Alliance

SMALL VOICESBig Dreams 2015
A survey of nearly 6,000 children around the world reveals their views on safety andprotection. ChildFund Alliance calls for all nations to keep children #FreeFromViolence.

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

MissionChildFund Alliance is an effective global
network of child-centred development
organizations working in the poorest countries
around the world to create opportunities for
disadvantaged children. The mission of each
ChildFund Alliance member is to create longterm, sustainable, community-based solutions
to development problems affecting children
and their families.
In joining together the great strengths of its
member organizations, ChildFund Alliancecombines and expands the reach and scopeof its members to meet the needs of children
living in poverty.
ChildFund Alliance members implement
sustainable child-focused, community-based
development programs in areas where children
are impacted by war, natural disaster, poverty
and global health issues such as HIV/AIDS.

SMALL

voicesBIGDREAMS

2015
ChildFund Alliance members:• Barnfonden, Sweden• BøRNEfonden Denmark• ChildFund Australia• ChildFund Deutschland• ChildFund International

While each member organization retains
its own distinct national identity andgovernance by national boards, collectively,ChildFund Alliance is a voice for children andan instrument for maintaining worldwide
standards of performance, efficiency andaccountability.

• ChildFund Ireland• ChildFund Japan• ChildFund Korea• ChildFund New Zealand• Christian Children’s Fund of Canada• Educo, Spain

Data collection: This survey would not be
possible without the dedication of ChildFund
Alliance member organizations’ staff, volunteers
and field assistants around the world who
spent weeks talking to children
and documenting their opinions and ideas.
Research: GfK Roper
Report editor: Sandra Upeslacis
Graphic designer: Julie Couglan
Photography: © members of the ChildFund
Alliance, 2015
Cover image:
Sophon (right) with cousin, 10 from Cambodia
Photo taken by: Carol Strickler
Back cover image:
Valeria, 10 from El Salvador
Photo taken by: ChildFund Alliance Staff
2• Un Enfant Par La Main, France

A Global Survey of Children

It’s up to all of us
to keep children#FreeFromViolenceChildhood should be a time of innocence,
free from violence and exploitation. The
main focus should be learning, growing,
sharing dreams with friends and family
and exploring the world.

Children’s concerns
Our sixth annual Small Voices, Big
about violenceDreams global survey of 10- to 12-yearand exploitation
olds reveals that this is not the reality foris a pervasive,
too many of the world’s children. Many
global issue, which young people feel unsafe at school,on the Internet and even in their own
requires us tocommunities.
work together.

These fears aren’t limited to economicallydeveloping countries; children in
economically developed countries sharemany of the same worries. It is a pervasive,
global issue, which requires us to work
together towards a brighter future. It
is alarming that 42% of children in all
countries do not feel safe at school.
This past September at the United Nations,
Member States adopted 17 Sustainable
Development Goals to end extreme
poverty, fight inequality and injustice, andaddress climate change. Governments
also agreed on a vision of a “world thatinvests in its children and in which every
child grows up free from violence andexploitation.”
They pledged to:• end abuse, exploitation, torture,trafficking and violence againstchildren;• end child labour, especially in its
worst forms;• end child marriage, female genital
mutilation and other practices, which
are harmful to children; and• create safe and non-violent learning
environments.
The next step is implementation. By
working together, we can help improve
the lives of children by increasing access tothe basics — nutritious food, clean water,
health care as well as a safe education —and securing their right to live free fromviolence and exploitation, which will help

