About the survey

• “La Voz, The Voices of Children and Adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean”, presents the results of a regional survey conducted across 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

It's lunch time at a primary school in Havana, Cuba.

The poll was supported by UNICEF, country offices in the region and the Spanish Committee for UNICEF. Representing the opinions of 103 million children, the multi-country poll is the first initiative of its kind.

The study took inspiration from articles 12 and 13 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) which state that every child has the right to participation and freedom of expression.

The study was based on the belief that authentic participation depends on spaces and mechanisms for genuinely listening to children, thus facilitating their effective participation. Authentic participation also requires that children be recognized as sources of information and that adults actually listen to what they have to say.

Learn more about the

of the survey!

The La Voz survey presents the first regional picture of the current state of child rights in Latin America and the Caribbean and aims to increase awareness of the many opportunities for adults to play a role in the healthy and happy development of the children of this region.

The regional findings show that the creation of opportunities and places for adequate participation of children of both sexes has fallen woefully short of the goals envisioned by the Convention. The results pose challenges at various levels of society, especially for government institutions, and highlight the urgent need for the creation of spaces for the free expression and participation of young children and adolescents in society.

The survey's objective was to gain awareness of the feelings, thoughts and perceptions children have regarding their various life surroundings, their needs and motivations, and whether they perceive that they belong to a society which safeguards their rights and well-being.

This survey was based on a representative sample of 11,852 respondents of both sexes between the ages of 9 and 18 and was conducted by the firm, Time Research Chile, in October and November 1999.

For more information on the Latin America and the Carribean Survey, contact Gladys Acosta or Maria Jesus Conde, Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean.

This information is provided as a contribution to discussion on important issues affecting children. UNICEF Regional offices conducted the polls, analysis and interpretations of the findings. For more information, please contact the regional poll contact person directly.