Act in event of abduction

Disappearance of a minor

Any disappearance of a minor is considered worrying under the terms of Law No. 95-73 of 21 January 1995. In reality, only a small number of missing children fall into the category of worrying disappearances. Most are considered runaways, although a voluntary departure does not mean there is no danger. At present, the criteria to distinguisha runaway from a worrying disappearance are determined by the department in charge of investigations according to the elements of fragility and danger provided by the person or persons reporting the disappearance.

Depending on the circumstances of the disappearance, the child’s age and profile, the police and judicial authorities, on a case-by-case basis, decide what to do. 116000 Enfants Disparus case managers can help families highlight the relevant elements necessary for the authorities to classify a disappearance as worrying.

Disappearance of a young adult

Unlike a minor, an adult has the right to leave without giving any news, to sever ties with his/her family. Out of respect for individual freedom, he/she cannot be forced to get back in contact with people close to them.

It is therefore necessary to do your own research (check social network accounts, approach friends and work colleagues, etc.).

If you doubt his/her departure was voluntary, the first thing to do is to report it to the police (in accordance with Article 26 of the Law of 21 January 1995). You can also write to the public prosecutor of the Judicial Court of the missing adult’s place of residence. In this letter, you should describe the circumstances of the disappearance to enable classifying it as worrying so that the magistrate will initiate an investigation and launch a search. Some associations can help you in your endeavour: Directory of associations.

Warning signs

A disappearance can, for example, be considered worrying in cases where:

• The person is under 13 years of age;
• The missing person has a mental or physical disability or a lack of autonomy;
• The missing person is undergoing medical treatment or is required to take medication;
• The missing person did not take any personal belongings (identity document, telephone, clothing, etc.) with them; The missing person did not take any personal belongings (identity document, telephone, clothing, etc.) with them;
• The missing person may be at risk of death (dark thoughts, psychiatric medical history, threats…);
• The missing person may be in the company of third parties who could pose a threat to his/her well-being, or risk being the victim of a criminal act;
• The person’s absence is out of keeping with his/her usual behaviour.

Child abductions are rare but have a profound impact on public consciousness, especially when the child is never found or the situation ends tragically. Attempted abductions are also rare but not exceptional. Regional daily newspapers frequently report failed attempts. Most of the time, it is the children themselves who thwart their attackers. This is why it is essential to share some safety tips with children as soon as they are able to understand them, without causing undue fear.

9 Safety Tips for Parents

As a parent, the idea of your child being abducted is especially terrifying. To prevent this, it is important to teach your child, without dramatizing, essential safety practices to ensure their protection. The 116 000 Missing Children service offers a series of tips to share with your child to prevent abductions:

• Teach your child never to follow a stranger;
• Teach your child to say no, even to an adult;
• Always know where your child is and who they are with;
• Be aware of the routes your child takes;
• Decide on a meeting point with your child;
• Agree on a password with your child, so they know who to trust when someone contacts them on your behalf;
• Teach your child not to open the door to a stranger;
• Warn your child about online dangers;
• Help your child memorize important phone numbers.

7 out of 9 children agreed to go with a stranger

A British television network wanted to demonstrate how easy it is to kidnap a child. To prove this, 9 children, aged 5 to 11, were taken to a park. With the simple question, “Can you help me find my dog?” a complicit actor managed to get 7 of the 9 children to follow him within 90 seconds. The experiment was repeated in several countries with the same concerning result.

A booklet and game to prevent criminal abductions

To start a conversation with your children without scaring them and establish safety rules, Droit d’Enfance, in collaboration with psychologists, has created “Le parcours des bons réflexes”. This game, designed for children aged 6 to 12, is available on the website www.25mai.fr.

You can also view the PDF booklet.

If your child is missing, time is of the essence, and there is no minimum delay to report a disappearance. The 48-hour window is not a legal requirement. Go to the nearest police or gendarmerie station as quickly as possible to report your child’s disappearance so they can be entered into the Missing Persons File (FPR).

First Steps

Try to stay calm and assess what might have happened: Did they get lost? Were they in an accident? Were they abducted? Did they run away?

Before contacting the police or gendarmerie, contact family members who live nearby as well as your child’s friends and their parents to check if your child is with them.

