This article examines the potential of UNICEF’s Child Friendly City (CFC) initiative to improve the lives of children and young people. Based on an analysis of the priorities and plans of three CFCs in the USA (Houston), England (London) and France (Lyon), and drawing on Fraser’s analytical framework, the article examines their capacity to address injustices.  We find that CFCs tend to privilege ‘voice’ rather than resources or respect and argues that this will limit their potential to address injustices facing children and young people in urban areas. It concludes by discussing how participatory parity might be improved.