BRIEFING NOTE PRESENTED BY THE CANADIAN DELEGATION
                                  PROJECT RETURN

         [Annex to the Report of the 2nd Special Commission Meeting, 18-21
         Jan 1993]

         Background

         In 1986, the Canadian Department of National Revenue, Customs and
         Excise implemented its first Missing Children's Program, now
         called Project Return.  The role played by customs authorities at
         the border lends itself to a significant contribution in
         identifying missing children that are being moved across borders.
         The Missing Children's Program included the establishment of a
         work unit within the Customs Enforcement Directorate that
         developed profiles for missing children and youth at risk,
         created an up-to-date data base and developed a national training
         program for customs officers.  A national coordinator was also
         named.  Through the various tools offered by this program,
         Customs offices at the border were trained to identify children
         that were believed at risk and to take action within the
         parameters of Canada's legislative framework i.e., detention for
         questioning under the Customs Act and the Immigration Act.

         In 1991, the Minister of National Revenue announced the evolution
         of the project through increased cooperation with Child Fine
         Canada and Operation Go Home, two ken non-governmental
         organizations, to create Project Return.  Since that time, the
         Canadian Customs authorities have joined forces with the Royal
         Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP, the federal police force in
         Canada and their missing children's registry to create a unique
         joint forces operation.  Since the inception of the program,
         Customs officers have recovered over 200 children, including 67
         cases of parental abduction.

         Concept

         Given the success that has been witnessed with Project Return
         domestically, Canada would like to see our efforts expanded to
         the international forum with the establishment of an
         international network to exchange information on missing children
         between border inspection agencies.  The Canadian Customs
         authorities would take the lead in launching this new
         international initiative.  The international network could
         function along the lines of Canada's Project Return and would be
         based on a system of lookouts and alerts.  Using the already
         well-established networks used to exchange customs enforcement
         information, customs services around the world could collaborate
         in the exchange of lookouts and alerts on missing children.  The
         cooperation of the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) and Interpol
         would be critical to the success of this initiative.  Canadian
         customs authorities have begun a process of consultation and the
         response is generally favourable.   Inevitably, responsibility
         for this initiative would be shared with immigration and national
         police agencies as customs is not always the border agency
         responsible for the movement of people.

         Conclusion

         The Canadian Department of National Revenue, Customs and Excise
         has experienced great success with Project Return and is
         committed to the concept of expanding the program
         internationally.  Through work with our partners in this field, a
         concept could be developed that would focus on using the
         well-established networks for the exchange of enforcement
         information.

         Canadian customs authorities plan to present this initiative in a
         variety of international customs fora, including the meeting of
         the Enforcement Committee of the Customs Cooperation Council in
         Mar 1993 and the meeting of the Executive Committee of the
         Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council in February 1993.
         Delegates are asked to bring this initiative to the attention of
         their customs authorities in preparation for more detailed
         discussions at international customs meetings such as those
         described above.