them find their voice to be agents ofchange in their future.
We must also ensure children and young
people have access to information that isage-appropriate and relevant so they can
engage decision makers and hold themto account. We should amplify bottom-up
processes that engage children and young
people in the monitoring of the newagenda at the local, national, regional andglobal levels.
ChildFund Alliance believes the global
community needs to do more to help
children be children. Our global campaign,‘free from violence and exploitation,’ ishelping raise awareness and move theagenda forward on child rights. We are
now asking people from every nation tojoin the conversation with the hashtag#FreeFromViolence and share ways inwhich we can work together to protect
children. Let’s help them grow fruitfully
into the thinkers and leaders they willneed to be in order to thrive and safeguard
the next generation from harm.
I encourage you to read and share theSmall Voices, Big Dreams 2015 report,
one of the largest annual surveys ofchildren in the world. We talked to nearly
6,000 children from 44 countries, and their
voices and dreams are included in thefollowing pages.
The report includes fascinating facts
and quotes from children growing up
in many different circumstances. I hope
they will inspire you to take action. Please
do. Together, we can we keep children#FreeFromViolence and make the world
safer.
Sincerely,
Meg Gardinier
Secretary GeneralChildFund Alliance3Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

Global snapshot

CANADACANADAIRELAND

FRANC
SPAIN

UNITED STATES OF AMERICAMEXICOGUATEMALA HONDURASEL SALVADOR NICARAGUACAPE VERDEDOMINICA AND
ST.VINCENTSENEGAL
THE GAMBIAGUINEASIERRA LEONELIBERIAECUADOR

5,805* CHILDRENSURVEYED

3,773

Developing
countries* See page 29.

4

2,032

Developed
countries

BRAZIL

BOLIVIAPARAGUAY

MALI

BURKINA FA

BEN
GHANA
TOGO

A Global Survey of Children

SWEDENGERMANY

CE

KOREA

JAPAN

AFGHANISTAN
NEPAL
INDIA

BANGLADESHLAOS
PHILIPPINESCAMBODIACAMBODIAASOVIETNAMNINETHIOPIASRI LANKAUGANDAKENYAINDONESIA
TIMOR-LESTEZAMBIAMOZAMBIQUE
AUSTRALIANEW ZEALAND

5

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

What Safety
Means to Children

For the Small Voices, Big Dreams
survey, we asked 10- to 12-year-oldsfrom 44 countries about safety issues
and how these issues affect them.
The evidence came back loudVAN, 11and clear: young people are
acutely aware of safetyissues in their communities.
What follows are the top
answers to the questions,along with some of themost interesting findings
and variances resulting fromthe survey. In some cases,
children in developing
and developed countries
have drastically different
responses. In others, location
makes very little difference.

6

A Global Survey of Children

HOAN, 12

VAN, 11, is from
Vietnam where
68% of thosesurveyed named
school as a place
where children
could be at risk
from harm.
.....................................

“If adults listen to what we say, we will
be loved and protected.”
Hoan, 12,
Vietnam

HOAN, 12, is from
Vietnam where
12% of children
want adults tolisten to whatchildren haveto say.

7

mv

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015
SITAN, 12, is from
Mali where 68%of those surveyed
said children don’t
feel safe when
walking alone.

Where do you think girls
or boys may be at risk
from harm such as being
physically or emotionallyabused or mistreated?

“I would protect
children throughlaws.”.........................................

The top answer: 58% of children globally
said girls and boys may be at risk walking inplaces where they are alone—the numbers
are actually higher in developed countries
at 68% compared to developing countries
at 55%.
In developing countries, 46% of respondents
answered that children may be at risk fromharm at home, compared with 28% indeveloped countries. The number skyrockets
to 94% of children in Togo and 91% in Ghana.
The fear of harm at home is the lowest
in Guinea at 4%.
In developed countries, 63% answered thatchildren may be at risk from harm online, with thepercentage increasing to 87% of respondents inFrance, 85% in Australia and 84% in Sweden.
That compares to only 18% in developing countries.
Almost half of all children in the developed world(47%) identified school as a place where children
may be at risk of mistreatment, indicating the needfor safe school environments. In particular, thosesurveyed in Canada (64%) showed a high degreeof concern for the potential harm children mightexperience at school.

8

STINA, 10

STINA, 10, is from
Sweden where 84%
said children facepotential harm on
the Internet.
.........................................

“If you treat achild badly,
you will be
put in prison
for two years.”
STINA, 10,
SwedenA Global Survey of Children

Where do you think girls or boys
may be at risk from harm such as
being physically or emotionallyabused or mistreated?

