The EU's common helpline 116000
for cases of missing children

In Finland, 112 always helps in acute emergencies

Welcome to 116000 – the European support service for missing children

All EU countries have a common helpline 116000 to help missing children.

The EU Commission has considered it important that all EU member states have the same service number when,
help is urgently needed in the case of a child’s disappearance, for example, when families with children travel within the EU
 and the child gets lost or disappears during the trip in another EU country.

In the case of a child’s disappearance, it is essential that the authorities are notified as quickly as possible.
More information about Finland’s helpline 116000 can be found at www.112.fi/kadonneetlapset.
The missing children hotline 116000 is for non-urgent calls.
When it comes to an emergency, always call the emergency number 112.

116000 helps in all European countries.
The EU's common helpline 116000, now works in all EU countries.
In some member states, the service is provided by the state, and in several EU countries
by a member of the Missing Children Europe organization.

You can call the hotline for missing children in situations when you want to:

  • Ask for advice in matters related to the disappearance of a child

  •  Report the finding of a child reported missing

  • Report that you have found a lost or separated child

  • Search for information about your missing child.

    A child means a person under the age of 18. Calls are free in all EU member states. When using the emergency number 116000, no area code is needed. The number cannot be called from a locked phone.

MISSING CHILD

116000, and 112 direct the case and the caller to the right party and to the appropriate authorities (Police,
rescue services, border guards, social and health services). You can also get advice and help
e.g. from the crime victim emergency service (www.riku.fi) and emotional support from various crisis phones.

In several EU countries, this 116000 helpline is run by a member organization of the Missing Children Europe
(MCE) organization. MCE coordinates the cooperation between its member organizations.
According to MCE’s website, 116000 helplines (hotlines) are in use in 32 European countries.

This helpful number can be contacted by anyone looking for help for a missing child
(e.g. the child himself, the child’s friend, family member, guardian, teacher).
For more information on helplines and the number of missing children in Europe, see www.missingchildreneurope.eu.

From Finland, MCE’s so-called MCE’s member organization Lasten perusoikeudet ry(www.lastenperusoikeudet.fi)
participates in the coordination of the hotlines cooperation network, but the helpline 116000
is maintained by the state and the Emergency Center.

A European organization is involved in supporting the operation of the 116000 number
116000 to the service number more than 2 million calls have been made
More than 70,000 missing children have been helped through 116,000 numbers

116 000 - Europe’s Missing Children Support Service

The first hours after a child goes missing are critically important. The number 116 000 is an essential service that provides help and support to children who have gone missing across Europe. This number is a pan-European hotline reserved by the European Union since 2007, regulated by strict EU legislation.

Why is 116 000 so important?

When a child goes missing, swift and professional action is necessary. The number 116 000 offers parents, guardians, and authorities immediate access to qualified experts who can help act quickly and effectively. This service is available in all European Union member states.

How does 116 000 work?

When contacting the number 116 000, you gain immediate access to experienced professionals who can offer advice, support, and guidance in the event of a child’s disappearance. They assist in filing a report with the authorities and provide necessary instructions. Their goal is to help return a missing child as quickly and safely as possible.

In urgent emergencies, always call the general emergency number 112.

Searching for a missing child is a shared responsibility, and the number 116 000 is a valuable tool in this mission. Do not hesitate to reach out if help or advice is needed. Together, we can make a difference.

Welcome to 116 000 – Europe’s Missing Children Support Service – together, we can save children and bring hope to families.