International Missing Children's Day is held each year on May 25 to raise awareness about the significant number of young people who are reported missing around the world.
The Forget-me not flower is the symbol of the day as it tells a simple message - help bring them home.
New Zealand Police, along with 22 other countries around the world, is affiliated to the Global Missing Children's Network (GMCN), who is at the forefront of the campaign.
The GMCN has developed a central multi-lingual database that features information and photographs of missing children that can be shared globally.
“It’s important for New Zealand to be part of the wider international community to keep us appraised of international trends that might affect New Zealand and we want to be part of the prevention work that the GMCN carries out internationally,” says Detective Sergeant Linda Tamehana, National Coordinator of the Missing Children's Unit.
So far this year, New Zealand Police have already received 4296 missing person reports.
Of these reports, 70 percent were for missing children and young people aged between 1-16 years.
“Although most are located within 1-3 days, we still need to be aware of the risks that present to our children and young people, whether they are risks that involve dangerous, unusual or suspicious circumstances,” says Ms Tamehana.
“Fears for their safety arise immediately if they are a small child missing from a house or location near water, or if the child or young person is mentally or physically disabled. We also need to be aware of other factors that increase the risk to the safety or wellbeing of young people as it makes them more vulnerable.”
New Zealand Police have 19 historic missing cases relating to children and young persons that remain open. In five of these cases, the child or young person has gone missing in suspicious circumstances that involve abduction and possibly homicide.
In three cases, the circumstances are unknown, and it is likely the children found themselves in situations outside their usual environments and were unable to cope with the risks presented.
The remaining 11 cases relate to children and young people who have gone missing in dangerous or accidental circumstances, such as boating, fishing, surfing or swimming incidents.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Note for media: Detective Sergeant Tamehana is unavailable for interviews.