Preventing Kidnapping / Rescuing our Children

admin · Preventing Kidnapping / Rescuing our Children

Preventing Kidnapping / Rescuing our Children

Today's world is much less safer for children, especially those in nations where proper or sufficient measures are not in place to ensure their safety. Even in countries that have safeguards in place, occasionally desperate kidnappers seek to exploit loopholes, and would succeed if not for vigilant measures taken by security officials.

Globally, in today's world children are kidnapped for a variety of reasons including child slavery, child prostitution and for rituals. In the western world, some children are simply lured by deviants for sexual exploits and some of these children are eventually murdered as in the cases of the Ramseys in the U.S., and among many others the one in California which prompted the Megan's Law - a freeway notification system which alerts drivers to keep vigilant and help in catching child kidnappers.

One cannot fully assign the responsibility of the safety of one's children to public authorities, but should adequately train one's children to be very vigilant and smart to avoid child kidnappers, regardless of whether it's in public places, functions, via the telephone, especially via the internet and even from the parents' very own home.

While much younger children can be lured with candy, older children can be lured with promises of toys, gifts, gadgets, and even love, as in the case of latch-key children who are often left alone at home to fend for themselves, and can feel devoid of expected love and caring.

A child left alone at home who's up to mischief as in the movie "Home Alone" is still relatively safer than a child who's not smart enough to cope with kidnappers who perfect the act of luring children for a variety of reasons, some too sick to mention. Child pornography is also on a steady but quick rise, and with the advent of the web-cam it is easier for a kidnapper or pervert to develop a relationship with an uninformed or naive child enough to lure him or her away. In such cases, the gadget which you have procured for convenience becomes the tool which enables the child kidnapper to make contact, develop a relationship with and kidnap your child.

Usually children who are kidnapped end up abused in one way or the other, either as child laborers, child prostitutes, objects of sexual deviants perverted acts or sexual slaves or ritual objects, and the responsibility lies on we adults to protect them from society's dangers. In some cases, it's even family members or family friends that lure and abuse children, so one should be very vigilant and recognize the warning signs.

A child who withdraws, isolates him/herself excessively may already be a victim of abuse. A communication gap between a child and parents as well as excessive or irrational fear of the parents by the child/ren can create loopholes wherein children a predisposed to abuse or kidnapping.
A child who is overly or unduly exposed to adult sexual acts at tender ages may also be a potential victim of sexual perverts in addition to many other dangers.
A child who is overly protected without any safe knowledge of street smarts, may also be naively lured or kidnapped, as expert kidnappers can sense their naiveness.
A child who has not been taught 1) to avoid strangers [people unknown to the parents or parental authorities (such as teachers, pastors with whom the children are entrusted)]; or 2) to refuse gifts from strangers; 3) to refuse sexual advances from adults and other children; 4) to protect him/herself; 5) to alert authorities when feeling threatened; or 6) to escape threatening situations and environments, among other protective measures; may become an unwilling victim of kidnappers.

Agencies exist worldwide to combat child abuse, kidnapping, slavery, prostitution and murder (ritualistic or otherwise), but it takes the combined efforts of parents and these authorities and agencies to diminish and eradicate the growing incidences.

Cooperation and dedication of good and sound parental efforts are effective means of preventing, combating and ensuring that children are not only safe from kidnappers, but are rescued if and when kidnapped, regardless of whether the children or ours or those of family, friends, neighbours, associates or strangers.

For rescue efforts, some agencies and countries use the media resources available to them such as newspapers, radio and television announcements, freeway alerts such as that enacted by the Megan's law, alerts on milk cartons, etc.; but parents and individuals can do much more by making and passing around or posting flyers, having their churches, schools and neighbours help in dispersing alert messages, and cooperating with security agencies and police forces in rescue efforts to find any and all kidnapped children.

In conclusion, as parents we should all endeavour to do all it takes to ensure that our children do not become prey to kidnappers or become helpless victims to society's ills and dangers.

Cxsm
7th March 2006

© Cxsm 2006 All Rights Reserved

admin

Re: [Edo-Nation] Preventing Kidnapping/Rescuing our Children

Thanks for creating this awareness of child safety issues, which many already have an idea do occur.

However, I will like to add that most of the issues surrounding child safety occur in the home, with people whom the child already knows, is used to and trust. That person could very well be a family member.

Therefore, the child should be taught to recognize inappropriate behaviours towards them regardless of who that person is. The child should be taught to behave themselves and not create or provoke unwanted behaviours towards them (that includes types of clothing worn which are age appropriate).

Parent involvement in the child's life rather than delegating to others may all reduce the risk factors of their children being caught up in such misfortunes. Dropping off and picking up their children to and from events. Rapes are known to occur in vehicles by adults who were asked to pick or drop off children at school. Parents participating in the child's extra-curricular activities and keeping an eye on their children rather than expecting others to do it for them greatly reduces those risks. Discussing changes in schedules with the child, so the child does not become convinced to follow someone who is not been designated to pick up the child.

Once again thank you.

Omogbe
3/10/06

admin

CXSM,

Thank you for sharing this article. I've never said it but I enjoy reading your postings.

ThanX
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