New Video Highlights Child Protection Efforts in COVID-19 Era
Alexandria, VA - Today, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) released a new video highlighting its ongoing commitment to be a lifeline for families facing the crisis of a missing or sexually exploited child during the global disruption caused by COVID-19.
Despite the challenges created by the pandemic, NCMEC is still operating at full force, providing services to families, law enforcement and other professionals seeking to protect children.
The new video features the song, “Beautiful Things,” by singer-songwriter Tori Kelly, and NCMEC is asking everyone to show their support for the families of missing and exploited children by sharing it on social media with #NeverStop. It is part of an effort from the nonprofit organization to reach out to families and reassure them during this difficult time that the work to protect their children will not stop. Also highlighted in the video are photos of missing children.
Quotes from searching families:
“I've been searching for my three boys for almost a decade and I'm so grateful their faces are in this special video. I'm praying that this reaches the right person who can help bring them home.” - Augusto Frisancho, father of Raymi, Amaru & Ork'o, missing since 2010 and featured in the video
"My precious daughter Morgan was six years old when she was abducted by a stranger. It brought tears to my eyes when I saw her missing poster in NCMEC's video. After almost 25 years, they have never stopped searching for her.” - Colleen Nick, mother of Morgan Nick, abducted in 1995 and featured in the video
“Since COVID-19 took over the headlines, I have felt helpless in the search for my missing daughter, Julia. She disappeared just before the stay at home orders, and I have been fighting to get media attention for her. She’s not in this video, but I hope it reminds everyone to look for Julia and the countless other children who are still missing." - Terrie Clark, mother of Julia Mann, missing since January 20, 2020
In addition to searching for missing children, NCMEC's efforts to reduce child sexual exploitation have also continued. With mandated stay-at-home orders across the country, children are spending more time on their computers and are potentially at greater risk of online sexual exploitation.
NCMEC’s online safety tips and videos are available for free at missingkids.org/netsmartz and families are encouraged to use this opportunity to talk about safety together.
NCMEC is also asking the public to keep making reports related to missing and exploited children to 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) and CyberTipline.org. The information provided could help save a child’s life.
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National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
Since 1984, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® has served as the leading private, nonprofit organization helping to find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation and prevent future victimization. As part of its work as the clearinghouse and resource center on issues relating to missing and exploited children, NCMEC operates a hot-line, 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678), and has assisted in the recovery of more than 319,000 missing children. NCMEC also operates the CyberTipline®, a mechanism for reporting suspected child sexual exploitation, which has received more than 65 million reports.