2 minute read
Missing, abducted or trafficked children
According to statistics, children who are reported missing have either run away from home or there has been a misunderstanding with their parents about where they were supposed to be.
Of the children and teens who are truly abducted, most are taken by a family member or an acquaintance. Only 25% of children are taken by strangers, and almost all children kidnapped by strangers are taken by men, and about two-thirds of stranger abductions involve female children.
Advertisement
Most abducted children are in their teens, and school-going children are rarely abducted from school grounds. You will find the exact height and weight limit on the side or back of your car seat.
Here are some tips for parents to ensure the safety of their children.
• Don’t wait for 24 hours before reporting your child missing.
• Know where your child is at all times, who they are with and what they are wearing.
• Always keep a recent photo of your child on hand so that the photo will be readily available in case of an emergency.
• Make an effort to know your child’s friends, their names, addresses and phone numbers. Be involved in your child’s life.
• Teach your children their own names and addresses as well as your name and telephone number.
• Take your children to the nearest police station, hospital and clinic to show them how to find it easily; point out landmarks to prevent them from getting lost, and homes of friends around the neighbourhood.
• Teach your children to take the same route to and from places.
• Teach your child to make loud noises in order to attract attention.
• Teach them to move away from any car that pulls up beside them and is driven by a stranger, even if that person looks lost or confused.
• For those kids who have cell phones, parents need to be techno-savvy in order to monitor their children’s online activity.
• Make online safety a priority. Be aware of your kids’ internet activities and chat room “friends”, and remind them never to give out personal information.
• Avoid posting identifying information or photos of your children online.
• Set boundaries about the places your children go. Supervise them in places like malls, movie theatres, parks, and public bathrooms.
• Never leave children alone in a car or stroller, even for a minute.
• Choose caregivers – babysitters, childcare providers, and nannies – carefully and check their references.
• Avoid dressing your children in clothing with their names on it – children tend to trust adults who know their names.
• If your kids are old enough to stay home alone, make sure they keep the door locked and never tell anyone who knocks or calls that they are home alone.
The first few hours are the most critical in missing child cases. So it’s important to contact your local police and give them information about your child right away.
