the upcoming period, a main mechanism that is expected to do much for child protection is the so-called Daphne III programme that should provide continuity to its predecessors. It is particularly aimed at assisting organisations that develop ways to combat all sorts of violence and prevent groups at risk from being further victimised. Children are specifically targeted for such action.

Ultimately, member states’ administrations remain at the forefront of child protection. However, action at EU level should help in achieving better results, both with the sharing of good practices as well as through the exchange of information. Hopefully, fewer families will have to go through the trauma of a missing child and youngsters will be afforded more of the care and protection they need during the delicate period of their development.

Further information may be obtained from Forum Malta fl-Ewropa on tel.: 2590-9101 or by email to:

[email protected].

Julian Micallef is Civil Society Coordinator “Forum Malta fl-Ewropa”