A missing person is someone who has disappeared for a long period of time, commonly with no known reason. Most missing persons are women and children. Their faces on photos are often posted on bulletin boards, postcards, and websites, with a phone number to call if someone sees that missing person. There are many reasons for disappearances: runaway, throw away (abandoned), kidnapping, abduction, slavery, sexual slavery, child stealing, child sexual abuse, child pornography, prostitution (often combined with drug addiction), wage slavery, serfdom, sweat shop work service, unfree labor, shang-hai, or simply moving without notice.

Over 100,000 people dissappear per year in the U.S.. A person must be missing seven years or more to be classified as a Missing Person. Over a million people are reported missing each year, but roughly 90% of them are found. The remaining are labelled 'missing'. President George W. Bush has called for increased law enforcement in the area of missing people.

External links

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PublicHomeServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&)
• Sexual Abuse Prevention Resources INDEX (http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/help1a.htm)