May 25, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular), today recognized International Missing Children’s Day, observed every year on May 25 around the globe, by highlighting how the Government of Canada’s Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit (VCU) deals with complex cases involving youth victimization, such as child abduction, welfare and forced marriage, that affects Canadian children and youth abroad.
Consular case management officers in the VCU have a wealth of information about specific countries and the issues that affect Canadian children and youth abroad. The VCU works with international and domestic child-protection services, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), law-enforcement agencies, customs agents, airport administrations and authorities, and family law organizations, as well as with cultural and religious groups, to prevent and address international consular cases involving children.
“Our government is committed to protecting the rights of Canadian children and to ensuring that there is support and assistance in place to prevent or address cases of child and youth victimization beyond our borders. Since its creation in 2013, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada’s Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit has had a direct impact on the lives of hundreds of young children and parents, who were assisted in dangerous or harmful circumstances abroad.
“Through its close work with missing children partners, law-enforcement and child-serving domestic agencies, the VCU has not only successfully assisted young Canadian children who were abducted, maltreated or abandoned abroad, but has also ensured their safe return to Canada.”
- Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular)
Erica Meekes
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular)
343-203-5975
erica.meekes@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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