Wednesday 04 November 2009
Hundreds of thousands take ‘A Minute For Madeleine’ as viral message is shared around the world
Download, view and share the message at www.ceop.police.uk
Up to 100,000 people an hour from more than 150 countries around the world are viewing a new viral message aimed at someone close to the person who was involved in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
‘A Minute for Madeleine’ was released on the internet at 00:01 hours on Tuesday 3rd November by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.
It has been spread cross thousands of social networking sites, blogs, search engines other online environments following an appeal by the CEOP Centre for the public to spread the message to the extent that it reaches the individual who may be harbouring a secret that could reveal what happened to Madeleine.
On Twitter, celebrities including Jonathan Ross, Chris Evans, Alan Carr and Phillip Schofield have ‘tweeted’ the link to their followers. Social networking sites MySpace and Bebo linked to the film on their homepages and AOL, BT, Microsoft, MSN, Virgin Media and Yahoo all posted prominent links to the film on their websites throughout yesterday.
CEOP Chief Executive Jim Gamble said:
“We are delighted with the response so far but this is only the start. Whether you’re a blogger, businessman, student or parent, use the internet for something positive today. Go to www.ceop.police.uk. Download, watch and share the film with everyone you know. Every person who does that brings us a step closer to reaching the individual who needs to see this message.”
Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry expressed their gratitude to all those who have so far downloaded, viewed and shared the message with contacts across the world but urged others to get involved:
“We are very pleased with the huge numbers of people who have downloaded and distributed this appeal. We would like to thank everyone for their help and support. Let's hope and pray that this message reaches those who know who took Madeleine and they find the strength to do the right thing.”
The message is available in seven different languages – English, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
The message reads:
“Madeleine disappeared on 3 May 2007 while on holiday with her family in Portugal. Madeleine is now six years old … We know that there is someone out there who knows who is involved in her disappearance.
They may be keeping this secret out of fear, misplaced loyalty or even love. Keeping this information secret only increases the anguish of Madeleine’s family and friends and increases the risk to other children.
If you know who is involved and are keeping this secret remember that it is never too late to do the right thing.
We urge anyone who knows anything about the whereabouts of Madeleine or has any information regarding her disappearance to do the right thing and to give that information to their local police.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
CEOP
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre was launched in April 2006 to provide a focus for tackling the exploitation of children. It is part of UK policing and delivers a holistic approach by embedding specialists from the police, children’s charities, education, industry and government.
Media contacts – Clive Michel, Miriam Rich, Vicky Gillings, Hannah Bickers
0870 000 3434
Europol
Europol is the European Union law enforcement organisation that handles criminal intelligence. Its mission is to assist the law enforcement authorities of Member States in their fight against serious forms of organised crime.
Media contact – Gerald Hesztera
gerald.hesztera@europol.europa.eu
Interpol
INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 188 member countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime. INTERPOL aims to facilitate international police co-operation even where diplomatic relations do not exist between particular countries. Action is taken within the limits of existing laws in different countries and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. INTERPOL’s constitution prohibits ‘any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.
Media contact – Pietro Calcaterra
p.calcaterra@interpol.int
MCE
Missing Children Europe is the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children. As an umbrella organisation, it represents 23 Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) active in 16 Member States of the European Union. Each of these organisations is active in cases of missing and/or sexually exploited children at grassroots level, including prevention and support for victims
Media contact – (+) 32 24 75 44 13
NCMEC
The US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s® (NCMEC) mission is to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; help find missing children; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them.
NCMEC was established in 1984 as a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to provide services nationwide for families and professionals in the prevention of abducted, endangered, and sexually exploited children. Pursuant to its mission and its congressional mandates.
Media contact – Devorah Goldburg
dgoldburg@ncmec.org
PACT
PACT is an international, non-profit organisation, registered in the USA and the UK. It was founded in 2000 by Lady Meyer, wife of the former British Ambassador to the United States. Its patrons are Cherie Blair, wife of the former British Prime Minister, and Laura Bush, former First Lady of the United States.
Media contact – Teresa Selwyn
tselwyn@pact-online.org
VGT
www.virtualglobaltaskforce.com
The Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) is made up of law enforcement agencies from around the world working together to fight child abuse online. The aim of the VGT is to build an effective, international partnership of law enforcement agencies that helps to protect children from online child abuse.
The VGT is made up of the Australian Federal Police, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre in the UK, the Italian Postal and Communication Police Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the US Department of Homeland Security and Interpol.
Vicky Gillings
Senior Marketing and Communications Officer
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre
T: +44 (0)20 7238 2327
M: +44 (0)7825 318706
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