Can Canada Be Recognized as a Child-Friendly Country?

Dr. Nasser Yousefi
The Peace School, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Correspondence: Dr. Nasser Yousefi (Email: yosofi.nasser@gmail.com)

Received: January 6, 2025
Accepted: February 15, 2025
Published: February 15, 2025

Abstract

Dr. Nasser Yousefi examines Canada’s status as a child-friendly country by evaluating the nation’s policies, social indicators, and international commitments to children’s rights. The article explores how factors such as immigration, economic disparities, and Indigenous challenges intersect with Canada’s adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Drawing on statistical evidence and academic research, Yousefi argues that while Canada demonstrates strengths in areas like survival and development, significant gaps remain in ensuring comprehensive participation and protection for all children.

Keywords: Child Rights, Child-Friendly, Children’s Welfare, Economic Disparities, Immigration, Indigenous Children, International Standards, Policy Evaluation, UNICEF Canada, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Introduction

In this article, Dr. Nasser Yousefi critically assesses whether Canada can be recognized as a child-friendly country by examining its adherence to international child rights standards and the effectiveness of its domestic policies. He discusses how immigration trends, economic factors, and the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities contribute to the overall well-being of Canadian children. By analyzing data from sources such as UNICEF Canada and other academic studies, Yousefi highlights both the commendable aspects and the deficiencies in Canada’s approach to children’s rights, calling for a renewed commitment from government, academia, and civil society to position Canada as a global leader in child-friendly policies.

Main Text (Interview)

Author: Dr. Nasser Yousefi

Section 1: Overview of Research Insights

Every year, thousands of people from around the world immigrate to Canada. A significant portion of these individuals are families seeking a better life for their children. The Canadian immigration department often prefers families with children, awarding them additional points in the immigration process. Given the importance of population growth, the number of children in Canada has always been a critical factor in governmental planning.

A non-official study by the Humanist Kids Institute reveals that a large group of immigrant families from Iran, China, and Korea consider securing a better future for their children as a primary reason for immigration. Access to better education, healthcare, and rights for their children has been a key factor in their decision to migrate. Similarly, Canadian citizens have always considered the welfare of their children a cornerstone of their societal expectations, urging government officials to address the needs of children in the community comprehensively.

Notably, Canada was among the first countries to sign the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991. Canada has consistently positioned itself as an advocate for this convention. Additionally, Canada has signed two optional protocols: The Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and The Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography.

The laws, activities, and programs supporting children in Canada are commendable and valuable, creating generally favorable conditions for children. However, as we all know, the concept of “good” is always relative. Good compared to what? In what context? And under what conditions? Therefore, understanding the precise status of children’s rights in Canada requires a framework of standards, indicators, and principles that align with international standards. Declaring a country’s child welfare status as “good” or “bad” without proper scientific and detailed evaluation is neither accurate nor valid.

When assessing children’s rights in Canada against international standards, there seems to be a considerable gap between the quality of children’s lives in Canada and global benchmarks. This situation even appears slightly concerning compared to international standards.

UNICEF Canada has highlighted statistics regarding children’s conditions in Canada that are noteworthy for children’s rights advocates:

1. Canada ranks 30th out of 38 wealthy countries in terms of child and youth well-being.
2. 20% of children in Canada live in poverty.
3. 1 in 4 sometimes goes to bed or school hungry.
4. More than a third of young people experience discrimination.
5. 1 in 4 children are regularly bullied.
6. 1 in 5 children faces mental health challenges.
7. The child homicide rate is one of the highest among wealthy nations.

Canada’s children are worlds apart from the happiest and healthiest children in affluent countries, and inequalities among them are striking. According to UNICEF’s Report Card, Canada ranks among the countries with the best economic conditions for growing up but has some of the poorest outcomes for children and youth.

Moreover, official government statistics in Canada show that 17% of Canadian children suffer from malnutrition, and the rate could be significantly higher among immigrant children based on unofficial data.

