The alarming increase in child abductions across the United States has been a major problem. In 2019, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

Parental kidnapping, in which a non-custodial parent removes a child without the agreement of the other parent, is becoming more common and has devastating consequences for both the kidnapped child and their left-behind parent. This type of abduction often occurs when parents are embroiled in a custody dispute.

The rise in child abductions has been linked to online predators who use social media and the internet to groom children or encourage them to leave their homes. These predators are a serious threat as they can easily exploit young people who don’t understand the risks.

Additionally, child abduction is linked to human trafficking. Data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline shows that kids and young adults are the primary victims of trafficking in America — many are forced into sex work. Sometimes traffickers abduct children and use them for labor or sexual exploitation.

To combat the increasing rates of child abduction, efforts are being made to raise public awareness, educate the public, and utilize technology such as Amber Alerts. Law enforcement agencies and other organizations have implemented several programs and initiatives to help find missing children quickly and prevent these types of crimes.

From parental abductions to net predators and human trafficking, it encompasses several causes and requires multiple resolutions. It is primary for caretakers, guardians, educators, and the broader populace to be aware of the perils and comprehend how to respond if they perceive that a child is in danger. Moreover, Law enforcement agencies, social services, and other organizations should persistently combine efforts to develop strategies intended at decreasing the number of child abductions.