The Australian Federal Police (AFP) marked International Missing Children’s Day last Saturday (25 May) with a short film to raise awareness of missing children in Australia and around the world.
Manager, Child Protection at the AFP, Commander Justine Gough said the AFP National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC) had developed a digital campaign to spread awareness of Missing Children’s Day and the issues associated with it.
“The campaign includes a digital poster series designed to highlight the prevalence of missing children on a global scale, and the focus piece is a creative video depicting a little girl who represents over one million missing children around the world, and the life experiences that could have been,” Commander Gough said.
“We hope this film shows the impact that a missing child can have on their family members, friends and loved ones.”
She said when a child went missing, there was not only the initial pain and loss associated with the horrific event, there was also the continuing impact family members felt.
“That child’s potential, everything they could have done, or big milestones they would have achieved are painful reminders of the loss that may have occurred many years earlier,” Commander Gough said.
She said approximately 25,000 young people are reported missing in Australia every year. Most are found safe and well within 24 hours.
Around the world, it is estimated that more than one million young people are reported missing every year.
The one-minute film, with sound, can be accessed at this PS News link.
