however it is important to understand that missing child alerts, for which a child alert system can be of use, constitute an average 1 to 2% of the total cases of missing children in europe. while child alert systems can be of use in those 1 to 2%, the overall problem of missing children - of which an average of 60% concern children running away from situations of conflict, abuse, violence and neglect - requires a much more comprehensive approach, including measures aimed at prevention and empowerment.