National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

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The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a private, non-profit organization established in the United States in 1984 under United States government mandate. The NCMEC acts as clearinghouse of information and as a contact point to parents, children, law enforcement agencies, schools, and communities providing assistance to help recover missing children and to raise public awareness about ways to help prevent child abduction, molestation, and sexual exploitation. The Congressional mandate leading to establishment of the Center was advocated by John Walsh and others as a result of frustration stemming from the lack of resources and coordination between law enforcement and other government agencies after the abduction and murder of Adam Walsh, the six-year old son of John Walsh.

The Center acts as an information resource to help find children who have been reported missing (either by child abduction or running away from home) and to help children who may be being abused or sexually abused. In this resource role, the National Center distributes photographs of missing children and accepts tips and information from the public. It also coordinates its activities with law enforcement agencies. The Center works with numerous state and federal agencies.

[edit] International aspects

Effective September 5, 1995, applications seeking the return of or access to children in the United States under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction are processed through the NCMEC for the United States Department of State, Office of Children's Issues under contract with the United States Department of State and the United States Department of Justice. As a result of its status as a government contractor as well as funding provided under the Missing Children's Act and Missing Children's Assistance Act, the National Center receives approximately US$30-million funding each year from the United States Government.