When Creating International Policy, Most (92%) Canadians Agree that Protecting Children's Rights Should be a Priority

Toronto, ON - Canadians want governments to keep children foremost in their minds when creating international policy and agree with a new UN Treaty that aims to do that, according to an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of World Vision Canada. Most (92%) `agree' (52% strongly/40% somewhat) that `protecting children's rights should be a priority in decision making' for the international community at all levels, while few `disagree' (1% strongly/7% somewhat) with this premise.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was designed to protect the rights of children, but 25 years later, the international community has agreed it needs to be more effective. A new UN treaty called the OP3 aims to do that. Under the OP3, a child or their advocate can report a rights violation directly to the UN. The UN will then investigate their claim and can then force their government to take action and remedy the problem. So far, fourteen countries have ratified the OP3, and 32 other countries have signaled their support to do so, but Canada has done neither.

Reflecting on this, and agreeing with the position of the UN and its goal to strengthen the Convention on the Rights of the Child, nine in ten (90%) `agree' (45% strongly/45% somewhat) that `the convention needs more clout and should be strengthened in order to keep its promises to children'. One in ten (10%) `disagrees' (2% strongly/8% somewhat) that it should be strengthened in this way.

Believing in the central tenet of the new treaty, nine in ten (90%) Canadians `agree' (48% strongly/42% somewhat) that `when their own governments fail to protect their rights, all children should have access to higher justice at the United Nations'. Just one in ten (10%) `disagree' (2% strongly/8% somewhat) with this position.

These are some of the results of a survey conducted by Ipsos Reid conducted on behalf of World Vision Canada between September 11th to 15th, 2014. The results are based on a sample of n=1,016 Canadian adults in the general population where quota sampling and weighting are employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the actual Canadian student population according to Census data. The precision of Ipsos online surveys is measured using a Bayesian credibility interval. In this case, the survey results are accurate to within +/- 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had the entire population of Canadian adults been surveyed. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Sean Simpson
Vice President
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
(416) 572-4474
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

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Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry.

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