AMBER Alert Europe is joining the European Parliament Intergroup on Children’s Rights to put children’s rights at the top of the EU agenda. The organizations created a manifesto to protect children’s rights. “No child must be left behind,” said Frank Hoen, AMBER Alert Europe founder and chairman. “With AMBER Alert Europe, the Intergroup will speak with a louder voice to protect the rights of the most vulnerable, in particular missing children.”
Members of AMBER Alert Europe are asking the European Parliament to list all missing children on the continent's notification system. Currently the notices only go out if the person has been placed under protection or to prevent threats. The Schengen Information System (SIS) is used to send messages in 29 countries throughout Europe. “At least 250,000 children are reported missing every year in the European Union,” said Frank Hoen, President of AMBER Alert Europe. “We urge MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) to adopt a position that ensures that all missing children at risk may be entered in SIS at the request of the competent authorities.”
A group of 35 German members of the European parliament are calling upon all European countries to have an AMBER Alert program. Currently, 17 of the 28 countries of the European Union have child abduction alert plans.
“To save missing children it is crucial to act immediately, every minute counts,” said German Parliament Member Bernd Kölmel. “German citizens need to be informed as soon as possible via all available media. It is absolutely necessary that Germany builds a modern, digital AMBER Alert system.”
So far just 8 European countries have issued at least one AMBER Alert.