A/67/230 received 21 additional ratifications; 3 it is currently in force in 158 States. At least 23 other States made formal commitments to ratify the latter Optional Protocol in the framework of the universal periodic review process of the Human Rights Council, the Committee on the Rights of the Child or other human rights mechanisms. Of the 35 States not yet parties to the Optional Protocol, 50 per cent have ratified the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women, and 75 per cent International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labour, which address similar areas of concern. 8. The goal of universal ratification was also incorporated in the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons (General Assembly resolution 64/293, annex) and the Roadmap for Achieving the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2016, 4 and widely endorsed by regional organizations, Member States, ombudspersons for children and civil society organizations. The Council of Europe launched a campaign to stop sexual violence against children, featuring the ratification of the Optional Protocol as a core component. 9. The normative foundation of the protection of children from violence was further strengthened by other developments supported by the Special Representative, including the adoption of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure, ILO Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers, and the United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems. She also contributed to the general comment of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the right of the child to freedom from all forms of violence. B. Enhancing awareness and consolidating knowledge 10. To gain deeper understanding of the root causes and risk factors of violence, and to identify positive experience and strategic recommendations in order to assist Governments in their national implementation efforts, the Special Representative organized seven expert consultations on priority topics and developed special reports and communication materials to support advocacy and to enhance political action and social support for the prevention and elimination of violence against children. 11. In the preceding years, the Special Representative held three expert consultations: on child-sensitive counselling, complaint and reporting mechanisms in relation to incidents of violence; on children’s legal protection from violence; and on the promotion of safe and violence-free schools. The conclusions and recommendations of those consultations (see A/66/277, A/HRC/19/64 and A/HRC/16/56) remain strongly relevant for the work ahead. 12. As detailed below, in 2012 the Special Representative organized three additional consultations: on the protection of children from harmful practices; on the prevention of and responses to violence against children within the juvenile justice system; and on the consolidation of data and research to inform policy and action against violence. In September 2012, a fourth consultation is scheduled, on the prevention of violence in early childhood. __________________ 3 4 12-45164 As of 31 July 2012. Outcome document of the Global Child Labour Conference 2010, held at The Hague. 5