Europe A surfeit of children in Europe?

Project : Regional Office 4 Jan 2010 | disappearance fum

The Terre des hommes International Federation organises two press conferences at the end of January in Brussels and Geneva to promote a study, carried out in 2008-2009 – with child protection professionals in Belgium, Spain, France and Switzerland – about the alarming phenomenon of foreign unaccompanied minors disappearing from institutions where they had been placed by authorities of these countries.

This publication includes information collected in detail and recommendations to governments, legislative authorities, the judiciary and social services. It will be distributed and presented to the participants in English and in French, under the title: “Disappearing, departing, running away, A Surfeit of Children in Europe?"

The publication is under embargo until the first press conference.

Programs of the press conferences:

Thursday, January 28th, 2010
at 11.00 a.m.
in the INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTER, RESIDENCE PALACE
Rue de la Loi, 155 – 1040 – BRUSSELS

Speakers:

• Mr Ignacio PACKER, Head of Programmes Department of the Swiss Foundation Terre des hommes – Child Relief Ms Sofia HEDJAM, jurist at Terre des hommes, author of the study.

Mr. Vincent Tournecuillert, Regional Child Protection officer of Terre des hommes in Central Europe and Mr. Bernard Boeton, Children Rights Department, will also be available for any comment. At the end of the press conference (40 mn), drinks will be served.

Contact persons:

Mr. Vincent TOURNECUILLERT, Tel: 0036 707 798 083 – E-mail : vincent.tournecuillert@tdh.ch
Mr. Bernard BOETON, Tel : 00 41 78 859 22 09 – E-mail : bernard.boeton@tdh.ch

Friday, January 29 th, 2010
at 11.00 a.m.
in the GENEVA PRESS CLUB,
Route de Ferney, 106 – 1202 – GENEVA

Speakers:

• Mr Peter BREY, CEO of the Swiss Foundation Terre des hommes – Child Relief
• Ms Sofia HEDJAM, jurist at Terre des hommes, author of the study.

Mr. Vincent Tournecuillert, Regional Child Protection officer of Terre des hommes in Central Europe and Mr. Bernard Boeton, Children Rights Department, will also be available for any comment. At the end of the press conference (40 mn), drinks will be served.

Contact persons:

Mr.Pierre ZWAHLEN, Relations with media, Tel: 0041 (0)79 615 44 33 (French and German) – E-mail : pierre.zwahlen@tdh.ch
Mr. Bernard BOETON (in French and English), Tel : 00 41 (0)78 859 22 09 – E-mail : bernard.boeton@tdh.ch