Over 50 ECA Member Clubs have volunteered to use their social media channels on 25 May to share videos featuring children who are currently missing all over the world.
The ‘Football Cares’ initiative is being run by the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) and is supported by both ECA and FIFA.
AS Roma, who have a longstanding relationship with ICMEC, are helping to facilitate the project.
“ECA and its member clubs are proud to be teaming up with ICMEC, an organisation that has done incredible work in helping vulnerable young people across the world for over two decades, to show that ‘Football Cares’ on International Missing Children’s Day,” said Charlie Marshall, Chief Executive Officer at ECA.
“Over one million children are reported missing around the world each year, and a missing child is a vulnerable child. While the majority may return home quickly and safely, many remain missing for longer periods of time,” added Bob Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer at ICMEC.
For more than 20 years, ICMEC has been leading efforts to make the world’s children safer from abduction, sexual abuse and exploitation. Their work reaches across every continent, and ICMEC’s Global Missing Children’s Network brings together 30 countries to help them recover missing and abducted children.
On 25 May each year, to mark International Missing Children’s Day, ICMEC coordinates activities and campaigns to build awareness around the issue of missing children, celebrate those who have been recovered and remember those who are still missing.
“Football is the world’s most popular sport, and ICMEC greatly values the unique potential of the clubs to amplify our efforts to publicize the plight of missing children through their incredible social media presence,” said Caroline Humer, Vice President of Programmes.
The following ECA Member Clubs have all agreed to support the ‘Football Cares’ initiative on International Missing Children’s Day – with more clubs to be announced before 25 May.