Museums across Europe come together for missing children

Art and cultural institutions across five countries are displaying children's drawings in their galleries during the last week of August to raise awareness about international parental abductions, a phenomenon which consistently spikes in the summer.

This summer, museums all over Europe are joining forces to display art made by children in their galleries to raise awareness of a little known but heartbreaking issue: international parental abductions.

From the videogame museum in Rome, to the Museum of Illusions in Madrid or Split, cultural institutions across Europe are displaying works created by children. The drawings - depicting everything from sleepless cities, to pyramids and swing sets - are meant to stand out, grab the attention of families, and spark a conversation about a phenomenon that spikes every summer.

International parental abduction is when a parent takes or keeps a child abroad, without consent of the other parent or an order from a judge. Despite affecting at least 1,014 children in Europe in 2024 alone, international parental abduction remains rarely discussed, with the little awareness that exists confined to those directly affected. In order to make the issue more known, and offer balanced solutions on how to respond to parental abductions, Missing Children Europehas an answer.

"Parental abduction doesn't just move a child from one country to another - it tears them away from their home, school, and sense of safety," said Aagje Ieven, Secretary General of Missing Children Europe. "If you're at risk or already facing this situation, don't go through it alone. Use the Finding Home website to understand your rights and the steps you can take."

Finding Homeis an online, child-friendly resource made by family law experts in cooperation with children and now managed by Missing Children Europe. Available in more than 10 languages, it provides clear, practical information on what to do in cases of parental abduction, and what action to take depending on the situation.

A very special thank you to Mini-Europe, Museum of Illusions Split, GAMM Videogame Museum, National Iconographic Museum Onufri of Berat, Educational Museum of Origami, Muzej krapinskih neandertalaca, and Museum of Illusions Madrid for participating in this campaign.