A/67/230 safeguard of the best interests of the child, including their promotion in the name of honour or tradition; in this regard, the intent to cause harm is not a prerequisite for the definition of violence. (c) Law reform is a long-term and ongoing process, necessary to recognize and safeguard children’s rights, to fill protection gaps and address emerging practices and manifestations of violence; it needs to be supported by prevention and implementation efforts, including birth registration, awareness-raising, education and training, and mobilization of communities, including religious and local leaders and children, to promote dialogue and positive cultural values, enhance understanding about the detrimental impact of certain practices and support commitment by those concerned to the lasting abandonment of harmful attitudes and behaviour. (d) Sound data collection and analysis, and cross-country and cross-regional sharing of good practices in legislation and implementation are needed to gain a deeper understanding of, and help to address, the complex dimensions associated with social conventions, beliefs and practices, as well as to inform legislative, administrative, educational, social and other measures to promote the sustained abandonment of harmful practices against children. 3. Building knowledge for change 21. Sound research and reliable, objective and disaggregated child-related data are indispensable to understand the environment within which children grow and develop, to assess the risk or impact of violence on their development and to prevent its occurrence. This is an area where there are many gaps. Although there is recognition of the need to build upon a broad definition of violence, including its various manifestations, physical, psychological and sexual, there is no standard categorization of its different forms. Owing to the absence of internationally agreed methodologies for data collection, different standards and practices have been followed, including for ensuring the protection of respondents and interviewers and follow-up support to victims. 22. There is limited evidence concerning the extent, impact and risks of violence, and the underlying social norms and attitudes that perpetuate its existence. Too often, data collected are not analysed, disseminated or used to shape policy and implement action, and insights into what works in the areas of prevention and response fail to be taken into consideration when decisions are being taken and resource allocations considered. 23. At the same time, there are promising developments. The release of the Study paved the way to the development of significant national surveys addressing the magnitude and consequences of violence, and attitudes and behaviour in relation to that phenomenon. 24. To draw on this growing body of knowledge and experience, in June 2012 the Special Representative joined with the Government of Sweden in the organization of an expert consultation on strengthening data and research to protect children from violence. The consultation, held in Sweden, provided a strategic platform for learning from and building upon initiatives promoted by a wide range of partners, including Governments, United Nations agencies, academics, children’s rights 8 12-45164