War Child Canada has spearheaded a landmark opinion poll to gauge Canadian youth attitudes on global issues and Canada’s role in the world. Conducted by Environics Research Group, The War Child Canada Youth Opinion Poll is the first comprehensive national public opinion survey of Canadian youth attitudes towards human rights, social justice and international issues.
 The War Child Canada Youth Opinion Poll challenges Canadian citizens, politicians, educators, NGOs and others to give the opinions of youth the attention they deserve and the opportunity to participate in defining Canada’s role in the world. It reaffirms the widely-held belief that Canadians want to be engaged in the world and that youth want Canada to play an even greater leadership role in international affairs.
Key findings: awareness and concern about global issues
Most youth express concern about a range of world issues, most notably environmental pollution, the spread of HIV/AIDS and famine in the developing world. Concern is noticeably higher among women and among francophones.
Canadian youth remain relatively optimistic that major progress will be made in their lifetimes in solving major global issues. They are most optimistic about progress on human rights abuses and on stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS. They are less optimistic about terrorism and war and conflict.
Key findings: War and conflict
Youth are relatively pessimistic when it comes to war and conflict in the world. They tend to think that the level of conflict in the world is getting worse and this sentiment is particularly strong among those who follow global issues most closely. There is also a strong consensus that civilians in conflict zones are suffering much more than are soldiers doing the fighting.
At the same time, youth do not accept the notion that war and conflict are inevitable or even ever necessary. The vast majority believe that there is always a way (or must be a way) to solve disputes without resorting to violent conflict.
The War Child Canada Youth Opinion Poll was funded by War Child Canada, Canadian Heritage, the Canadian International Development Agency, the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, Foreign Affairs Canada, the Department of National Defence and the Simons Foundation.
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
 Go to the War Child Canada website to download a PDF copy of The War Child Canada Youth Opinion Poll.
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at youthsurvey@warchild.ca.
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