Why does the EU not have a system similer to the US's AMBER alert or UK's CRA. In the US and Canada, an AMBER Alert is an alert, by various media outlets, of a confirmed child abduction. AMBER Alerts are distributed via commercial radio stations, satellite radio, television stations, and cable TV by the Emergency Alert System (where as they are called "Child Abduction Emergency".), as well as via e-mail, electronic traffic-condition signs, and wireless device SMS text messages within hours of an abduction. The decision to declare an AMBER Alert is made by the police dept investigating the abduction. Information in an AMBER Alert usually consists of the name and description of the abductee, a description of the suspected abductor, and a description and license plate number of the abductor's vehicle, if available. It has been incredibly succesful. England has developed the Child Rescue Alert similar to an AMBER Alert and issued its first alert in June, 2007.

Sam, Chicago, IL

The pain is already to great to think about what really could have happened to their daughter. Whilst we have gone to war to give Iraq it's so called freedom we have forgotten our own children's innocence and the protection of it. Surely we can help this mother and countless others by all waging a war on those dreadful child traffickers. Although we head into the 21st century we still allow this sort of thing to happen and to a young British child. Maybe, unfortunately, ironically we need such a mother to fight and lead this battle instead of the useless politicians who are happy to send our soldiers to their death in the name of a fools gold 'democracy'.

steven smith, london,

I am fully supportive of this idea, but I'm sure it must be quite a harrowing job, so I'd say just aim to do it part-time, Kate, so that you don't burn out.
Besides three little children need care and one will most likley need an awful lot of care, whilst she recovers.
Just hope Madeleine is found soon and can fully recover her sweet little self.

jane, oxford,

Do we realised that some of these children are actually either sexually abused by their parents or sold to traffikers by their own parents for sex purposes. What a dark world we live in and as a parent who was very protective, what sort of parent would do this sort of evil? People are always making all kinds of excuses, but the bottom line is evil in the hearts of those who do not follow God. They follow satan and the price will be indeed very high.

mia, Brisbane, Australia

Isabelle, you ask who is going to look after the other McCann children if Kate McCann takes up campaigning work full-time: well, presumably, the parents, helped by a nanny, as was the case before. What's wrong with that?

Helene, Strasbourg, France

Who's going to look after Sean and Amelie????

isabelle, schiedam, The Netherlands

There should be a link to a site which will help channel the desire of many people to offer support, either financially or by offering practical help. A first step might be to set up a database, if that has not already been done, of potential helpers.

Jenny, london,

I would like to help. Will the McCanns see this? I have a Child Protection background as a qualified children's social worker and and looking at diversifying after 10 years in this position. I have free time to give on a voluntary basis to start and I qualified with an MA in Social Work in 1996 here in England. Can I be of use? Though it counts for little I know! - I was brought up in Liverpool too!

 

Angela, Shrewsbury, England

In a high profile case such as this, there should be a link to a missing children page so that the intense interest for 1 aids in highlighting the plight of as many as possible. Evil (it is interesting that the word live is the opposite of evil and that the word vile has the same letters ) must be faced head on and Mrs. McCann is right to want to sear the horrifying problem of child trafficking and abuse into the minds and souls of the citizens of the world. She is on a mission to save her child and is now committed to a higher cause as well, but her inability to either sit still or still her thoughts now may well have a negative impact on her and on her family in the future;but, good for her. To those signing the petition, your lives should be scrutinized forever in minute detail. There is something mob-like/frightening about your self righteousness&desire for addl suffering (would that be possible?) .Get off your own high horses-volunteer with single parents who need addl eyes/help.

Andrea, Edmonton area, Canada

We wish the McCanns the best and hope that they can make some inroads into fighting what is a disgusting trade in children .It is high time that European Governments stopped talking and started acting in a thoughtful manner and introduce a europe wide alert system urgently.

Sergei, London, UK

Child abductions have been going on for far too long and not enough has been done about it. Paedophiles should not be allowed to roam our streets putting all our children in danger. The public should campaign en masse to get these sick people out of our countries and onto an island where they can do no harm to our children. They should all be castrated, you may think this is extreme, but what they do to children is more extreme, and no child is safe with them around. We as responsible adults have to do something about it.

