McCanns and Conservatives in joint call for Europe-wide missing children alert
Posted, April 10, 2008 @ 00:00
Parents of Madelaine McCann welcomed by Edward McMillan-Scott MEP to urge introduction of Europe-wide missing child alert system
Brussels, March 10th -- Conservatives today joined with Gerry and Kate McCann in urging the European Commission to set up a Europe-wide missing children alert system.
Conservative Vice President of the European Parliament Edward McMillan-Scott MEP invited the McCanns to Brussels to urge all MEPs to sign a Written Declaration which aims to focus the EU on getting its act together to deal with cross border child abduction.
The EU missing child alert system would include the introduction of a European Missing Child hotline, an Amber Alert system – based on the US model - and a European child resource and policy unit. This would provide a single focal point for data collection, drafting of policies and public communication on all aspects of policy.
The Amber Alert (named after nine-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was killed by her abductor) operates like a severe weather warning with messages flashed on radio, television and motorway signs. In Europe, only Belgium and France have fully adopted a similar system.
Mr McMillan-Scott said that in the US it has helped the recovery of nearly 400 abducted children since 2003. Eighty per cent have been recovered in the crucial first 72 hours.
He said:
"Unfortunately, according to the Children's Society, some 130,000 children go missing in each year in the UK - one every five minutes - for a variety of reasons, and although most are recovered, too many are not. This UK hotline should be part of a Europe-wide network, which is desperately needed.
“Gerry and Kate represent the thousands of parents who want a European children centre – like the one in Washington - to bring together governments, the police and the voluntary sector to work on a united front and eliminate layers of frustrating bureaucracy and duplication of work.
“I urge all MEPs to sign this Written Declaration. The McCanns have got the support of the leading missing children organisations and the good will of every right-minded European. It is impossible to know what they are going through. We are all praying for the safe return of Madeleine. At the same time Europe must together do all it can to prevent other families suffering like the McCanns.”
The McCanns are due to meet later today with representatives from the European Commission and the Council Secretariat to discuss proposals for a Europe-wide missing child alert system.