Additionally, New Statistics Canada crime data indicate that child victimization intensified during the pandemic:

1. Reports of offenders luring children online increased by 15%.
2. Incidents involving the making and distribution of child sexual abuse material rose by 27% compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Similarly, the Public Health Agency of Canada reports concerning findings regarding childcare in the country. The condition of Indigenous children in Canada is even more troubling. Humanium, an international child rights organization based in Switzerland, describes the plight of Indigenous children in Canada:

Indigenous children face a vulnerable and challenging situation regarding their rights under the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Canada is a party. They generally have less access to education services, which are often delivered in English or French rather than Indigenous languages. This cultural gap also exists in the healthcare system, where Western practices differ significantly from Indigenous healing traditions. Additionally, the precarious living conditions of Indigenous families hinder their access to expensive healthcare services, clean drinking water, and healthy food. Processed and manufactured foods are often the only accessible options, leading to childhood obesity as a significant issue in Indigenous communities.

All these findings are based on formal, academic research. However, informal and unofficial studies could reveal even more concerning statistics about children’s living conditions in Canada, particularly among immigrant families. Delving into the hidden layers of children’s lives may uncover even graver and more worrying realities.

These issues underscore the need for Canada’s government, academia, NGOs, and all child-focused institutions to revisit their policies and programs after 35 years since adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Children’s rights advocates in Canada expect the country to become a global leader in child rights, introducing effective strategies and policies to support children. Canada is expected to establish itself as a child-friendly country on the global stage, with its programs and policies serving as models for other nations to emulate.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols emphasize that governments and civil institutions must ensure a dignified life for all children without discrimination. The convention categorizes children’s rights into four main areas:

1. The Right to Survival, covering basic needs like food, healthcare, shelter, and security.
2. The Right to Development, encompassing education, cultural, social, artistic, and recreational opportunities for children.
3. The Right to Protection, ensuring children are safeguarded from abuse, exploitation, and crises.
4. The Right to Participation, enabling children to engage in decisions affecting their lives actively.

Many child-focused organizations may argue that Canadian children fare well in survival, development, and education. However, even these areas show room for improvement. Furthermore, Canada’s right to participation remains significantly below global standards. In some developing countries, children enjoy better opportunities to participate as active citizens in society and schools. In Canada, public programs—especially schools—offer minimal opportunities for students to engage in educational decision-making.

This highlights the need for children’s rights advocates, alongside governmental and non-governmental organizations, to renew their commitment to advancing children’s rights in Canada. Effective stakeholders such as academics, professionals, librarians, artists, media, and NGO representatives must raise awareness about children’s rights within society. Through collective effort, Canada can aim to be recognized as an internationally child-friendly country.

This call to action invites everyone to work together to position Canada as a global model for child-friendly policies, programs, and principles that other nations can replicate and develop in their societies. Achieving this goal requires a comprehensive and united effort supporting children’s rights.

Discussion

This article highlights the complexities of assessing Canada’s status as a child-friendly country by juxtaposing domestic policy outcomes with international child rights standards. Dr. Yousefi critically examines key indicators such as child poverty, malnutrition, and victimization rates, revealing that despite Canada’s robust legal commitments—such as its early adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child—significant gaps remain in ensuring comprehensive well-being for all children. The findings underscore that while economic conditions in Canada may favor children’s survival and development, participation and protection standards lag behind global benchmarks.

The discussion also draws attention to the nuanced challenges faced by various groups, including immigrant and Indigenous children, whose experiences often diverge sharply from national averages. Dr. Yousefi’s analysis suggests that, in many cases, Canada’s policy frameworks do not fully translate into positive outcomes at the grassroots level, leading to stark inequalities. This discrepancy calls for a more rigorous, data-driven evaluation of child welfare policies to identify areas in need of reform and to better align Canada’s practices with international expectations.

Ultimately, the article advocates for a renewed, collective commitment from government, academia, NGOs, and child-focused institutions to elevate Canada’s child rights agenda. By adopting comprehensive standards and implementing targeted reforms, Canada can aspire to become a global leader in creating environments where children not only survive but thrive as active, respected participants in society.

