Covington Helps Raise Awareness of Missing Children

BRUSSELS, July 1, 2015 - Covington’s Brussels office is hosting Missing Children Europe’s photo exhibition: “Missing Children: Out of Focus” an important exhibition that raises awareness of missing children. The exhibition will feature work by photographer Natalie Hill, which portrays three real-life stories about runaways, parental abductions and missing unaccompanied migrant children.

An estimated 250,000 children are reported missing in the EU every year, representing one child every two minutes. Up to 25% of the cases dealt with by national missing children hotlines are estimated to have a cross-border element. Missing Children Europe is the European federation for missing and sexually exploited children, representing a network of 30 NGOs in 24 countries across Europe. It coordinates pan-European projects and efforts to ensure that support for missing children and their families does not stop at national borders.

Missing Children Europe has had a significant impact on the issue of missing children since its launch. It was instrumental in pushing for the reservation of a unique missing children hotline number, 116 000, that is now active in 29 countries in Europe.

The photo exhibition has already been showcased in a number of locations, including the European Parliament in May 2015. The exhibition will be in Covington’s office until July 10, 1015. Thereafter, it will move to the Mundo B - an eco-friendly office building and conference centre located in Namur, and then to the BOZAR - the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts.