Disappearance of migrant children in Europe

Since 2016 and the start of the 'refugee crisis', alarming numbers of migrant and refugee children have been reported missing after arriving in Europe. It is feared that many have been exploited and abused for sexual or labour purposes. The European Parliament has repeatedly stressed the need to address the disappearance of migrant children in the EU. The conflict in Ukraine and the subsequent mass displacement have made the situation even worse, creating opportunities for criminal networks to take advantage of vulnerable people, and of children in particular. This updates an 'at a glance' note written by Anja Radjenovic in 2017.