A/66/227 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 2 August 2011 Original: English Sixty-sixth session Item 65 (a) of the provisional agenda* Promotion and protection of the rights of children Annual report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children Summary This second annual report of the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral on Violence against Children is submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with its resolution 65/197. It is guided by the report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children (A/61/299) and builds upon the vision and the priority areas identified by the Special Representative in her initial report (A/65/292). The present report complements the annual report of the Special Representative to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/16/54) and reviews key developments and initiatives promoted to advance progress in the follow-up to the study at the global, regional and national levels, institutionalize regional governance structures and strengthen strategic alliances to speed up global progress towards a world free from violence. To further accelerate progress, the report identifies areas to which the Special Representative will devote special attention in the forthcoming period: (a) promoting the universal ratification of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child; (b) further consolidating regional governance structures on violence against children; (c) continuing the series of expert consultations on violence-related topics; and (d) conducting a global survey to assess progress and inform further action in the area of preventing and responding to violence. * A/66/150. 11-44118 (E) 220811 *1144118*

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