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The campaign, and website, launched on Thursday 15th November 2007 is calling forthe implementation of new Child Safety Measures, and is asking the general public tosign an online petition at www.MadeleinesLaw.com seeking to enact these measuresinto Law. Robert Lynch, one of the people behind the website, is quoted as saying Through this website we hope to raise 1 Million Signatures which can be presentedto Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a concrete reflection of peoples genuine concernsabout child safety and the need for more proactive measures.
In addition to asking people to sign the petition, it is also asking people toindividually e-mail Prime Minister Gordon Brown and their local MP asking for theirsupport which can be done on through links on the website. Lynch went on to say We believe that this is an issue which deeply concerns all parents and families &an opportunity for
individual people s to make a difference and to directly influence politicians andgovernment policy.
The website outlines a number of practical suggestions and recommendations which canbe implemented locally and nationally. While not claiming that these are the perfectsolutions... or the only solutions, but does suggest that they can start the processof informed discussion and debate culminating in action to improve things.
Robert Lynch went on to say We believe that action, any action on this matter, isbetter than no action. It is clear that the Government (with the support of thepeople, all politicians and political parties) can take immediate action to discuss,debate and develop these recommendations for the benefit of all concerned. Hecontinued The disappearance of a child is devastating experience for any family. Itis the responsibility of the Government and the authorities to make every effortpossible to provide information to prevent this occurring, and to support familiesshould it occur.
The campaign has 7 Key Recommendations which it is asking the Government to make law:
1. The Government must develop and put in place a NATIONAL INFORMATION CAMPAIGNaimed at informing parents about child safety - at home & abroad.
2. The Government must actively PROMOTE THESE CAMPAIGNS at key times in the yearsuch as Christmas, Easter and School Holidays (when children are more likely totravel abroad on holiday).
3. The Government must actively PUBLICISE THESE CAMPAIGNS and other informationthroughout the year through key locations such as Schools, Police Stations, Libraries, Citizens Advice Bureau's, Post Offices and Doctors Surgeries.
4. The Government must establish a FUND TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT the parents of amissing child (where necessary) with costs such as travel, accommodation and otheressential expenses during the search for the missing child. This should also includetranslation and interpretation costs if the child is missing in a non-Englishspeaking country.
5. The Government must CHANGE EMPLOYMENT LAWS to allow for a statutory period ofpaid leave, and a further period of unpaid leave, from employment for the parents ofa missing child.
6. The Government must fully integrate and support the existing CHILD RESCUE ALERTsystem with additional measures to advise and inform the general public when a childgoes missing. This system should be developed in conjunction with a EUROPE-WIDEALERT SYSTEM.
7. The Government must support the establishment of specialist NATIONAL & REGIONALCHILD ABDUCTION RESPONSE TEAMS (CART) to help in the search for a missing child.Where a child is missing outside of Britain these specialist teams could alsoprovide assistance and expertise to police forces in that country. CART teams areestablished in the USA and have been successful.
