Missing Children Stats: One missing child is one too many

[Ulquiorra]

The U.S.-based International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) has a small list of missing children statistics from countries around the world. The organization points out that one of the reasons the list is small, is the lack of a common definition of a missing child and a common response to the issue. ICMEC hopes to change that, especially as cases of missing children often cross borders and extend through continents.

According to ICMEC: “In many countries, statistics on missing children are not even available; and, unfortunately, even available statistics may be inaccurate due to: under-reporting/under-recognition; inflation; incorrect database entry of case information; and deletion of records once a case is closed.

“The lack of numbers, and the discrepancy in the numbers that do exist, is one of the key reasons why ICMEC developed and advocates for the Model Missing Child Framework, which assists countries with building strong, well-rounded national responses, and facilitates more efficient investigations, management, and resolution of missing children cases.”