Lost In Europe Investigation Wins 2024 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize For Journalism
Lost in Europe, a cross-border investigation that uncovered the disappearance of over 50,000 unaccompanied child migrants, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.
The investigation, carried out by a coalition of media outlets from Germany, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, and the UK, revealed the staggering reality that at least 51,433 child migrants vanished after arriving in European countries between 2021 and 2023.
The award ceremony took place at the European Parliament’s Daphne Caruana Galizia Press Room in Strasbourg, with President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, Vice-President Pina Picierno, and representatives from the independent European-wide Jury of the Prize in attendance.
“Daphne’s legacy continues through the work of journalists who strive to tell the truth and refuse to be silenced,” President Metsola said in her address.
“Their fight for justice prevails over the threats that seek to undermine their important work. Press freedom is non-negotiable. Seven years after Daphne’s assassination, we continue to honor her memory with a prize that reflects this Parliament’s steadfast commitment to these fundamental values.”
The Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize was established in 2019 in memory of the anti-corruption investigative journalist, who was brutally assassinated in 2017.
The prize, which comes with €20,000 in prize money, aims to recognise journalism that upholds the core principles of the European Union, including human dignity, democracy, and freedom.
The Lost in Europe investigation unearthed a harrowing truth: since 2021, nearly 47 child migrants have gone missing every day in Europe.
Data collected from 31 European countries, including Austria, Germany, and Italy, shows that tens of thousands of children, most fleeing violence and poverty, have disappeared after arriving on European soil.
The investigation highlights that the true number of missing children could be even higher due to incomplete documentation and inconsistent data collection practices in some countries. Many of these children are feared to have fallen victim to human trafficking and modern slavery.
The findings build on Lost in Europe’s earlier work, which revealed that over 18,000 migrant children went missing between 2018 and 2020.
This latest investigation emphasises the persistence of this crisis, which, according to Aagje Leven, Secretary General of Missing Children Europe, is likely just the “tip of the iceberg.”
In presenting the award, the European Parliament reaffirmed its commitment to press freedom, honouring the memory of Daphne Caruana Galizia and the indispensable work of journalists worldwide who risk their lives to uncover the truth.
This action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament’s grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
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