A/68/274 Box V White paper of the Government of Norway The white paper, developed by the Ministry of Justice in cooperation with the Ministries of Children, Equality and Integration and of Health, provides sound evidence which can inform policy action for preventing and addressing children’s exposure to different and cumulative manifestations of violence: physical and emotional violence, sexual abuse, material and economic violence, and situations where children live in a violent environment. The recommendations, unanimously adopted by the parliament, highlight in particular: the need for better cooperation and coordination between governmental agencies and levels of administration; the consolidation of data and research on children’s exposure to violence, including nationwide surveys every five years and studies on the cost of violence and return of investment in prevention; the enhancement of expertise on violence among support services, including schools and health centres; the strengthening of the network and capacity of children’s houses in addressing violence; and the development of a national strategy on violence and sexual abuse against children for the period 2014-2017. Legal protection of children 84. Significant progress has also been made in legislative processes aiming at the prohibition of violence and at securing children’s protection. A large majority of countries have some form of legislation on violence, either an overall prohibition, or separate pieces of legislation focusing on distinct manifestations. When the study was released, 16 nations had enacted a comprehensive prohibition on violence, including corporal punishment within the home; at present 34 countries have an all-encompassing ban on violence against children, at times enshrined in the constitution itself. This process continues to gain ground. Currently, legislative processes are under way in a number of States with which the Special Representative maintains close cooperation, including Brazil, Peru and the Philippines. These initiatives are expected to widen the number of countries with a comprehensive legal ban on violence, and help strengthen violence prevention and children’s effective protection. 85. Legislative review is a high priority for the Special Representative on her field missions. The visit to Maldives in June 2013 provided a strategic occasion to advocate for the swift completion of legislative reforms under way so as to bring national legislation in conformity with international child rights treaties, especially in the area of juvenile justice, and for the introduction of a comprehensive legal prohibition of violence as a form of sentencing, as well as violence within the home, and in care and justice institutions. 13-41970 21/26