International Missing Children's Day
IMCD header image 2019

International Missing Children's Day (IMCD), 25 May, is a day where people around the world commemorate the missing children who have found their way home, remember those who have been victims of crime, and continue efforts to find those who are still missing. The symbol for IMCD is the forget-me-not flower.

The observance of May 25 as Missing Children's Day began in the United States in 1983. 25 May marks the anniversary of when six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared from a New York street corner on his way to school on 25 May 1979. Etan's story received national coverage as his father, a photographer, circulated black and white pictures of his missing son to media outlets. Etan's father's efforts to inform the public led to recognition of the need for new initiatives and a commitment to reunite missing children with their families.

In 2001, May 25 was first observed as IMCD through the efforts of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), Missing Children Europe, and the European Commission. 25 May is now being commemorated across the world by many different cultures and organisations in the hope children will find their way home.

In 2021 in Australia alone over 34,000 young people were reported missing to police. Most children who are reported missing are found safe and well within 24 hours, but for those who are not, what follows can be months, years or even a lifetime of heartbreak and confusion for their families.

Around the world, it is estimated that over one million young people are reported missing every year.

As individuals, professionals and organisations, we have a responsibility to protect our children. Together we can help bring them home.

For further information on global missing children, as well as viewing their profiles, visit the Global Missing Children's Network.

The AFP work with state and territory police to profile cases in the hope that the exposure will help solve these cases. See the latest news section for more information on previous and current campaigns.

  • This year the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC) marked IMCD by highlighting the core objectives of IMCD: to commemorate missing children who have found their way home, remember those who have been the victims of crime and continue efforts to find those who are still missing.

    The NMPCC featured missing children’s profiles during the week leading up to IMCD across their social media platforms. The missing children’s profiles were nominated by state and territory policing partners. A selection of profiles were accompanied by a quote provided by either the family of the missing person or the case officer working on the case. These quotes highlighted case officers’ continuing efforts to locate missing children and special memories shared by family members.

    Mother of missing child Megan Mulquiney shared: “Megan was gentle, warm and loving and a little bit shy. She was a beautiful girl. I never stop hoping I will have answers about Megan’s whereabouts. It’s been nearly 40 years and it never goes away”.

    Commander Forensics Joanne Cameron filmed a captivating video to remind members of the public the true meaning behind IMCD. Additionally, this video encouraged the audience to view the missing children featured in this year's IMCD campaign and share any information which may assist in locating these missing children to Crime Stoppers via 1800 333 000.

    To mark IMCD the NMPCC shared a children focused missing persons poster. Featuring 8 profiles of missing children from around Australia, the poster was created in the hope of generating public awareness for their cases. The IMCD missing children poster and all other missing person posters can be viewed here.

  • This year the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre will mark International Missing Children’s Day  (IMCD) by launching a suite of tools and resources – in partnership with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation – to help facilitate conversations between children and their parents/guardians to promote safe behaviour.

    Click the icons below to download the resources and start a conversation today!

  • This International Missing Children’s Day (IMCD), the AFP looks to raise awareness of the impact and long-term suffering of families who are waiting for answers about their missing child.

    IMCD 2022 is centred around ‘missing moments’, and to mark the day, the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC) have released an emotive video with family members of missing NSW teenager, Gordana Kotevski.

    Gordana went missing 28 years ago – aged just 16 years and has sadly been missed by her family and loved ones since that day.

    Together, the NMPCC and the Kotevski family hope to educate the community on the impacts of living with a missing child and the ambiguous loss families endure.

    Commander Andrea Quinn, National Operations Coordination, Specialist Protective Command, highlights that IMCD is a day where people around the world commemorate the missing children who found their way home, remember those who have been victims of crime, and continue efforts to find those who are still missing.

    “Featuring Gordana’s case provides the opportunity to reflect, remember and commemorate Gordana’s life, and gives the Kotevski family an opportunity to share their experience and to keep her memory alive,” said Commander Quinn.

    “Sadly, they’re not alone in their experience, in 2021, over 34,000 missing persons’ reports in Australia related to children under 18.

    “98 per cent of people who are reported missing are found safe and well, but for those who are not, what follows can be a lifetime of heartbreak and confusion for their families, like the Kotevski’s have suffered.”

    The NSW Government, together with the NSW Police force, has today announced a one million dollar reward for information into Gordana’s disappearance.

    Gordana is described as a bubbly teenager who loved her family and was adored by her friends was last seen in the Newcastle suburb of Charlestown, NSW.

    Last year the AFP Commissioner planted a tree at the Arboretum in Canberra dedicated to Gordana and the estimated 250 missing children in Australia that the AFP and partners continue to hold hope in locating.

    Gordana’s aunt, Julie Talevski is encouraging the public to take the time to read and hear about Gordana’s story as part of IMCD.

    “Gordana was a delightful child and her disappearance has left a huge hole in our hearts,” said Julie.

    “Ambiguous loss is difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it. It is a loss that never brings closure and leaves you grieving the child that didn’t make it into adulthood.

    “To us, the commemorative tree at the Arboretum represents hope, the hope that Gordana will come home one day.”

    This IMCD, and every day, the NMPCC is asking that people support the many families with a missing loved one by:

    Visiting the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre Facebook, Instagram and website, to view and share the short video and the many faces of Australia’s missing children.

    Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if you have any information relating to a missing child.

    Tips for parents and caregivers:

    • Make sure your child knows their full name, home address and telephone number and include key contact information in their backpack, coat etc. Teach your child not to share this information with anyone they don’t know without your permission.
    • Talk to your children about the risks of sharing too much information on social media.
    • Keep updated pictures of your child.
    • Look for signs and listen if your child says someone makes them feel uncomfortable.
    • Be prepared in crowds by dressing your child in recognisable clothing and designate a central location to meet if they get lost.
  • Tree Plaque 25 May 2021

    The Australian Federal Police’s National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC) is honouring International Missing Children’s Day (IMCD) 2021 with a tree dedication at the National Arboretum in Canberra for all missing children and their families.

