Task Force for Missing & Murdered Women and Girls
Our Mission
The National Taskforce for Missing and Murdered Women and Girls is committed to advocating for women and girls impacted by institutional and structural violence through the implementation of gender-focused policies and preventive measures.
By progressively challenging entrenched biases, we seek to address and rectify disparities, particularly in the context of missing and murdered women and girls, with the ultimate goal of achieving equitable outcomes.
Our Vision
The National Taskforce envisions a society in which women and girls of color, subjected to institutional and structural violence are able to operate with gender parity unencumbered by systemic barriers.
By advocating for progressive policy reform and employing a gender-focused analytical lens, we aspire to cultivate an environment of equity and gender justice.
Help Us In Giving Voice to the Missing Women and Girls
Join the Movement
We are at a critical moment in history where the voices of women and girls are being silenced. Too many are missing, their cases overlooked, and their stories untold. Together, we must raise our voices, demand justice, and take action.
Join us in a powerful movement to fight structural inequalities and bring awareness to the epidemic of missing and murdered women and girls. We cannot allow these injustices to continue. Every life is valuable, every story deserves to be heard, and every family deserves closure.
The Meaning and Visual Impact of the Mannequins
Depicting mannequins to symbolize missing and murdered women and girls can be a powerful and haunting image, evoking the sense of dehumanization and invisibility that is often tied to their stories. Mannequins, often seen as lifeless and devoid of identity, can represent how these women and girls are reduced to mere numbers or objects in a broader societal context.
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Mannequins representing different skin tones, specifically those of women of color, can be posed in static, cold, and distant ways to highlight the lack of attention their cases receive.
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Broken or missing limbs can represent the way these women's stories are often fractured or incomplete in the media and justice system.
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Mannequins without faces or expressions can symbolize how their identities are often erased or ignored. Alternatively, the faces could be blurred or shadowed.
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This can represent the silencing and powerlessness that many victims feel, unable to speak out or be heard by society.
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The mannequins could be placed in unsettling scenes, such as behind crime scene tape or in abandoned, urban settings, to emphasize the unsolved or forgotten nature of their cases.
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Instead of nameless figures, having the names of missing or murdered women and girls written on their bodies or projected onto them can help reclaim their identities.
When She Screams We Scream For Her. When She Cries We Cry For Her.
550K
people went missing in 2022
35%
of those missing were Black
190K
Black individuals went missing
a majority being under
age 17
Over Half
of missing Black individuals
are women and girls
Find Me When I'm Missing Not When I'm Murdered
〰️
Find Me When I'm Missing Not When I'm Murdered 〰️
The Stark Reality
Women and girls are disproportionately affected by violence, abductions, and systemic neglect. Their cases often receive less media coverage, fewer resources, and delayed investigations, leaving families and communities with no closure and growing frustration. Behind each missing person’s face is a family in anguish, a community grieving, and a life cut short or stolen.
We cannot allow this trend to continue unchallenged. Each time a woman or girl goes missing without widespread recognition, we collectively fail. This national crisis requires our urgent attention and collective action.
“I Killed Them Because I Knew No One Would Look For Them”
“I Killed Them Because I Knew No One Would Look For Them”
The issue of missing and murdered women and girls, has been a longstanding crisis in many parts of the world. Indigenous women, Black women, and women from other marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by violence, abduction, and murder.
Despite the severity of this crisis, these cases often receive little media attention or law enforcement resources, leading to what has been termed the "silence of the missing." In response to this crisis, activists, artists, and community members have turned to mannequin artwork as a form of protest and remembrance.
This medium allows for a striking visual representation that can be displayed in public spaces, drawing attention to the individuals who have been lost and challenging the public to confront the reality of the issue.
In The News
An Alarming Epidemic
Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Establish Task Force on Missing BIPOC Women and Girls
Legislation S.4266-A/A.5088-A Establishes Task Force on Missing Women and Girls Who Are Black, Indigenous or People of Color
New York State Strives to Help Missing Black and BIPOC Women and Girls with New Task Force
Thousands of Black and BIPOC families face fear and frustration each year, wondering and worrying about missing or murdered women and girls in their lives.
'The statistics are alarming.' New state task force to investigate missing minorities
Almost half of all missing women and girls in the nation are Black, indigenous and/or people of color (BIPOC), according to a 2022 report from the National Crime Information Center.
Gone and Forgotten: Nearly 50 Black Girls Missing in New York State
The disappearance of white 22-year-old Gabby Petito of Blue Point, Long Island continues to receive hours of national news coverage, top story status, talk shows and saturated media coverage.
Gov Hochul Urged to Approve NY State BIPOC Missing Women and Girls Task Force
New York City is facing a crisis of missing Black women and girls and it is rarely discussed.
New York announces task force on missing person cases involving women and girls who are Black, Indigenous or people of color
Gov. Kathy Hochul authorized establishing the Missing BIPOC Women and Girls Task Force, which will also develop policies to increase community education, the governor's office said.
New York State Creates Missing BIPOC Women And Girls Task Force
According to the FBI, over 43% of the more than 271,000 missing women and girls nationwide were Black, Indigenous, or other people of color.
A ‘silent epidemic’ of missing BIPOC women, girls shows disparities in missing persons cases
In 2020, 40% of all women and girls reported missing were people of color despite making up just 16% of the population. But advocate say their cases continue to be shunned by law enforcement and national media.
Their stories matter. Their lives matter.
Remember Their Names
Desire Anderson (Missing since 12/26/2023) Sonya Massey (Murdered 07/06/2024) Breaja Jones (Murdered 10/19/2024) Chandreka Graham (Murdered 06/18/2024) Aliyah Boomer (Missing since 08/15/2015)
Desire Anderson (Missing since 12/26/2023) Sonya Massey (Murdered 07/06/2024) Breaja Jones (Murdered 10/19/2024) Chandreka Graham (Murdered 06/18/2024) Aliyah Boomer (Missing since 08/15/2015)
Krystal Evans (Murdered 09/13/2024) Emane Bouffard (Missing since 08/22/2020) Chanti Dixon (Murdered 09/09/2024) Samyia Spain (Murdered 03/17/2024) Sylvia Burton (Missing since 06/02/2003) Kamaria Francis (Missing since 08/17/2024)
Krystal Evans (Murdered 09/13/2024) Emane Bouffard (Missing since 08/22/2020) Chanti Dixon (Murdered 09/09/2024) Samyia Spain (Murdered 03/17/2024) Sylvia Burton (Missing since 06/02/2003) Kamaria Francis (Missing since 08/17/2024)
As you explore the Task force for Missing’s website, take a moment to remember the names and faces of the missing women and girls. Their stories are our stories, and their voices deserve to be heard. Together, let us stand in solidarity and demand justice for all.
Let’s pledge to never stop searching, never stop speaking out, and never stop fighting for a world where every woman and girl is valued, cherished, and safe.
Together, we can turn silence into action, indifference into empathy, and invisibility into visibility.
Keep in Touch
Join us in honoring the lives and legacies of those who have been silenced. Let us work together to ensure that every woman and girl who goes missing is found —physically, emotionally, and in the memories of those who care.
Meet our Partners
