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NEWS RELEASE
Monday
May 18, 2009
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Contact:
NCMEC Public Relations Department
(703) 837-6111
media@ncmec.org
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NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY IS MAY 25
What Parents Can Do to Keep Children Safe
ALEXANDRIA, VA - Every
year in America an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing,
more than 2,000 children each day. Of
that number, 200,000 are abducted by family members, and 58,000 are abducted
by non-family members. The primary motive for non-family abductions is
sexual. Each year 115 children are the victims of the most serious
abductions, taken by non-family members and either murdered, held for
ransom, or taken with the intent to keep.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) wants to remind
the public that National Missing Children’s Day is May 25, which coincides
with the three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend this year. The organization
wants parents to know there are things they can do to keep their children safe
and it urges parents to take 25 minutes and review the attached safety
tips which are a part of NCMEC’s Take
25 national child safety campaign.
“We know teaching children about safety works,” said Ernie Allen,
president and CEO of NCMEC. “It is important that parents take the
time to talk to their children about safety.”
An analysis of attempted abduction cases by NCMEC found that in 88% of
the cases, the child escaped would-be abductors through their own actions,
by yelling, kicking, pulling away, running away or attracting attention.
May 25th is the anniversary of the day in 1979 when 6-year-old Etan Patz
disappeared from a New York street corner on his way to school and has
been observed as National Missing Children’s Day since 1983 when it was first proclaimed by President
Ronald Reagan. Etan’s story captivated the nation. His photo,
taken by his father, a professional photographer was circulated nationwide and
appeared in media across the country and around the world. The powerful
image of Etan has come to symbolize the anguish and trauma of thousands of searching
families. The search for Etan continues. He is still missing.
This year the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children celebrates
its 25th anniversary. It is the leading nonprofit organization dealing
with the issues of missing and sexually exploited children. NCMEC has played
a role in the recovery of more than 138,500 children. Today more children
come home safely than ever before. In 2008, NCMEC helped recover more children
than any other year in the organization’s 25-year history, raising the
recovery rate from 62% in 1990 to 97% today. And more of those who prey
upon children are being identified and prosecuted. Yet too many children
are still missing and too many children are still the victims of sexual exploitation. There
is much more that needs to be done.
About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization. Since it was established by Congress in 1984, the organization
has operated the toll-free 24-hour national missing children’s hotline
which has handled more than 2,377,000 calls. It has assisted law enforcement
in the recovery of more than 138,500 children. The organization’s
CyberTipline has handled more than 690,700 reports of child sexual exploitation
and its Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than
22,983,300 child pornography images and videos. The organization works
in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice’s office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
To learn more about NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST
or visit its web site at www.missingkids.com. |
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