U.S./EUROPEAN SUMMIT ON MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN
25 – 27 October 2005
Roche Forum, Buonas, Switzerland
ACTION PLAN
Representatives of 22 countries participated in the first U.S./European Summit on Missing & Exploited Children and adopted the following 17-point Action Plan:
Joint U.S./European Initiatives
(1) Promote the creation of new operational centers in individual countries modeled after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the United States and Child Focus in Belgium. The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) and Child Focus will develop a standard protocol and certification process for new national operational centers.
(2) Work together to eradicate the commercial viability of child pornography by January 1, 2008, mobilizing banking and financial industry leaders. Collaborate in developing a uniform system for the reporting of child pornography by Internet Service Providers. Advocate that every country criminalize the possession of child pornography. Expand efforts to identify children used in child pornography.
(3) Promote expanded research to provide greater awareness and understanding of the true scope of the problem of missing and exploited children.
(4) Evaluate and implement a database of known, convicted pedophiles and other sexual predators against children in the U.S. and Europe.
(5) Develop joint technology to track child traffickers.
(6) Promote the creation of a three digit phone number for missing child reports worldwide with calls then transferred to the certified missing children's call center in each country.
(7) Create and promote systems to more rapidly disseminate missing child photographs and ensure that every country has a viable photo distribution system.
(8) Promote the creation of a common, criminal DNA databank in Europe.
(9) Implement the U.S. Amber Alert system in Europe.
(10) Advocate and promote the implementation of the various European child protection conventions adopted by European bodies. Examine these European conventions as potential models to enhance U.S. law. Create greater consistency and uniformity between the U.S. and Europe on these issues.
(11) Implement joint training for U.S./European law enforcement and other professionals to ensure that there is the highest level of expertise and sophistication in working missing and exploited child cases.
International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) Initiatives:
(1) Identify "best practices" in the field of missing and exploited children in the U.S. and Europe. Produce and disseminate "Best Practice Guides" to law enforcement, prosecution, social services, NGOs, policy makers and other officials.
(2) Draft and promote formal cooperation agreements between NGOs, law enforcement and other public agencies.
(3) Develop and promote a common, agreed-upon definition of child exploitation, considering economic as well as sexual exploitation.
(4) Explore and advocate the development of sibling support programs for families of missing and exploited children.
(5) Promote the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and similar international instruments to ensure that children are protected.
(6) Advocate greater attention on the issues relating to child abduction and child sexual exploitation by the United Nations and other international bodies.
