White House Holds Conference on Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children

"When a child's liberty and innocence are taken, it is a terrible, terrible loss. And those responsible have committed a terrible crime. Our society has a solemn duty to shield children from exploitation and danger."

—President George W. Bush, October 2, 2002

The first White House Conference on Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children was held October 2, 2002, in Washington, DC. President Bush presented the keynote remarks at the conference, which was designed to raise public awareness of the issue, share progress, and reinvigorate practitioners and other stakeholders. OJJDP and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) joined the White House in sponsoring the event.

"Our first duty as adults is to create an environment in which children can grow and thrive without fearing for their security," said President Bush in his remarks. "That's what we've got to do. Because children are so vulnerable, they need the care of adults. Because they're so vulnerable, those who are cruel and predatory often target our children."

"This White House Conference on Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children is important for America," President Bush added. "This is the beginning of a refocused effort at the federal level to help save people's lives. . . . This is the beginning of a successful strategy implemented at all levels of government and all parts of our society to recognize a real threat and to deal with it; to recognize there are some so evil in our society that they're willing to harm our most precious and most vulnerable citizens; to be prepared to respond quickly when that happens; to help people prevent it from happening in the first place; and to make it clear, if you do it and we catch you, there's going to be serious consequences for you." (more...)

• Personal Safety for Children: A Guide for Parents
  English Version: Adobe Acrobat or HTML

  Una Guiá para los Padres Sobre la Seguridad Personal de los Niños
  Spanish Version: Adobe Acrobat or HTML

• When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Guide
  English Version: Adobe Acrobat

  Cuando su Niño Desaparece: Una Guía para la Supervivencia de la Familia
  Spanish Version: Adobe Acrobat or HTML Version

• NISMART Bulletins

  Highlights From the NISMART Bulletins
  Adobe Acrobat or HTML

  NISMART Questions and Answers
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  National Estimates of Missing Children: An Overview
  Adobe Acrobat or HTML

  Children Abducted by Family Members: National Estimates and Characteristics
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  Nonfamily Abducted Children: National Estimates and Characteristics
  Adobe Acrobat or HTML

  Runaway/Thrownaway Children: National Estimates and Characteristics
  Adobe Acrobat or HTML

Click here to view more Missing and Exploited Children publications

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