ALL
COUNTRIESALL DEVELOPING
COUNTRIESALL DEVELOPEDCOUNTRIESAFRICA(DEVELOPINGONLY)

AMERICAS(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

ASIA
(DEVELOPINGONLY)

SITAN, 12 (MIDDLE) WITH HER FRIENDSAt home

42%

46%

28%

53%

34%

49%

With friends

30%

33%

22%

30%

34%

35%

At school

42%

41%

47%

40%

36%

47%

At an organized activity

18%

18%

18%

23%

14%

15%

Walking in places where you are alone

58%

55%

68%

52%

63%

49%

Online

28%

18%

63%

8%

36%

13%

At work

13%

14%

12%

17%

11%

12%

9

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

Why do you think adults
mistreat children?

GENEVEBA, 11, isfrom Timor-Leste
where 51% ofchildren, as leadersof their country,
would educate
their peers to keepthem safe.
.....................................
SHAKIB, 11, isfrom Bangladesh
where 24% of
those surveyed
said they would
help other children
to recognize andavoid dangerous
situations.
.....................................

GENEVEBA, 11

DELSIA, 12, isfrom Timor-Leste
where one in four(25%) believethat children
are mistreatedbecause adults
have the power.

.........................................

SHAKIB, 11

MADDIE, 10

10

A Global Survey of Children“Mothers or older brothers hit
children when we do something
wrong. When mom hits me it
hurts and I cry.”Lucia, 12,ALL
COUNTRIESALL DEVELOPING
COUNTRIESALL DEVELOPEDCOUNTRIESAFRICA(DEVELOPINGONLY)

AMERICAS(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

ASIA
(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

Timor-Leste

Because adults have the power

38%

40%

34%

47%

27%

43%

Because the family needs the money children can earn them

18%

19%

13%

23%

18%

16%

Punishment

35%

32%

43%

36%

34%

26%

Because adults can be cruel

27%

26%

31%

31%

25%

18%

Because it is the child’s fault

30%

35%

15%

40%

18%

47%

Because adults don’t value children enough

29%

29%

27%

28%

33%

26%

Why do you think adults
mistreat children?

11

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

Why do you think adults
mistreat children?

Globally, 38% of kids think adults mistreat children
because they have the power. This number ranges
from 81% of children in Sierra Leone to only 7% ofchildren in Ecuador.
In the developed world, 43% of children think adults
mistreat children as a form of punishment. Many
children in the developed world (43%) believe adults
mistreat children because they were victims of abuse
themselves. This number is highest in France(66%) and Sweden (63%).
Sadly, many said mistreatment is the child’s fault,
with 35% in developing countries and 15% indeveloped providing this response. The numbers
are highest in The Philippines (69%), Vietnam (63%)
and Ghana (61%). The lowest responses are from
Denmark (2%) and Spain (4%).
Only 4% of respondents blamed alcohol for adults’
abuse, with less than half of the participating countries
including this option in the survey. However, 70% of
respondents in Australia responded with this answer,
followed by Ireland at 25%.
Almost a third of children globally feel adults don’tvalue children enough. This is reported most in Bolivia
and El Salvador at 49%; Liberia, Brazil and France comein at 47% each. This response is lowest in Guinea at 3%
and Afghanistan at 1%.

TERESA, 12

12

A Global Survey of Children

HELEN, 10 (LEFT), WITH HER FRIEND

HELEN, 10, is fromEl Salvador where nearly
20% of children surveyed
want more abuse cases
reported.
.....................................
TERESA, 12, is from
Mexico where 30% ofchildren said adults don’tvalue children enough.

“I think sometimes parents don’tvalue children’s efforts enough,like when they clean the houseand try to make it look nice andtheir mom would tell them they
did it wrong; they will feel sad anddisappointed.”
Teresa, 12, Mexico

13

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

What can children do to
keep their peers of the
opposite sex safe
from harm?

