México City, México - With the support of the US, the Mexican government has launched the national "Amber Alert," a program which aims to locate missing children through a coordinated effort between federal, media, and social organizations.

México’s Attorney General, Marisela Morales Ibañez, said that "last year various state governments and the Federal District agreed to work together with this program." Yesterday México became one of 10 countries with access to the Amber Alert network, although it is implemented in only 26 states of the federation.

Mexico's First Lady, Margarita Zavala, said that with the initiation of the National Amber Alert the country is seeking to close the door on organized crime's trafficking in children for sexual exploitation.

She explained that parents who presume that their children are missing should dial 01-800-0085-400 to alert authorities. The first three hours after the disappearance of children are vital to facilitate their location with the authorities, media, networking, and social groups coordinating their efforts to try to find the child’s whereabouts.

This warning network has shown that a timely call helps locate missing children in the nine other participating countries.