They crossed the sea, they landed in Europa. But there is no longer any trace of them. At least they are 51,433 foreign minors unaccompanied people disappeared after arriving on our continent between 2021 and 2023, and it is feared that many of them have become victims of human trafficking and modern slavery. The data comes from the “Lost in Europe” investigationconducted by media based in Germany, Italy (with female journalists Angela Gennaro e Cecilia Ferrara), Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and the United Kingdom, which won the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism 2024.
‘Lost in Europe’ has brought to light a disconcerting reality: since 2021, on average, almost 47 minors went missing every day after arriving in Europa. The data collected from the survey on 31 European countriesincluding Austria, Germany and Italy, show that tens of thousands of children are missing. From the investigation, which lasted a few months, it also emerges that the actual number of missing minors could be even higher: in fact, important gaps in reporting were detected, due to the limited availability of data and inconsistent documentation found in some countries.
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The investigation was launched following research conducted by Lost in Europe in 2021, according to which between 2018 and 2020 in Europa I am more than 18 thousand foreign children disappeared. As Aagje Leven, general secretary of Missing Children Europethis would only be the “tip of the iceberg”. In fact, the number of foreign minors missing in Europa continues to grow at alarming rates, and it is feared that many of them have become victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.
The Daphne Caruana Galizia Award -It was established by a decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament in December 2019 to pay tribute to Daphne Caruana GaliziaMaltese investigative journalist and blogger involved in the fight against corruption, murdered in a car bomb attack in 2017. The prize is awarded every year to recognize exceptional merit in journalism that promotes or defends the fundamental principles and values of the European Union, such as there human dignityfreedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights. The independent jury is made up of representatives of the press and civil society from the 27 member countries of the Union and representatives of the main European journalism associations. The prize and its amount of 20 thousand euros are a testimony to the European Parliament’s support for investigative journalism and freedom of the press.
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At the awards ceremony in Strasbourg today, held in the press room of the European Parliament entitled to Caruana Galiciathey participated Roberta MetsolaPresident of the European Chamber, Pina Piciernovice president responsible for the award, and the representatives of the independent jury that decided the winner. “The legacy of Daphne Caruana Galizia is carried forward by the work of journalists who live to tell the truth and do not accept being silenced – he said Metsola -. Their fight for justice prevails over threats that seek to undermine their important work. There Freedom of the press is non-negotiable. Seven years after the assassination of Daphnewe continue to honor his memory with an award that testifies to this Parliament’s constant commitment to these fundamental values”. Between 3 May and 31 July 2024, hundreds of journalists from the 27 countries of the European Union submitted 318 stories, from which the jury selected 13, before decreeing the winner.
