Today, Tuesday 25 May 2021, on International Missing Children’s Day Deputy Minister of National Defence, Alkiviadis Stefanis attended an event organized by the Smile of the Child at Zappeion Megaron Hall.

During the event, the enlarged and substantial relation developed between the Ministry of Civil Protection and the Ministry of National Defence was highlighted, on matters of juvenile protection.

Τhe Ministry of National Defence stands by the side of society and contributes to the management of topical matters, such is the disappearance οf children. It is worth mentioning that at international level the Hellenic Armed Forces are the only ones actively assisting the procedure of tracking missing children.

The event was organized by the President of the Smile of the Child Mr. Kostas Giannopoulos, and was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Mr. Eleftherios Economou, the Deputy Minister of Sports Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis, the Migration and Asylum Deputy Minister Mrs. Sofia Voultepsi, the Mayor of Athens Mr. Kostas Bakogiannis, representatives of Chiefs of the HNDGS, the Hellenic Police, The Coast Guard, the Chief of the Hellenic Fire Service Lt. General Stefanos Kolokouris, the President of the National Emergency Aid Centre Mr. Nikolaos Papaefstathiou and the President of the Red Cross Dr. Antonios Avgerinos.

In his address the Deputy Minister stated the following:

“It is a great pleasure for me to attend today at Zappeion Megaron Hall, the meeting organised yet another year by the Smile of the Child, on the occasion of International Missing Children’s Day, an event aiming to present the new actions, services and optimal practices to tackle this worrying phenomenon, and highlight its peculiarities and extension at national and international level.

It is an undisputed fact that the Convention On the Rights of the Child, ratified by the UN General Assembly in 1989, adopted a radical viewing of children, as complete human entities, with unique personalities and innate dignity and rights, thus taking a fundamental step toward recognizing that childhood is a vulnerable time and that children need special care and protection

This protection needs to supersede all declarations and teach the society to treat children with respect, transforming them to passive receivers of philanthropy and to human beings with unique rights.

The Armed Forces constitute an aid and supporter of the significant work done by the Smile of the Child, actively contributing with personnel, means and assets, aiming to enhance the procedures which raise the awareness of the public opinion and to develop strong and reliable mechanisms of immediate response for a more effective management of this sensitive phenomenon.

Indicatively I would like to point out the recent action of the Ministry of Defence, held on 19 May 2021, with the organization of an Internet event on the prevention of sexual violence against children , thus briefing the personnel and the parents of children attending the Armed Forces Nurseries. The event was attended by MP of A’ region of Thessaloniki, Mr. Elena Rapti, as coordinator of the European Council campaign “ONE in FIVE”, relating to the phenomenon of sexual violence against children, and Police Officer A’ Sofia Kousidou, Head of the Sub-directorate of Juvenile Protection of the Thessaloniki Police Department.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today’s event is a great opportunity to promote the importance of the collective effort of all those involved – as highlighted by Mr. President – from the State, the rest of the social bodies and services, as well as the simple civilians, with the obvious intention to surpass the inertia and the complacency , and to adopt of a new way ahead which will safeguard in each child, irrespective of his/her origins or place of residence, the security and pampering they are entitled to, so that they grow up and develop their personalities under terms of full respect for his/her dignity and rights.

With these thoughts I express the conviction that the fertile and effective dialogue of today’s event will contribute along with its conclusions to the continuation of this effort, which will aid to achieve that level of mobilization and intervention, which will finally allow a comprehensive and complete management of all cases of missing children in our country.

Concluding, I would like to stress that it is everyone’s duty to make sure that our children always dream happy dreams”.