Help convince the European Council to adopt a Europe-wide missing child alert system

4.03.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 25th Jul 2008

Sharon is campaigning for better child protection in Europe

Sharon Bowles is asking for your help to convince the government to acknowledge the wishes of thousands of parents across Europe, along with the European Parliament and Commission, and support a Europe-wild child protection system in the Council of Ministers.

Sharon: "On 10th July 2008, a Written Declaration calling for emergency co-operation across Europe in recovering missing children was adopted by the European Parliament. The Declaration calls for a Europe-wide missing child alert system along the lines of the US 'Amber Alert', which has been responsible for saving the lives of many abducted or missing children in the United States. When activated, the European system would forward to border authorities, customs and law enforcement agencies, and the news media the details of any missing child and the circumstances of their disappearance.

"The campaign has benefited from the support of Gerry and Kate McCann, who since the terrible disappearance of their daughter Madeleine while on holiday in Portugal in 2007 have campaigned tirelessly for the recovery of missing children. One of the criticisms of the handling of the Madeleine case was that the borders and airports were not immediately alerted, and thus Madeleine's abductor could quite easily have left the country without being detected.

"Many believe that a Europe-wide missing child alert system could have made the crucial difference in recovering Madeleine.

"However, despite the support of the European Parliament and the European Commission, the EU's Council of Ministers - made up of the Justice Ministers of all 27 member states, including the British Justice Secretary - has decided that a rapid-response European child protection system is not necessary.

"This is despite clear evidence that the first few hours after an abduction or disappearance are almost always the most crucial.

"That's why I believe a European alert system is necessary. Many child abductions involve transport outside of national borders - and many of those lead on to the horror of child sex trafficking. It is vital that this must be stamped out. I want to convince the EU's Justice Ministers that the European Missing Child Alert is necessary and extremely worthwhile.

"Please sign this petition to ask Jack Straw to use his influence on the Council to persuade Europe's justice ministers that a Europe-wide missing child alert system is needed."

You can show your support by signing the petition online at http://www.sharonbowles.org.uk/petitions/