RONNY, 12

The answer on how to protect a child of
the opposite sex is simple: 43% of children
globally would take action. This includes
notifying an adult, telling the abuser to stop,
calling the police, running for help or callinga helpline.
With respect to discouraging bad behaviour,the numbers are highest in Mexico (36%),
Bangladesh (35%) and Vietnam (32%).
Children least likely to discourage badbehaviour are from France and Denmark (2%)
as well as Canada (3%).
Only 15% of children globally said they would
tell an adult/teacher/caregiver to keep a childof the opposite gender safe from harm.
This number drops to zero in Guinea andSierra Leone; the highest response is in
Cambodia at 55%.
Another popular response to keeping children
safe is to stand up and protect them. Globally,
14% of children provided this response, with
the numbers being highest in Indonesia (51%),
followed by Australia (35%) and Vietnam(34%).

14

RONNY, 12, is from
Ecuador where
47% said children
are abused
because theadults were also
victims of abuse.
.....................................
SOPHON, 10, isfrom Cambodia
where 53% ofchildren identify
school as a placeof potential risk
for children.

“It is very
important that all
girls and boys live
free from violence
and that therights of everyone
are respected, sothey can makeour country abetter place in the
future.”Ronny, 12,
EcuadorA Global Survey of Children

SOPHON, 10

ALL
COUNTRIESALL DEVELOPING
COUNTRIESALL DEVELOPEDCOUNTRIESAFRICA(DEVELOPINGONLY)

AMERICAS(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

ASIA
(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

What can children do to keep theirpeers of the opposite sex safe
from harm?
ACTION

43%

39%

56%

24%

45%

55%

Tell someone/an adult/parent/teacher

15%

13%

20%

5%

14%

26%

Protect them/help them/stand up for them

14%

12%

20%

4%

17%

19%

Call the police/report it

11%

11%

13%

10%

14%

9%

Scold/reprimand the abuser/tell them to stop

4%

4%

4%

3%

4%

5%

Tell community leaders/council/governing body

3%

3%

0%

3%

1%

7%

Shout out/yell for help/run to get help

2%

1%

4%

0%

0%

2%

Supervise/monitor/keep an eye on them

1%

1%

3%

0%

1%

1%

COMMUNICATION/SUPPORT

34%

38%

22%

41%

39%

31%

Discourage violence/bad behaviour/encourage/

15%

17%

6%

13%

19%

22%

7%

9%

1%

15%

7%

2%

Talk to them/give them support

6%

6%

7%

4%

9%

4%

Be nice/kind/friendly/comforting

3%

1%

7%

1%

1%

2%

Tell parents/adults to take care of/love children

2%

3%

1%

3%

4%

1%

exemplify good behaviour
Treat them with respect/encourage them to respect
others/obey authority/parents

15

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015
SREYLEAB, 10, WITH HER FRIENDS

Globally, only 11% of respondents said theywould call police to protect children. In
South Korea, this number jumps to 50%.
In developing countries, 15% of
respondents said children should recognize
and avoid dangerous situations, places
and people. Only 4% of children in thedeveloped world share that opinion. This
response was highest from children in
Uganda at 38%.

SREYLEAB, 10, isfrom Cambodia
where 55% ofchildren would tellan adult if they saw
another child being
harmed.
.....................................
NESTOR, 11, is from
Bolivia where 23%of children would
call the police
to protect otherchildrenfrom harm.

“When I see bad
persons abuse boys,
I’ll get the neighbours
who I trust or call police
for help. I will get help
from neighbours first,
because they are easy
to approach and cancome to stop abusers
immediately. Police
are important and canarrest bad people.”
Sreyleab, 10,Cambodia16

A Global Survey of Children

ASIA(DEVELOPINGONLY)

AMERICAS(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

AFRICA(DEVELOPINGONLY)

ALL DEVELOPEDCOUNTRIESALL DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES

What can children do to keep theirpeers of the opposite sex safe
from harm? (continued)

