The Growing Issue of Missing Children: The Need for a Comprehensive Strategy

Across the globe, children disappear daily for various reasons, presenting a deeply concerning issue. While the disappearance of individuals has long been troubling, the incidence of missing children cases in Europe and the US has witnessed a concerning and consistent rise over the past decade. On an international level, there is a notable absence of a unified, global strategy to tackle this issue. This article, prepared by members of the European Pediatric Association–Union of National European Pediatric Societies and Associations Working Group on Social Pediatrics, discusses the dimensions of the growing issue of missing children and the programs and international legal instruments relevant to addressing this concerning phenomenon. The commentary aims to emphasize the need for comprehensive systems to outline how legislators, law enforcement, governmental agencies, health care professionals, and the communities can collaborate not only to prevent children from going missing but also to ensure their safe recovery.