    IMCD is commemorated annually on the 25 May. IMCD is a day where people around the world commemorate the missing children who have found their way home, remember those who have been victims of crime and continue efforts to find those still missing.

    AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw officiated the tree dedication ceremony on behalf of the AFP. The tree dedication offers a permanent fixture for reflection and remembrance of all missing children and their families. A short video -which can be viewed here- highlights the tree dedication ceremony and what this place of remembrance means to families of missing children and the police officers who work tirelessly to find them.

    “This tree located at the National Arboretum in Canberra is a symbol of hope and strength for the families, friends, community and the police officers who investigate the cases,” Commissioner Kershaw said.

    “This tree is a permanent fixture of commemoration and a place for loved ones to come, reflect and be reminded that we remain committed to bringing their children home.”

    In Australia, approximately 25,000 young people are reported missing to police each year. This makes up almost two thirds of all missing persons reports in Australia. Most young people are located safe and well, but unfortunately some remain missing after days, months and years. The impact on families and friends when a loved one goes missing is devastating. When that loved one is a child, it becomes almost unbearable.

    The impact is deeply felt by Bruce and Denise Morcombe, whose 13-year-old son Daniel went missing in 2003.

    “We had no idea what had happened to him, we also had no place to reflect, honour and remember him,” Bruce Morcombe said.

    “This commemorative tree is significant for police, family and friends because it’s a dedicated place to symbolically resolve to continue the search to find missing children,” Denise Morcombe said.

    Detective Superintendent Greg Mowle, who has experience investigating missing children cases, reflects on the impacts unresolved cases have had on him personally.

    “As a police officer part of your remit is to help people and the fact that you haven’t actually been able to achieve this is a lingering emptiness,” Detective Superintendent Mowle said.

    Commissioner Kershaw reaffirmed the commitment of the AFP to continue to work with families, policing partners and the community to try and locate Australian missing persons because this is not just a police effort, it takes a community.

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

    • Download a kit of child safety tips for parents. 
    • Help share the AFP’s International Missing Children’s Day message on Facebook.
    • Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if you have information relating to a missing child.

  • International Missing Children’s Day (IMCD), 25 May, is a day where people around the world commemorate missing children who have found their way home; remember those who have been victims of crime; and continue efforts to find those who are still missing.

    In Australia approximately three in five missing persons reports are related to a child or young person under the age of 18 and around the world it is estimated to be over a million missing children. Most children who are reported missing are found safe and well, but for those who are not, what follows can be months and years of heartbreak and confusion for their friends, families and communities.

    To raise awareness of the issue, the Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC) contributes to an international campaign each year.

    In 2020, the NMPCC will commemorate IMCD through a creative digital campaign that includes a short video with the theme #MissingChildrenDeserveAReunionToo.

    The whole world has been impacted by COVID-19. The pandemic has seen huge changes to the everyday life of people around the globe and has forced many to live isolated in the unknown awaiting their reunion with the people, places and things they hold dear.

    Most people can take some comfort in the fact 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.

    Through this campaign the NMPCC aim to raise awareness of the impacts of living with a missing child and also share the faces of some of Australia’s long term missing children.

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

    Download a kit of child safety tips for parents.
    Help share the AFP’s International Missing Children’s Day message on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AFPNMPCC).
    Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if you have information relating to a missing child. 


    Renee Aitken - Missing 36 years

    Debbie Ashby - Missing 32 years

    Eve Askew - Missing 18 years

    Annastaes Banitskas - Missing 45 years

    Rhianna Barreau - Missing 27 years

    Arnna Beaumont - Missing 54 years

    Grant Beaumont - Missing 54 years

    Jane Beaumont - Missing 54 years

    Melissa Brown - Missing 20 years

    Toni Cavanagh - Missing 40 years

    Quanne Diec - Missing 21 years

    Radina Djukich - Missing 28 years

    Kay Docherty - Missing 40 years

    Hayley Dodd - Missing 20 years

    Valerie Eastwell - Missing 74 years

    Raelene Eaton - Missing 46 years

    Rahma El-Dennaoui - Missing 14 years

    Tanya Farrington - Missing 41 years

    Terry Floyd - Missing 44 years

    Michaela Godau - Missing 37 years

    Kirste Gordon - Missing 46 years

    Donald Govan - Missing 7 years

    Cheryl Grimmer - Missing 50 years

    Kathleen Harris - Missing 20 years

    Ian Hollis - Missing 34 years

    Elaine Johnson - Missing 40 years

    Helen Karipidis - Missing 31 years

    Gordana Kotevski - Missing 25 years

    Damian McKenzie - Missing 45 years

    Lynette Melbin - Missing 47 years

    Lisa Mott - Missing 39 years

    Robert Mulhollan-Green - Missing 52 years

    Bianca Nelson - Missing 29 years

    Tania Nicholls - Missing 31 years

    Adell Partridge - Missing 21 years

    Bradford Pholi - Missing 37 years

    Marilyn Qualmann - Missing 44 years

    Joanne Ratcliffe - Missing 46 years

    Amanda Robinson - Missing 41 years

    Jessica Small - Missing 22 years

    Linda Stilwell - Missing 51 years

    Chad Sutton - Missing 27 years

    Melony Sutton - Missing 27 years

    Craig Taylor - Missing 26 years

    William Tyrrell - Missing 5 years

    Yvonne Waters - Missing 46 years

    Cherie Westell - Missing 19 years

    Sophie Woodman - Missing 40 years