Agencia Brasil

Brasilia – The immediate investigation of missing children and adolescents became mandatory since last Monday (2), when the law sanctioned by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on December 30th became effective. Before the law, searches would only start 24 or 48 hours after the family registered the occurrence at the police.

The law establishes that notified institutions must communicate the fact to ports, airports, highway patrol, and interstate and international transportation companies, supplying all data necessary for identifying the person.

Currently, according to the estimates of governmental and non-governmental organizations associated to the National Network for the Identification and Location of Missing Children and Teenagers (ReDESAP), approximately 40 thousand minors disappear per year in Brazil. 10-15% of them remain missing for long periods. Many times, they are never found.

Translation: Andréa Alves