May 25 is International Missing Children's Day
This year, 2025, MCSC is recognizing Missing Children's Month with its Light The Way home campaign, highlighting information about missing children and how to keep our children safe. In an ideal world, no child would go missing, but until then, understanding who they are and what can be done to keep them safe is among the information MCSC will share in May.
Data from across Canada shows that in 2024, police across the country received 32,680 reports of missing children. The numbers are prepared from data generated by the national Missing Children/Persons and Unidentified Remains Database. Despite the startling number, experts say it doesn't represent the complete story of missing children, as many of their situations are never reported to police.
https://www.canadasmissing.ca/pubs/2024/index-eng.htm#s6
The numbers tell us many stories, some which may come as a surprise.
Of the 32,680 reports of missing children/youth in 2024, there were 24 cases of abduction by a stranger. However, of all reported missing children and youth in 2024, the majority, at 77 per cent, were between the ages of 14-17. Seventy two per cent of all reported missing children/youth were identified as runaways, 57 per cent of whom were female. In 2024, 23 per cent of missing children/youth were Indigenous and 67 per cent of all reported missing Indigenous children/youth were female.
Sadly, these at-risk youth, who represent the majority of missing children in the country, don't fit into the fictional version of a missing child. Family dynamics, involvement with high-risk peer groups, mental health issues, substance abuse issues, abuse or bullying and teen pregnancy are among the reasons they run away or are forced to leave a safe environment. Sadly, for some, a home does not represent a safe place.
Regardless of the individual stories, what's known is that danger to missing children/youth increases with every hour they are away from a safe environment.
It's known that when a child/youth is in unfamiliar surroundings the threat of exposure to high-risk activities increases. Children who go missing, run away, or are abducted are often exposed to, or suffer sexual exploitation, trafficking in persons, and prostitution, illegal/unsafe employment and involvement in criminal activity, both as a victim and as a perpetrator.
The physical and mental health of a missing child deteriorates the longer he or she is missing, in addition to increased risk of substance abuse, physical and sexual assault and even death.
Members of the Indigenous community who go missing are especially vulnerable to these threats, in addition to facing issues around pre-existing trauma, cultural bias, geographic isolation and racism.
It was 1983 when U.S. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25 as National Missing Children's Day. Concern about missing children had grown over the years in the U.S. after the 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz, a six-year-old who went missing on his way to school in New York City.
Countries around the world, including Canada, began to adopt similar commemorations in the years that followed the U.S. declaration, and in 2001, May 25 was officially recognized as International Missing Children's Day.
"We believe that children deserve no less than a world where we all work together to ensure their safety," says Amanda Pick, CEO of Missing Children Society of Canada.
"Missing Children's Month and Missing Children's Day are important times where we can reflect on the children who are missing," Pick says. "But it's also critical that we never forget these children, or their families, every day of the year until they have all been found and brought to safety."
💛 Get Involved – Help Us Light the Way Home
All children deserve to feel safe—and all missing children deserve to be found. At the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC), we rely on the support of everyday heroes like you to help us bring children home.
Here’s how you can take action today:
📲 Activate the MCSC rescu App
Turn your phone into a tool for child recovery. Our free web-app sends targeted alerts and allows you to share critical information quickly with your network.
💬 Spread Awareness
Follow us on social media and share our posts. A single share can reach the right person who may hold the key to bringing a child home.
🎁 Donate or Fundraise
Your generosity fuels our mission. Make a donation or start a fundraiser to support our innovative programs.
🤝 Partner With Us
Are you part of a business, school, or community organization? Partner with MCSC to raise awareness and provide resources to help protect children.
Together, we can make a life-changing difference.
Raise awareness. Take action.
Let’s Light the Way Home.
➡️ Activate MCSC rescu, and register for alerts - https://rescu.mcsc.ca
➡️ Spread Awareness: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
➡️ Make a Donation- Donate Now - Missing Children Society of Canada