The FREDI Foundation (Foundation for the Search of the Missing Children, by Internet - www.fredi.org -) with its H.Q. in Switzerland, has since 1997 been involved in signaling the disappearance of children, not only in Switzerland, but also in many other parts of the world. FREDI has successfully established links and close collaboration with other equivalent organizations in countries such as: Germany, Belgium, Austria, Italy, France, Great Britain, Canada, North America, Australia. However, very quickly, organizations dealing with the question of disappearances of children realized that they faced a huge task of passing information and prevention tips to children, their parents and their teachers. This, in a way, would ensure that all would adopt similar behavior aiming at reducing the risks of having any child’s name appearing on the list of these organizations. For sometime now several organizations, including FREDI, have adopted a prevention strategy to deal with “chat” rooms and forums where children can receive invitations to meet their "buddy" or virtual interlocutor, who alas, could be people hunting for "fresh victims" luring their prey into a deadly trap.

Confronted with an ever increasing number of sites whose contents are contrary to the principle of respect for the dignity of children (child pornography sites, sites praising the virtues of incest and pedophilia) and, a significant rise in the number of disappearances of children, today, FREDI launches an international petition. This petition requests that concrete measures are undertaken by governments to block access to these criminal web sites, and to pursue their authors by judicial authorities.

Concerning the participating countries, what are the requirements stipulated by articles 34 and 35 of the “Convention of the Rights of the Child”?

The participating States commit themselves to protecting children against all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual violence. To this end, all governments shall undertake all suitable measures on the national, bilateral and multilateral levels to prevent::

a) That children are not incited or constrained to take part in an illegal sexual activity;

b) That children are not exploited for reasons of prostitution or other illegal sexual practices;

c) That children are not coerced into performing in pornographic productions or shows of sexual nature.

Art.35:
All participating states shall undertake all suitable measures on the national, bilateral and multilateral levels to prevent the abduction, the sales or trading of children in any shape or form.

Something which is obviously not the case in too many countries. In order for these articles to be applied completely and universally,

Your task is rather simple:

Please print as many copies of this petition as possible, distribute it amongst all your friends, your entourage, your colleagues at work and return the lists duly filled to:

FREDI
CP 1
CH-1706 Fribourg.

Upon reaching the deadline, FREDI will take it upon itself to transmit them to Unicef. In turn, Unicef will be requested to retransmit these documents to respective governments.

Or if you prefer to sign it online, please click here (protected page)

Objective: to gather a million signatures, from all Four Corners of the world!

Do not forget: it could be your child or that of your neighbor!

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Expiry date : 30th December 2004

Thank you for your participation on behalf of our children, our one and only true wealth. The wealth that we must protect from those who want to make money. Lots of money at the expense of these innocent children.

The FREDI Team