The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has announced that they will be working on a pilot project in Manitoba with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (the Canadian Centre) to enhance officer knowledge and training for identifying situations involving missing, sexually abused and exploited children.
This Manitoba pilot project involves the CBSA and the Canadian Centre working together to better identify missing and abducted children, and those at-risk of exploitation, at the border. The Canadian Centre will provide support to officers with specific cases where they must intervene, such as abduction and family reunification or instances where children or youth may be at-risk of sexual exploitation.
“Protecting and identifying missing children is a matter that is close to the hearts of our employees,” said Kim R. Scoville, Regional Director General, Prairie Region, Canada Border Services Agency. As Canada’s first point of contact, our officers play a key role in identifying missing children and protecting at-risk children who arrive at our borders. We remain vigilant in confirming their identity and the identity of those traveling with them. Working with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection will further enhance our capabilities to protect our most vulnerable travellers, our children.”
The CBSA and the Canadian Centre will also be working together to better and further educate the public on missing children and travelling safely with children abroad.
