Media Release: Keeping children safe on International Missing Children’s Day
Release Date: Friday, May 25 2012, 06:30 AM
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) today joins 16 other countries from four continents in recognising International Missing International Day (IMCD) as part of the Global Missing Children’s Network (GMCN).
To highlight IMCD this year, the AFP together with the GMCN has launched a range of new preventative tips to help parents to prevent their children from going missing.
AFP National Manager of High Tech Crime Operations Neil Gaughan said it is important to teach children how to stay safe and inform them of risks they may encounter.
“By using these tips, parents and carers can do their part in ensuring their children learn how to remain safe.
“Following these types of preventative measures can have a positive impact on missing children’s cases,” Assistant Commissioner Gaughan said.
The exact number of children missing at any one time internationally is unknown. Within Australia, approximately 17,500 people under the age of 18 are reported missing each year. This equates to one young person reported missing every hour of every day.
Assistant Commissioner Gaughan said IMCD has a proven track record of helping to solve ongoing cases by raising awareness of this global issue.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that all five missing children highlighted as part of the 2010 International Missing Children’s Day campaign have now been located and returned to Australia.”
The AFP represents IMCD in Australia, and has been working closely with the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) on missing children’s issues for more than 12 years, an organisation which helps bring attention to the vulnerability of children who are missing and abducted.
As a member of the Global Missing Children’s Network, the AFP’s National Missing Persons Coordination Centre Team Leader Rebecca Kotz will today open an international missing children’s conference in Taipei, Taiwan, in recognition of the 20th anniversary of missing children services being provided in Taiwan.
“Taiwan has recently joined the Global Missing Children’s Network, which will further expand our global reach to ensure the safe return of missing children,” Ms Kotz said.
If anyone has information relating to a missing child they should contact the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre on 1800 000 634 or email missing@afp.gov.au or by visiting the International Missing Children's Day website, www.helpbringthemhome.org.au.
These tips are available in 10 different languages on the AFP’s ‘Help Bring Them Home’ website. Further information can be found at www.helpbringthemhome.org.au.
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