ALL
COUNTRIESNESTOR, 11

SAFETY

23%

25%

18%

29%

24%

19%

Recognize/avoid dangerous situations/places/people

12%

15%

4%

20%

12%

10%

Don’t leave them alone/don’t let them go to places alone

6%

6%

8%

5%

6%

5%

Avoid/don’t talk to strangers

2%

2%

1%

1%

2%

2%

Stay away from drugs/alcohol/smoking

1%

2%

0%

2%

1%

2%

Provide safe houses/zones/housing for people

1%

1%

1%

1%

2%

1%

Self-defence tactics/products/teach them self-defence

1%

1%

1%

0%

1%

1%

SCHOOLS/EDUCATION

7%

8%

1%

14%

3%

5%

Get children to go to school/finish their education

5%

6%

1%

11%

1%

3%

Teach them/go to school/become a teacher

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

LAWS/RULES

4%

5%

2%

5%

5%

3%

Punish the abuser/send them to prison

2%

2%

1%

2%

2%

2%

Children have rights/defend/inform people about children’s rights

1%

1%

0%

2%

1%

0%

Pass/strengthen laws/enforce laws

1%

1%

0%

2%

1%

0%

MISCELLANEOUS

6%

7%

3%

8%

6%

5%

Raise social awareness/make people aware

2%

3%

1%

3%

3%

3%

1%

1%

0%

1%

1%

0%

who have been abusedof violence/abuse issues
Provide for basic needs/food/clothing/shelter for the homeless17

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

What can children do to keep
their peers of the same sex
safe from harm?

Globally, the highest response is
to take action, demonstrating thatchildren, regardless of gender,
believe it is important to takepractical, immediate steps to keep
other children safe from harm.
Within developing countries, thetop answer is to recognize or avoid
dangerous situations (16%) withthe highest response coming from
Liberia (47%).
Respondents in Indonesia (41%)
were most likely to say children
should stand up and protect theirpeers, followed by Vietnam andSweden (both 34%).

18

DARWIN, 12

DARWIN, 12, is from Ecuador
where 18% would call thepolice to keep children
safe from harm.

...................................................................

A Global Survey of Children

SHARMIN, 11, is from
Bangladesh where
17% of children believe
education and goingto school are importantfactors in keeping
children safe.
“I think girls and boys
may be at risk from harm,such as being physicallyand emotionally abusedor mistreated at home,
at school, walking placeson the road and online.
In our residential area, I
often observe children
growing up without thecare of parents.”...........................................................

AMBER, 10, is from
Dominica where 51%
would adopt safetymeasures to keep
children safe, such as
avoiding dangerous
places and not leaving
children on their own.

SHARMIN, 11

AMBER , 10

19

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

WATSON, 11, is from Zambia
where 27% would call thepolice to keep children safe.
.....................................
SARWITRI, 11, is fromIndonesia where one-thirdof children (33%) believe
adults mistreat children
because they do notvalue them enough.
“Adults think children
are younger than them,so they wouldn’t understandwhat the adults want.”.........................................

WATSON, 11

SARWITRI, 11

20

ALL DEVELOPEDCOUNTRIESAFRICA(DEVELOPINGONLY)

AMERICAS(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

ASIA
(DEVELOPINGONLY)

