There is a compelling use of YouTube being launched by the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) with the support of YouTube and in collaboration with the Find Madeleine Campaign, at www.youtube.com/dontyouforgetaboutme. I think this again shows the power of online video to help make progress on key issues - building on the emotional and compelling nature of video, peoples' increasing facility in using the web to post and share video, and the wide reach of YouTube.

The YouTube channel will feature videos of missing children for public viewing, with the intention of speeding their location and recovery. The title of the channel, "Don't You Forget About Me," is named after the hit song by the Scottish Rock group "Simple Minds," and is featured in the video of 4-year-old Madeleine McCann who went missing on May 3, 2007.

ICMEC writes:

"Videos can be submitted by parents, guardians, or other sources verified by ICMEC prior to posting. Case information must be certified by the appropriate law enforcement agency or Hague Central Authority and the parent, guardian, or other designated representative must sign an Authorization and Release Form before ICMEC can post a video on the channel.

The channel also includes safety and educational materials in different languages as well as Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and messages of support. We encourage law enforcement, government agencies, and child advocacy organizations from around the world to submit safety and educational materials for inclusion on the channel.

Videos can be submitted in any language."

I think and hope they will have a lot of success in this.

FYI - I've written previously about the use of YouTube for video contests on policy issues and to showcase the rarely seen but amazing work done by NOAA ocean scientists

Note: Forum One developed in 2002 the information architecture and graphic design still in use (through somewhat modified) by ICMEC and its US counterpart, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). These organizations do amazing work here in the US and around the world. They are also located in our home town of Alexandria, VA.


Technorati tags:
ICMEC
NCMEC
YouTube