Bogotá, Colombia, May 4, 2022

The International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) will present a ground-breaking analysis of Colombia’s national-level capacity to address online child sexual exploitation and abuse to 24 governmental and civil society institutions in Bogotá on May 4, 2022. All of these institutions participated in the gap assessment that will now form the basis of a strategic, intersectoral, prioritized work plan for Colombia to improve its protection of children.

Broad participation across sectors addressing child protection will ensure a comprehensive National Response to sexual abuse and exploitation. Government participants include the Colombian Family Welfare Institute; the Ministries of Education, Justice, and Technologies; the Colombian National Police; the Communications Regulatory Commission; and the Superior Council of the Judiciary, among others. Civil society organizations include the Internet Society (Colombia Chapter), the Alliance for Childhood, and Renacer, to name a few.

The Multisectoral Response and Capacity (MRC) Assessment for Colombia is ICMEC’s second such assessment and strategic plan in the region. ICMEC conducted the first in Guatemala in 2021 and presented its findings to the country’s Vice President and other high-level stakeholders in December. An intersectoral coalition in Guatemala is implementing the MRC Assessment’s resulting strategic plan.

With ICMEC’s presentation of the MRC Assessment results in Colombia, stakeholders will similarly be better equipped to fortify the country’s national child protection systems.

About the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children

The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization working to make the world a safer place for all children by defending against child sexual exploitation, abuse, and the risk of going missing. Headquartered in the United States, ICMEC works with partners around the world to develop research, technologies, and educational resources to aid in the search and recovery of children who are missing, fight online exploitation online, and empower professionals, institutions, and communities to safeguard children from all forms of sexual abuse.