More than 110 children reported missing each day France : a figure that remains very high despite a decline in the annual number of reports (-5,1%). In fact, 40 989 disappearances of minors have been reported in France, to the police and gendarmes in 2023, according to the Ministry of theInterior. On the occasion of the International Day of Missing Children, the 116 000 Missing Children reveals these figures in its annual report on the disappearances of minors in France.

After several years of successive increases, the number of reports of disappearances of minors is down more than 5% to return to a level close to that of 2020. An observation which is, however, in half-shade : the figure remains beyond the bar of the 40 000 and does not allow yet to rule on a real long-term decline, according to the 116 000 Missing Children. In fact, the number ofemergency coordinated and managed by the Foundation, Right to Childhood , received 10% ofcalls over the course of the same year. A strong increase, particularly related to the media impact of the disappearance ofEmile and Lina, after which the 116 000 has been particularly sought after. However, the notoriety of the emergency number still remains limited : only 5% of French people know of its existence according to thesurvey conducted by theinstitute Cluster17. A report ofall the more regrettable in that almost 10% of the French say in the same time have already been confronted with the disappearance of a child or that ofa loved one.

Running away from home longer by the runaways always younger

Always representing more than 95% of the total reports, the number of fugues, however, has declined substantially this year (to 5.9%). A decrease is also observed within the cell followed by the 116 000 sconcerned about receiving calls about running away from home longer and longer and runaways still young. In fact, many files opened this year by the monitoring unit relate to the youth of 13 or 14 years, or 11 years for the youngest of them. An impression confirmed by the national statistics : the share of children under the age of fifteen years among the runaways has grown steadily since the year 2018. A statement of concern, particularly given that the risks associated with the fugue is too often minimized : 1 French 4 considers that a minor fugue is 'little' or 'not really' in danger, according to the survey Cluster17.

The disappearances cause for concern and parental child abduction is on the rise.

Whatever the cause, the fugue, however, is always a space of danger to thechild, and becomes all the more whenit is repeated or protracted. In this case, it is not uncommon that the reporting operated within the File of the Wanted Persons (RPF) is reconverted into the disappearance of a concern. These last have concerned 1 259 reports in 2023, a figure that is up 7.2% since two years.

Among these disappearances qualified disturbing, the link between sexual exploitation and episodes of fugues successive confirms this year. In fact, prostitution is suspected or proved in 4% of cases opened by the 116 000 by 2023, a figure that is more than 30% when it comes to young girls run away. At the approach of the Olympic Games of Paris, the 116 000 Missing Children is concerned about a possible effect ' JO ' on this topic and calls for vigilance. In fact, the sporting events of great magnitude to induce a systematic increase of the situations prostitutionnelles, including minors.

On the other side of the spectrum, parental child abduction have experienced a very strong growth in thelast year with 661 reports. In increase of 21.5%, they relate to children, often very young : less than 5 years for most of the half. 49% of the kidnappings were committed to a foreign country with which it is sometimes difficult to enforce international law. Yet bound by international commitments, it is not uncommon that some countries prefer to protect their nationals. Then begins an obstacle course to the victim parent which can be particularly time-consuming and expensive.

A phenomenon that is largely under-estimated and misunderstood

To include the decline of the reports in a sustainable trend, three tracks are raised by the emergency number. In the first place, the training of professionals (police officers, lawyers, social workers, etc.) must be strengthened in order to support more effectively the families and young people in such situations. The first involved, the cops have yet today no mandatory training specific to the disappearance of minors. The experts also stress the importance of educating young people about the risks they expose themselves to when they run away to avoid the use thereof, or a new beginning, when the young person has already run away.

Finally, too many French are still unaware of the existence of the aid schemes and the good reflexes to adopt in the case of a missing child. 28% of them consider that a young person must have left the home for at least 2 days to be considered running away. An error all the more regrettable in the early hours of the disappearance are the most critical to find a child. In this sense, it is essential to deploy a national campaign to prevent to respond to a need largely shared by the French : nearly 8 out of 10 consider not to be quite aware of the risks related to the disappearance of minors.