ACTION

42%

37%

57%

21%

42%

55%

Tell someone/an adult/parent/teacher

16%

14%

22%

5%

18%

24%

Protect them/help them/stand up for them

12%

10%

21%

3%

12%

19%

Call the police/report it

11%

11%

14%

10%

13%

10%

Scold/reprimand the abuser/tell them to stop

2%

2%

3%

1%

1%

3%

Tell community leaders/council/governing body

2%

2%

0%

1%

1%

5%

COMMUNICATION/SUPPORT

34%

37%

23%

44%

35%

30%

Discourage violence/bad behaviour/encourage/

12%

15%

3%

14%

16%

17%

8%

10%

1%

17%

6%

2%

Talk to them/give them support

7%

6%

10%

4%

9%

5%

Be nice/kind/friendly/comforting

4%

2%

8%

1%

3%

4%

SAFETY

25%

26%

20%

29%

28%

20%

Recognize/avoid dangerous situations/places/people

14%

16%

6%

21%

14%

11%

Don’t leave them alone/don’t let them go places alone

8%

7%

10%

6%

10%

6%

Avoid/don’t talk to strangers

2%

2%

1%

2%

3%

2%

SCHOOL/EDUCATION

7%

9%

1%

14%

4%

6%

Get children to go to school/finish their education

5%

6%

0%

11%

2%

4%

Teach them/go to school/become a teacher

1%

2%

1%

2%

2%

1%

LAWS/RULES

3%

3%

1%

5%

4%

1%

Punish the abuser/send them to prison

1%

1%

1%

2%

2%

1%

Children have rights/defend/inform people

1%

1%

0%

2%

1%

0%

Pass/strengthen/enforce laws

0%

1%

0%

1%

0%

0%

MISCELLANEOUS

4%

5%

2%

5%

6%

3%

Raise social awareness/make people aware

2%

2%

1%

2%

2%

1%

What can children do to keep theirpeers of the same sex
safe from harm?

ALL
COUNTRIESALL DEVELOPING
COUNTRIESA Global Survey of Children

exemplify good behaviour
Treat them with respect/encourage them to respect
others/obey authority/parents

about children’s rights

of violence/abuse issues

21

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

If you were the leaderof your country andcould do one thing tokeep children safe from
mistreatment, what
would it be?
Almost half (42%) of children globally would
introduce more rules and laws to protect
children and punish offenders, if they wereleaders of their country.
When asked how they would help keep children
safe, 24% of children globally said increasing
punishment and jail time for abusers was thebest way to keep children safe. This number
is highest in Zambia (62%), followed by Spain(49%). This reinforces the need for laws toprotect children.
The support for passing, strengthening or
enforcing laws was registered by 20% ofchildren in developing countries comparedwith 12% of children in developed nations.
The highest call for laws was in Togo (46%),
followed by Ghana (44%) and Sierra Leone(41%).
Defending children’s rights was identified as
an issue by 4% of children globally, with thehighest number coming from Cambodia at
20% and Sierra Leone at 17%.
The idea of providing basic needs for thehomeless was a suggestion from 4% ofchildren globally, including 20% in Kenya
and 16% in Timor-Leste.
22

A GLOBAL SURVEY OF CHILDRENSIAKA, 12, is from
Mali where 20%of those surveyed
believe adults
mistreat children
because it is thechild’s fault.

SIAKA, 12“If I were a leader of
my country, I would
sensitize adults who
mistreat children.”............................................

BAITI, 12, is fromIndonesia where
21% of children said
the most important
thing adults can do
to keep children safe
is to report cases ofharm to authorities.
............................................

BAITI, 1223

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

MAXIMUS, 11

MAXIMUS, 11, isfrom Canada where
three-quarters(77%) of survey
respondents saychildren are at risk ofharm when walking
outside alone.
.....................................
DJENEBOU, 12, isfrom Mali where
one in five (21%)
believe encouraging
children to go toschool would help
keep them safe fromharm.
.....................................

DJENEBOU, 12

24

ALL DEVELOPEDCOUNTRIESAFRICA(DEVELOPINGONLY)