Check if your child left with any belongings: clothes, bags, cell phone (if the phone was left behind, make sure the SIM card is still inside), toiletries… This will give you a chance to see if they left a note for you. Also, check if your child took their ID or has access to transportation and payment methods. If they seem to have prepared to leave, consult our page on runaways.

Don’t stay alone: Ask a family member or close friend to support you. Be sure to provide a profile of your child with a recent photo to the investigating services, including anything that might attract them (especially in cases of mental disorders). Keep searching even after reporting the disappearance to the authorities and try to gather clues about your child’s last actions. Your active role is crucial: you know your child and their habits better than anyone.

• Retrace their last movements and check places they often visit, such as stations, fast-food restaurants, malls…;
• Call and question their friends and parents, their school or sports club;
• If possible, check if your child had an appointment with someone, for example, check their conversations on social media if you have access. Don’t forget to share any information with the investigating authorities.

Keep your phone at home and on you, as your child may try to contact you.

Child Abduction Alert

The Child Abduction Alert is a system designed to help a child who is a victim of abduction by mobilizing exceptional resources in the shortest time possible.

The Child Abduction Alert quickly spreads detailed information about the abduction to gather testimonies that could help in the child’s release or location.

This system is based on the Amber Alert system established in the United States in 1996 and in Quebec in 2003. In France, the Child Abduction Alert plan, created on February 28, 2006, involves around forty partners, including 116000 Missing Children.

Triggering Conditions

The plan is triggered by the Public Prosecutor after consultation with the Ministry of Justice. The Public Prosecutor drafts the alert message in collaboration with the investigation service.

Four cumulative criteria must be met to trigger the plan:

• The victim must be a minor;
• It must be a confirmed abduction* (not just a disappearance, even if concerning);
• The victim’s life or physical integrity must be in danger;
• The Public Prosecutor must have information that could help locate the child or the abductor;

*This concept of abduction also covers the removal of a minor by a parent as per Article 227-7 of the Penal Code or even the removal of a minor without fraud or violence as per Article 227-8 of the Penal Code.

Except in certain cases, parents must consent to trigger the plan. Only the child’s best interest guides the decision to issue the alert. Therefore, even if all criteria are met, the alert may not be issued if it could put the child at further risk or compromise the ongoing investigation.

Distribution Methods

The alert message is broadcast nationwide immediately, regardless of when the abduction occurred (audio announcements in train stations and metro stations, electronic billboards on highways, radio flashes, scrolling banners on TV channels, the internet …)

The content of the message cannot be altered. It is brief (to be easily shared by everyone) and includes a photo of the child (when available) along with the circumstances of the abduction.

A toll-free number is set up to collect potential testimonies. The alert lasts for 3 hours, after which it stops even if the minor and/or suspect has not been found. It can be renewed at the express request of the Public Prosecutor.

Child Abduction Alert on Facebook

An innovative system for witness appeals that ensures the right to be forgotten for victims. The alert automatically appears on the pages of people who follow the official Child Abduction Alert page. Through viral sharing, the alert is then widely distributed to their contacts.

The operational methods proposed by the Ministry of Justice have been implemented by Facebook. The technical system in place guarantees the right to be forgotten for victims. After the alert ends, the photos and names of the abducted children will be automatically removed. Facebook has also committed to shutting down fake pages created on the network, ensuring complete control of the system.

To become a relay for the alert on Facebook: facebook.com/alerte.enlevement

Why isn’t the Child Abduction Alert triggered for every missing child?

Broadcasting the Child Abduction Alert without meeting the four cumulative criteria would lead to the trivialization of the alert, reducing its effectiveness. Remember, the vast majority of alerts issued so far have led to the safe recovery of the child. Therefore, the Child Abduction Alert must remain exceptional.

Supporting Parents in the Long Term

Caseworkers, psychologists, or lawyers follow parents of children who have been lost without a trace for the long term. This may involve teenagers initially declared as runaways, children victims of parental abductions, or boys or girls whose disappearance has been immediately classified as worrying. None of these situations is the same.

But for all these parents, when the absence continues, after all legal advice has been given, and even when they are psychologically supported, there remains the need, the necessity to know that their child’s disappearance is still a concern for people who are entirely unknown to them. A phrase often comes up during regular interviews conducted by caseworkers: “At least you haven’t forgotten about us.”