Bernadette Cox, Lagoa, Portugal

What a lovely and obviously loved little girl... it is unconscionable that she is not safely at home! I will continue to pray that she finds her way home- and that her mom (and all of us who are behind her) is successful in changing the way these cases are treated. Truly, there is no expense, inconvenience or effort that should be spared to wrest each and every child from danger. And no punishment to harsh for perpetrators of such crimes.
God Bless you all as you carry on.

Julie , San Diego, CA

This is a real opportunity for somthing positive to come out of this terrible situation. There seems to be lack of political will to address the issue. Maybe the Mccanns can help to harness the huge response to Madeleines plight from the world at large to make a difference.
Let us also hope that Madeleine is returned and soon.

Tel, Colchestrer, UK

Good for her, in addition to helping other children it will be a good way to channel her grief. Europe could use a system like the AMBER Alert system in the US. Descriptions and other Information can now be broadcast over radio and television stations and more importantly on highway signs in a matter of minutes. If a child is believed to have been taken across state lines, alerts can be issued in those states also. It been very successful.

Denise, Washington, DC, USA

I welcome this development. There are many of us around the world who have already banded together to support the McCanns who will do all we can to support Kate in the wider battlefield for the sake of all the suffering children and mothers. Despite the leftist whining from the start about the McCanns receiving so much publicity, I knew it would ultimately be for the good of all abducted children.
May our Lady in her myriad of forms hold Madeleine; England's bud close to her. Paedophiles everywhere - your game has been made much harder!!!!!

JL, Sydney, Australia

I hope we don't forget this fight as time goes by.

Camila, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

I absolutely agree. This case has highlighted for me the way in which children disappearing is just taken for granted as a fact of life. It is much lower on the political agenda than many less important things in our society that do less harm which I find really surprising. Do we really want to stop it and if not why not? But if we do why isn't there much more effort put into it?

mary terry, Bristol, UK

The McCanns commitment and immense courage has succeeded in bringing Madeleine and these (almost suppressed) issues to the forefront of our minds within the UK, Europe and further afield.

It therefore seems a logical progression that they should wish to move these issues forward politically, whilst maintaining the search for their Daughter.

It seems ensuring sufficient action is taken promptly to retrieve a missing child is the priority here, though are the McCanns also going to be involved in re-addressing the root of this dreadful problem?

Should the approach to these criminals not also be a via an international system, addressed with the same efficiency and need to root them out as would be applied in finding a missing child?

And if individual paedophiles/traffickers and groups could be infiltrated by specialists, with a firm structure ensuring they will never have contact with Children again - won't we will surely begin to feel our Children are growing up in a safer world?

Anna, Manchester, UK

I think Mrs. McCann making her future in fighting against child trafficking and doing something to bring the crimes against our children across the world to the forefront is a wonderful idea. So much more does need to be done for all children to make them safe and to aide in finding those that are taking. Madeleine's disappearance has really effected me deeply and I have also been thinking about what I can do to to make a difference and help keep safe all children from paedophiles. These precious little people need all of us adults to realize how important it is to take care of them and keep them safe.
I continue to pray for Madeleine's safe return and for her family. God bless them all. God bless all the children of the world.
 

Margie Smith, Palmyra, Virginia, USA

Great Thing to do, I know it will happen,

Carolyn Gilbert, Levin, New Zealand

gud luck to the McCanns especially Madeleine
hopefully she will b found soon & reunited with her parents!

felicity, Leeds,

Children have a fundamental right and and we (as the adults) have the responsibility to provide a safe, loving and nurturing environment for all children across the world. They are our future and we should be helping them to be the best they can be in this world. What sort of people are we if we are to let this mistreatment and abuse continue. So much has been highlighted recently about the severity of the situation and the amount of children who are taken from their loved ones. And also, the networks of people or individuals who conspire to harm our children can have no understanding of love. The lives of all children should be paramount and should be made a priority with governments as a global initiative to address the welfare and rights of our children. Without adequate steps being taken in the light of this new world attentions then our governments are negligent. For all out there who have taken children for your own benefit - set them free now.

Deirdre, Derry, Ireland

I totally support what Kate McCann is thinking on doing. It is horrendous what has happened to her family. These people have to be stopped from ripping families apart and have to be brought to justice.

L.Timothy, Glasgow, Scotland

I totally support what Kate McCann is thinking on doing. It is horrendous what has happened to her family. These people have to be stopped from ripping families apart and have to be brought to justice.

L.Timothy, Glasgow, Scotland