A/70/289 proven strategies for the prevention of violence against children, the ethical case for urgent action becomes overwhelming. 47. Emphasizing that freedom from fear and violence is essential for sustainable development, the intergovernmental process on the post-2015 development agenda has recognized violence against children as a priority concern. The agreed targets on ending violence against children are achievable and measurable, and relevant to all countries. The decisive voice and influence of, and implementation by, Member States are now crucial to ensure that they are reached. 48. Robust indicators will be needed on the prevalence and severity of children’s exposure to sexual, physical and emotional violence in order to measure progress towards the adopted targets. In that regard, the Special Representative will continue to advocate for strengthened national statistical capacities and for sound monitoring methodologies and tools to capture and address the magnitude and incidence of violence. 49. With the adoption of the new development agenda, the world needs to move towards implementation, putting in place the most effective strategies to reach the new targets on violence against children, securing sound resources and a transparent process for monitoring progress. There is already much to build on. As outlined in the present report, an increasing number of States now have legisl ative frameworks prohibiting violence against children, along with national plans of action on prevention and response, and mechanisms to collect and analyse data for planning and monitoring. That remarkable progress needs to be further consolidated until all countries have in place a comprehensive framework for the elimination of violence against children. 50. A global partnership to end violence against children to mobilize wide support and greater funding will give a powerful impetus towards that goal. The Special Representative has strongly supported efforts to establish a global partnership and will continue to foster that important initiative. V. Protecting children affected by armed violence in the community 51. As highlighted by the United Nations study on violence against children, no community is free from violence. However, the risk of encountering violence, both against, as well as by, children, is much higher in some communities than in others. In some settings, especially those where weapons are in wide circulation, violence has today assumed frightening proportions. That topic remains a priority for the mandate of the Special Representative. 52. Armed violence in communities is a complex global phenomenon. It is often associated with organized crime, with non-State actors using threats and terror to control communities. It may be aggravated by climate change, natural disasters and environmental degradation, all of which intensify conflicts over access to natural resources and encourage mass migration to the cities and across borders. Explosive urban growth and the deterioration of urban areas can generate “no -go zones” with little or no State presence. All those processes facilitate the expansion of transnational organized crime, while the increasing globalization of illegal markets helps unlawful groups to control criminal activities. That undermines governance 14/25 15-13244