Children represent the hope of the future, and thus the environment they grow up in, the education they receive, and their protection from abuse should be issues of concern to us all.

The progress made in improving the welfare of children in Taiwan is best exemplified by the tremendous successes achieved in finding missing children. In the past, cases concerning missing children were handled exclusively by the police and the recovery rate was extremely low. This changed in 1992, when the Children's Welfare League, in conjunction with police, health, education, judicial, and social agencies, formed the Committee for Assisting in the Recovery of Missing Children established a national network for reporting missing children. These efforts, combined with strong cooperation from the media, led to the recovery of 215 children of the total 325 cases reported between September 1992 and December 1995, an outstanding accomplishment by any criteria.

The United Nations Children's Rights Convention has promoted further reflection on child welfare issues in Taiwan. From medical care and education to public safety and care for special children, issues relevant to our young have become part of the national consciousness.

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