International Missing Children’s Day is a time to commemorate those missing children who made it home again, to remember the victims and to continue the efforts to find those still missing.
Help the families of missing children by spreading the message of hope. After all, the more people who know about the issue, the more likely they are to help bring them home.
As you surely can imagine, the impact on the families of a missing person is emotional, physical, psychological and utterly devastating.
Police Child ID app
The Australian Police have created an iPhone and Android application for parents, which has useful tools to help parents be prepared and try to safeguard against this terrifying eventuality.
The app includes:
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10 tips to help you keep your children safe
With suggestions like teaching your children to move away from cars that pull up beside them, and what they should do if they think they’re being followed.
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A place to keep details of your children up to date
So they can be easily provided to the police if ever the need arises
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Details of what to do in the first and second 24 hours if your child goes missing
Because we often don’t think clearly when we are scared or upset, the app includes a detailed list of what to do if your child is missing. The first 48 hours are the most crucial to finding the child.
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Listing of additional resources and contacts
Contact details of local missing persons units, mental health support and more.
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Password protection
If you are worried about someone accessing or changing the details of your children, you can set a password to lock the app.
More about IMCD
International Missing Children’s Day began in the US in 1983, 4 years after the disappearance of Etan Patz from a street corner in New York on 25 May. It is now recognised in 22 countries, as members of the Global Missing Children’s Network.
Missing children is a problem that faces every country and should be acknowledged by law enforcers and governments worldwide — an estimated 22,000 children go missing globally per day.
Every country should implement policies and coordinated efforts to track down missing children.
Resources
Find out more about Missing Children’s Day and the organisations involved in Australia:
Help Bring Them Home – International Missing Children’s Day campaign page (pictured at top)
Australian Federal Police – International Missing Children’s Day campaign to raise awareness
International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) – View details of missing children
Prevention tips for children – developed by ICMEC
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