International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC)
The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) is a U.S.-based global nonprofit working to make the world safer for children by eradicating child abduction, sexual abuse, and exploitation. For more than two decades, ICMEC has partnered with governments, law enforcement, educators, technology companies, financial institutions, and child-protection organizations to strengthen the systems that protect children. Our work includes training frontline professionals, strengthening laws and policies, improving cross-border coordination, and developing practical tools and resources to prevent and respond to harm. By connecting expertise and partners across countries and sectors, ICMEC helps communities build stronger, more sustainable responses so children can grow up safer from abduction, abuse, and exploitation.
Elieth Samara was just 19 days old when she was abducted in Guatemala. For the next 33 hours, her mother, Nayelly, waited for her baby to come home.
ICMEC joined the investigation on the ground, coordinating with the U.S. Embassy, Guatemala’s Civil National Police and Public Ministry, the Alba-Keneth Alert system, Facebook, and other partners. The response drew on years of work ICMEC had already invested in Guatemala, including training child-protection professionals, strengthening coordination, and supporting the country’s missing-child alert system.
Within 33 hours, Elieth was found and safely reunited with her mother.
Her recovery shows why strong child-protection systems matter. When a child disappears, trained professionals, effective alerts, technology, and cooperation across organizations and borders can make the difference.
Elieth’s story ended with a family reunited. ICMEC works so that more families around the world have the same chance to bring their children home safely.
Financials
Programs
Global Missing Children’s Network
Offers resources to law enforcement and NGOs to assist in preventing and responding to reports of missing children, currently has 27 member countries across 5 continents.
Law Enforcement Training & Capacity Building
Equips police, prosecutors, investigators, and other frontline professionals with tools and training to identify victims, investigate exploitation, and recover missing children.
Global Educator Centre for Excellence
Helps educators and schools prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation through training, safeguarding resources, and ICMEC’s Education Portal.
Financial Coalitions Against Child Sexual Exploitation
Brings together financial institutions and other partners to disrupt the financial mechanisms that facilitate online child sexual exploitation.
The Koons Family Institute on International Law & Policy
Conducts research, develops model legislation and policy tools, and works to strengthen child-protection laws and systems worldwide.