AMERICAS(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

ASIA
(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

LAWS/RULES

42%

42%

42%

46%

42%

37%

Punish the abuser/send them to prison

24%

22%

28%

24%

23%

18%

Pass/strengthen laws/enforce laws

18%

20%

12%

22%

21%

16%

Children have rights/defend/inform people about children’s rights 4%

5%

1%

7%

3%

5%

SCHOOL/EDUCATION

18%

22%

6%

25%

12%

28%

Teach them/go to school/become a teacher

7%

8%

4%

8%

6%

12%

Get children to go to school/finish their education

5%

7%

1%

8%

3%

10%

Build schools/training centres/improve/modernize facilities

4%

5%

1%

6%

2%

4%

Free education/school supplies/after-school programs

2%

3%

0%

4%

1%

3%

SAFETY

16%

14%

22%

9%

24%

11%

Provide safe houses/zones/housing for people

5%

5%

6%

4%

9%

3%

More police/security personnel/increase police presence

5%

5%

6%

2%

9%

5%

Recognize/avoid dangerous situations/places/people

1%

1%

1%

1%

2%

1%

COMMUNICATION/SUPPORT

15%

16%

11%

12%

19%

20%

Discourage violence/bad behaviour/

7%

8%

2%

6%

9%

11%

Talk to them/give them support

2%

2%

4%

1%

4%

1%

Tell parents/adults to take care of/love children

2%

2%

0%

2%

2%

3%

Treat them with respect/encourage them to respect

1%

1%

1%

1%

2%

1%

Be nice/kind/friendly/comforting

1%

1%

1%

0%

1%

1%

ACTION

10%

10%

11%

8%

13%

11%

Protect them/help them/stand up for them

6%

6%

3%

5%

7%

8%

Supervise/monitor/keep an eye on them

1%

1%

3%

0%

1%

0%

Call the police/report it

1%

1%

1%

1%

2%

1%

Tell someone/an adult/parent/teacher

1%

1%

2%

0%

1%

1%

Take care of them/make sure they’re alright

1%

1%

0%

1%

1%

0%

MISCELLANEOUS

16%

18%

10%

18%

19%

17%

Provide for basic needs/food/clothing/shelter for the homeless

4%

5%

2%

5%

6%

5%

Raise social awareness/make people aware of

3%

4%

1%

4%

5%

4%

Financial assistance/money/help the poor out of poverty

2%

3%

1%

3%

3%

2%

Build playgrounds/recreation centres

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

ALL
COUNTRIES

If you were the leader of your country andcould do one thing to keep children safe
from mistreatment, what would it be?

ALL DEVELOPING
COUNTRIESA Global Survey of Children

who have been abusedencourage/exemplify good behaviour

others/obey authority/parents

violence/abuse issues

25Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

What is the most important
thing adults, especially parents
or other caregivers, could do to
keep children safer from being
mistreated?

The international study found that more than one-quarterof the those surveyed worldwide think adults can keep
children safe by loving them more — a basic need that
adults have the responsibility to meet. This figure rises toalmost one in three children (31%) in developing countries,
with the highest numbers in Cambodia (59%), Afghanistan(46%), Indonesia (45%) and Senegal (43%).

MARIAMA, 10

Children in developed countries (30%) say the main
way adults can help keep children safe is to listen towhat they have to say.
This was a strong message from children in thedeveloped countries of Ireland (41%), Sweden (40%),
Canada (33%) and the USA (32%). Meanwhile, 33%
of respondents in Sierra Leone, Bolivia and Honduras
gave the same message.
Globally, 13% of respondents believe adults should
educate others about why children need to be treated well.
This number is highest in Ethiopia (28%), Zambia (28%)
and South Korea (24%).
Another 11% of children in developing countries and 19%
of children in developed countries stress the importance ofreporting cases of harm against children. This response ishighest in Denmark (31%), Spain (26%) and Kenya (25%).

26

MARIAMA, 10,
is from Guinea
where 20% of
those surveyed
say education
for adults on
why children
deserve to betreated wellwould keep
children safer.
.................................

A Global Survey of Children

JARED, 12, WITH HIS SISTERJARED, 12, is from
Nicaragua where 26%of children say theywould stand up andprotect other children
from harm.
.....................................
NOELIA, 12,
is from Bolivia where
one-third (33%) ofchildren surveyed
think adults need tolisten to what children
have to say.
....................................

NOELIA, 12

27

A Global Survey of Children
DEQUAN, 10

DEQUAN, 10,
is from St. Vincent where
nearly one in three children(32%) surveyed say theparents can keep children
safe by loving them more.
............................................

ALL
COUNTRIESALL DEVELOPING
COUNTRIESALL DEVELOPEDCOUNTRIESAFRICA(DEVELOPINGONLY)

AMERICAS(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

ASIA
(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

What is the most important thing
adults—especially parents or othercaregivers—could do to keep children
safe from being mistreated?

