A/69/264 126. To advance implementation of the law, professionals working with and for children, including teachers and law enforcement officials, should benefit from capacity-building initiatives to gain skills and expertise to support children’s digital literacy, to alert children to online risks they may face, to identify early signals of abuse and required steps to address them in an ethical and child-sensitive manner. 127. Similarly, it is vital to promote awareness and give children, parents and caregivers the skills to enable them to seek opportunities and prevent and manage harm associated with ICTs. Balancing children’s empowerment and protection is critical, and strategies to reduce risks should not hamper children’s online opportunities or their learning to cope with risks. 128. Data and research are also of essence. Over the past years, significant s tudies have been conducted on children’s online safety and risks. But in this fast -changing area, sound evidence is needed to inform law, policy and actions; it is crucial to gain deeper understanding of children’s evolving skills, practices and concerns; and knowledge gaps need to be addressed. Indeed, studies have often focused on problems and concerns, but less on online opportunities and the long -term consequences of risks. Similarly, few studies have been conducted in countries in the South and less is known about how very young children engage with ICTs. These are areas where change has been fastest and where the need to minimize risks is particularly felt. IV. Looking ahead 129. Over the past year, the Special Representative pursued her global advocacy work with strategic partners within and beyond the United Nations system, acting as a bridge-builder and a catalyst for action across regions, sectors and settings where violence against children may occur, and promoting the protection of children from violence as a human rights imperative. 130. The present report presents an overview of the strategic initiatives that the Special Representative developed to advance progress in the implementation of the study recommendations. These initiatives have helped to further consolidate cross-regional commitments to children’s protection from violence and strengthen national advocacy, legal and policy action aimed at the prevention and elimination of violence. 131. The Special Representative will continue to mobilize support to consolidate these important efforts and will address priority areas of concern. They include violence against children as a distinct concern in the global development agenda, prevention of violence in early childhood, and protection of children and adolescents affected by community and armed violence and organized crime. 132. The Special Representative looks forward to pursuing her collaboration with Member States and all other stakeholders in the further strengthening of this agenda and the building of a world free from violence. 14-58801 23/23