Methods

None.

Data Availability

No datasets were generated or analyzed during the current article. All remains the intellectual property of the author and In-Sight Publishing.

References

(No external academic sources were cited for this interview.)

Journal & Article Details

• Publisher: In-Sight Publishing
• Publisher Founding: March 1, 2014
• Web Domain: http://www.in-sightpublishing.com
• Location: Fort Langley, Township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada
• Journal: In-Sight: Interviews
• Journal Founding: August 2, 2012
• Frequency: Four Times Per Year
• Review Status: Non-Peer-Reviewed
• Access: Electronic/Digital & Open Access
• Fees: None (Free)
• Volume Numbering: 13
• Issue Numbering: 2
• Section: B
• Theme Type: Idea
• Theme Premise: “Outliers and Outsiders”
• Theme Part: 33
• Formal Sub-Theme: None
• Individual Publication Date: February 15, 2025
• Issue Publication Date: April 1, 2025
• Author(s): Dr. Nasser Yousefi
• Word Count: 1080
• Image Credits: Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash
• ISSN (International Standard Serial Number): 2369-6885

Acknowledgements

None.

Author Contributions

None.

Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

License & Copyright

In-Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
© Scott Douglas Jacobsen and In-Sight Publishing 2012–Present.

Unauthorized use or duplication of material without express permission from Scott Douglas Jacobsen is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links must use full credit to Scott Douglas Jacobsen and In-Sight Publishing with direction to the original content.

Supplementary Information

Below are various citation formats for Can Canada Be Recognized as a Child-Friendly Country?.

1. American Medical Association (AMA 11th Edition)
   Yousefi N. Can Canada Be Recognized as a Child-Friendly Country?. February 2025;13(2). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/yousefi-child-friendly-canada
2. American Psychological Association (APA 7th Edition)
   Yousefi, N. (2025, February 15). Can Canada Be Recognized as a Child-Friendly Country?. In-Sight Publishing. 13(2).
3. Brazilian National Standards (ABNT)
   YOUSEFI, N. Can Canada Be Recognized as a Child-Friendly Country?. In-Sight: Interviews, Fort Langley, v. 13, n. 2, 2025.
4. Chicago/Turabian, Author-Date (17th Edition)
   Yousefi, N. 2025. “Can Canada Be Recognized as a Child-Friendly Country?.” In-Sight: Interviews 13 (2). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/yousefi-child-friendly-canada.
5. Chicago/Turabian, Notes & Bibliography (17th Edition)
   Yousefi, N. “Can Canada Be Recognized as a Child-Friendly Country?.” In-Sight: Interviews 13, no. 2 (February 2025). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/yousefi-child-friendly-canada.
6. Harvard
   Yousefi, N. (2025) ‘Can Canada Be Recognized as a Child-Friendly Country?’, In-Sight: Interviews, 13(2). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/yousefi-child-friendly-canada.
7. Harvard (Australian)
   Yousefi, N 2025, ‘Can Canada Be Recognized as a Child-Friendly Country?’, In-Sight: Interviews, vol. 13, no. 2, http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/yousefi-child-friendly-canada.
8. Modern Language Association (MLA, 9th Edition)
   Yousefi, Nasser. “Can Canada Be Recognized as a Child-Friendly Country?.” In-Sight: Interviews, vol. 13, no. 2, 2025, http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/yousefi-child-friendly-canada.
9. Vancouver/ICMJE
   Yousefi N. Can Canada Be Recognized as a Child-Friendly Country? [Internet]. 2025 Feb;13(2). Available from: http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/yousefi-child-friendly-canada

Note on Formatting

This document follows an adapted Nature research-article format, tailored for a scholarly article. Traditional sections such as Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Main Text, and Discussion are complemented by supplementary sections including Methods, Data Availability, and References. This structured approach ensures both academic rigor and clear presentation of the content.