Love children more

26%

31%

9%

27%

27%

41%

Listen to what children have to say

20%

18%

30%

14%

26%

13%

Report cases of harm against children to local authorities

13%

11%

19%

13%

11%

9%

11%

10%

14%

13%

10%

5%

Punish people who hurt children

10%

9%

13%

11%

9%

6%

Educate other adults about why children

13%

13%

12%

14%

15%

10%

(police/school/local community groups/religious groups)
Make stronger laws to protect children’s rights,
including jail sentences

deserve to be treated well28

A Global Survey of Children

RESPONDENTS BY AGE & GENDER
ALL
COUNTRIES		ALL
DEVELOPING
COUNTRIESALL
DEVELOPED
COUNTRIESAFRICA(DEVELOPINGONLY)

AMERICAS(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

ASIA
(DEVELOPING
ONLY)

Male

47%

49%

43%

47%

50%

51%

Female

53%

51%

57%

53%

50%

49%

Children aged 10 years

29%

29%

31%

25%

31%

33%

Children aged 11 years

31%

31%

30%

26%

38%

31%

Children aged 12 years

40%

40%

39%

49%

31%

36%

Total responses*

5,805

3,773

2,032

1,474

1,181

1,118

DEVELOPED COUNTRIESAFRICA: DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ONLY
TOTAL

% OF

RESPONSES

TOTAL

Benin

104

2%

2%

Burkina Faso

116

2%

177

2%

Ethiopia100

2%France

47

2%

Ghana

108

2%

Ireland102

2%

Guinea105

2%Japan*

126

-

Kenya

100

2%

Korea

101

2%

Liberia100

2%

New Zealand

661

2%

Mali

124

2%

Spain

103

2%

Senegal102

2%

Sweden102

2%

Sierra Leone

75

2%

USA

103

2%

The Gambia

100

2%

Togo

134

2%

Uganda103

2%

Zambia

103

2%

TOTAL
RESPONSES

% OF
TOTAL

Australia

231

2%

Canada405

Denmark

ASIA: DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ONLYTOTALRESPONSES

% OF
TOTAL

AMERICAS: DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ONLYTOTALRESPONSES

% OF
TOTAL

Bolivia

102

2%

2%

Brazil

106

2%

42

2%

Dominica & St. Vincent

103

2%

Sri Lanka

114

2%

Ecuador

129

2%

Timor-Leste

106

2%

El Salvador

102

2%

Vietnam

137

2%

Guatemala69

2%

Honduras

101

2%

Mexico102

2%

Nicaragua266

2%Paraguay101

2%

Afghanistan

104

2%

Bangladesh

103

2%

Cambodia

124

2%

India

227

2%

Indonesia

111

Philippines* Japan’s data is not reflected in the total respondents.
A total of 126 children participated in the study.
The percentages presented on this page areweighted to provide an equal voice to all
children who participated in the study.

29

Small Voices, Big Dreams 2015

Methodology

The Small Voices, Big Dreams survey was undertakenby the ChildFund Alliance in May 2015. In mostcountries, ChildFund staff conducted one-on-one
interviews with children in their local language. In somecountries, children completed an online survey.
All non-English responses were translated by ChildFund.
While every effort has been made to preserve theauthenticity of the children’s quotes presented inthis report, some minor editing may have occurred intranslation.
The survey was conducted in 44 countries with children
aged 10- to 12-years-old. This included 33 developing
nations in Africa, Asia and the Americas as well as 11
developed countries. A total of 5,805* children weresurveyed – 3,773 children in developing countries and2,032 children in developed nations.
Three of the six questions were open-ended, meaning
the children were not given a list of answers to choose
from. The remaining questions provided children withmultiple choice responses. All translated responses were
provided to GfK Roper for analysis.
The percentages presented on page 29 are weighted toprovide an equal voice to all children who participatedin the study.

* See page 29.

30

We all havean obligation
to keep children#FreeFromViolence.

VISIT
SMALLVOICESBIGDREAMS.ORG
TO LEARN MORE