A/68/274 II. Consolidating progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations study on violence against children 4. This report reviews major developments in sustaining and scaling up efforts to protect children from violence. It builds upon the progress made in implementation of the recommendations of the study and takes into account the global survey on violence against children, conducted by the Special Representative in collaboration with a wide range of partners. The preliminary results of the global survey were highlighted in the 2012 Special Representative’s report to the General Assembly (A/67/230, paras. 50-99) and are addressed in greater detail in a separate publication. 5. The findings indicate a promising process of change. There is ever-growing ratification of treaties on children’s protection; violence against children is gaining visibility in national agendas, with increasing legislative action, policy interventions and information campaigns to safeguard children’s freedom from violence; and promising initiatives help to capture the magnitude and incidence of this phenomenon and its impact on children’s daily lives and enhance participation of children in advocacy and decision-making processes. 6. At the same time, progress remains uneven and more vigorous efforts are needed to develop a national cohesive and well-resourced strategy on violence against children; to promote coordinated policy interventions and overcome the dispersion and poor enforcement of pieces of legislation; to consolidate data and research; and enhance investment in family support, capacity-building of professionals and safe and child-sensitive mechanisms. 7. The urgency of protecting children from violence has clearly not diminished. Indeed, the magnitude and impact of this phenomenon remain high level and deeply distressing. For countless children, life is defined by one word: fear. In their early years and throughout adolescence, children endure violent disciplinary practices in schools, in care and justice institutions and within the home. Armed and community violence undermines their daily life and development; millions of children experience violence in work settings, including domestic work; trafficking is on the increase; in some countries, inhuman sentencing is still imposed on boys and girls; and harmful practices persist, with long-lasting consequences for children’s rights. 8. Violence and deprivation are strongly interconnected and pave the way towards high risk of poor health, poor school performance and long-term welfare dependency. But beyond the cost to each individual victim, violence has serious costs for households, communities and national economies. 9. As noted in paragraph 91 of the report to the Secretary-General on the United Nations System Task Team on the Post-2015 United Nations Development Agenda, entitled “Realizing the future we want for all”: 1 The prevention and reduction of all forms of violence and abuse — and protection against their specific manifestations, including trafficking in human beings, torture, organized crime, the press-ganging of children, drug-related criminality, sexual abuse and labour exploitation — should be at the heart of any agenda which fully recognizes the centrality of human security, both as a human rights imperative and as integral to development. __________________ 1 13-41970 Available from http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/Post_2015_UNTTreport.pdf. 3/26