AMBER Alert Europe Launches “Home Should Be Safe” in 20 Countries to Help Prevent Children from Disappearing

May 25th 2026, On International Missing Children’s Day, AMBER Alert Europe, the European Centre for Missing Children, is launching a new prevention campaign to tackle one of the most overlooked drivers of child disappearances: domestic abuse.

Every year, thousands of children go missing after running away from unsafe home environments. In many cases, warning signs are visible long before a child disappears, but they are often missed or misunderstood by the adults around them.

With its new campaign, “Home Should Be Safe,” AMBER Alert Europe is calling on adults who regularly interact with children such as teachers, sports coaches, neighbours, healthcare professionals, and other trusted persons, to recognise these early warning signs and act before a child feels that running away is their only option.

“A missing child is often the final stage of a much longer story” says Frank Hoen, Founder and Chairman of AMBER Alert Europe. “If we can help adults recognise the signs earlier, we can prevent children from ever reaching that breaking point.”

Giving Adults the Tools to Act
Children growing up with violence, abuse, or neglect at home often don’t know how to speak up, or are afraid to do so. That means the adults around them play a crucial role in noticing when something isn’t right.

The “Home Should Be Safe” campaign helps those adults understand what to look for and what to do next. The campaign highlights five warning signs that could indicate a child is not safe at home, including sudden changes in behaviour, unexplained injuries, Always being on guard, fear of going home and difficulties opening up. These signs are based on scientific research and national child protection guidelines, and have been reviewed by experts from different fields across the EU and the United Kingdom.

“A bruise on a child does not automatically mean there is abuse,” says Hoen. “But when something feels off, it’s important to trust that instinct. Small signs, when seen together, can point to a pattern, and that’s when paying attention really matters.”

A Coordinated International Effort
The “Home Should Be Safe” campaign is being rolled out simultaneously across 20 countries and in 14 languages. Participating countries include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

This international approach reflects the reality that child protection, and child disappearances do not stop at national borders. By promoting a shared understanding of warning signs and responses, AMBER Alert Europe and its partners aim to strengthen early intervention across countries.

Detailed campaign information and resources are available here.

For campaign materials, you can visit the press page.