Child Focus was born in 1998, following the disappearance of little Julie and Mélissa and the Dutroux Affair. It is Julie's father, Jean-Denis Lejeune, who is behind this European centre for missing or sexually exploited children. Child Focus intervenes in unexplainable disappearances (undefined), in cases of running away, abductions by third parties or relatives (going abroad) and in cases of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse outside the family.
Those little posters of the missing children displayed just about everywhere, that was its doing. Thanks to the volunteers who work for Child Focus, reaction times have been greatly reduced, which increases the chances of finding them safe and sound.Child Focus listens to, supports and advises the victims and their families. It also monitors the cases and establishes major contacts with the police and legal departments.
The only example of its kind in Europe, the centre processes more than 3,000 cases per annum and closes approximately 70% of them within the year.
