In 2022, more than 43,000 disappearances of children were reported in Europe. 116 000 is an emergency number available 24/7 and which helps families whose child has disappeared. This monitoring unit broadcasts a new spot in order to raise awareness of its action.
“Three stories, three situations but only one number: 116 000” A sentence which sums up the philosophy of the last spot for the emergency number. These stories are those of Issa, Pauline and Jeremy: three fictional characters but whose story is so similar to those accompanied every day by the case managers of 116,000 Missing Children. A runaway, as is the case for 95% of the 43,202 reports of disappearances of minors made in Europe in 2022. A parental kidnapping, the start of a legal battle which extends over several years for the victim parent. A worrying disappearance, that of a young girl who fell under the influence of a third party, a trend unfortunately observed on the rise for several years. “Cases of kidnapping or criminal situations remain, fortunately, very exceptional.“, however specifies the 116,000.
More than 1,300 files processed in 2022
The 116,000 monitoring unit processed more than 1,300 files for 2022 alone, a figure up slightly. Available 24/7, it provides free support and support to families whose child has disappeared. Each person affected by a disappearance can call 116 000 and benefit from free psychological, social, legal or administrative support.
Essential support for these parents combined with prevention actions, distribution of search notices or the organization of discussion groups. Work with those who need it most and who the emergency number hopes to make known with the broadcast of this new spot.
Only 7% of parents know this emergency number
By broadcasting this spot, 116 000 wishes to increase the notoriety of a number that is still unknown to a large majority of French people. Indeed, as revealed by a survey commissioned from the Cluster17 institute and which will be revealed soon, only 7% say they are aware of this number. A figure which, as confirmed by this investigation, also testifies to a lack of understanding of the scale and nature of the disappearances of minors in Europe. Produced by the Prisme studio, this spot aims to raise awareness about the disappearances of minors in Europe and make the number 116,000 known to as many people as possible. Its financing was made possible thanks to the support of the European Union, Missing Children Europe and the donors of Stream On for Kids 2023.
