Governments that promote child rights, consider the best interest of children and youth when enacting policies and services, and foster meaningful child and youth engagement help ensure that young people are able to reach their full potential in supportive environments and that they become active, engaged citizens.

Local governments, rather than provincial or federal governments, most directly influence the daily lives of children, youth and families. Local government structures vary across the country; they include municipal, regional and other forms of local governance such as, school boards and parks boards, as well as the many other bodies that manage specific services. The policy and planning decisions that local governments make profoundly impact whether or not a community is child and youth friendly.

In addition, since young people under 18 cannot influence government through the voting process, it is vital that they have input in other ways. Child and youth friendly communities ensure that local government bodies advocate on behalf of and have mechanisms in place to hear and consider young people’s views, not just on child and youth issues but also on other community issues that affect them.