International Missing Children’s Day: For a moment, the whole world knew how it felt to miss someone…

International Missing Children's Day 2020

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC)  are marking International Missing Children’s Day (IMCD) 2020 with a creative campaign, including a short video themed: #MissingChildrenDeserveAReunionToo, that taps into the collective loss and grief people around the globe are feeling while living through the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has caused huge changes to the everyday life of almost everyone. It has forced many to live in isolation awaiting their reunion with the people, places and things they hold dear.

Most people can take comfort knowing that they will eventually be reunited with those they are missing. This is in stark contrast to the families and friends living with a missing child, desperately longing for their reunion day.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Northern Command Lesa Gale said the IMCD short video expresses that, while so many Australians have missed their friends and family during the COVID-19 pandemic, the experience is all-too-familiar for families of missing children.

“In 2020, it is as important as ever that we mark International Missing Children’s Day to honour missing children, offer support to their families, pay tribute to victims of crime and celebrate those children who have found their way home,” Assistant Commissioner Gale said.

“The short video released today is a powerful reminder that, while the COVID-19 lockdown and social distancing measures have been challenging for all of us, we know they will soon pass.”

“However, for the loved ones of missing children, there can sometimes be no end to their separation, loneliness and helplessness. The loved ones of long-term missing are forever awaiting their reunion.”

The video was produced adhering to extreme social distancing restrictions using a compilation of user generated content and quarantine photography to carefully depict authentic human emotion felt by many during this testing time.

In addition to the short video – which can be viewed here – the AFP’s NMPCC has developed a digital campaign to spread awareness of IMCD 2020, the need to remember missing children and continue seeking their safe return. The campaign features the faces of 49 of Australia’s long-term missing children.

In Australia approximately three in five missing persons reports are related to a child or young person under the age of 18. Most are found safe and well, but the fear and heartbreak is immense for those whose children do not return home.

Importantly, there are steps everyone can follow to raise awareness of the issue of missing children and assist police with their investigations. You can:

For more on the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre, visit the website.

Media enquiries:

AFP National Media: (02) 6131 6333.


Subscribe and receive email alerts when new media releases are published.

Missing Person Holly BEVES, Darwin Northern Territory

Holly BEVES

Holly Beves has been missing since October 2017, the last person to see Holly was her father, Eric Beves, in Darwin, Northern Territory. Eric had travelled from the ACT to assist...

Missing Persons WA James Taylor

James TAYLOR

James (Jimmy) Taylor resided in Derby with his parents and other family members. Jimmy was 125cm tall, reasonably well built and mature for his age. He had prominent buck teeth...

Gregory Halliday

On 21 July 1997, Gregory was one of three crew members onboard the fishing vessel ‘Eastern Star’ in waters at Ahrberg Bay on the west coast of Tasmania. The vessel sank due to a...

See all profiles