A/71/206 B. Supporting the global study on children deprived of liberty 46. As implementation of the 2030 Agenda starts, countless children are being left behind, including those deprived of their liberty. Children in vulnerable situations, including those who have run away from domestic violence, those who live on the street and those who are victims of trafficking, prostitution, organized crime or conflict situations, are at special risk. Still others may end up in detention as a result of mental health and drug abuse or because of their status as migrants or asylum seekers. 47. Held in closed institutions, psychiatric centres or adult prisons or awaiting trial for long periods of time, these children often lack genuine opportunities to gain access to justice and to challenge the legality of their detention or to benefit from education and vocational training and long-lasting social reintegration. While deprived of liberty, children are at heightened risk of violence, including harassment, sexual abuse and torture. They may also be subjected to violence as a form of discipline, punishment or sentencing. 48. Responding to these serious concerns, the General Assembly, in its resolution 69/157, invited the Secretary-General to commission an in-depth global study on children deprived of liberty including good practices and recommendat ions for action and to submit the conclusions of the study to the Assembly at its seventy second session. In the resolution, it was stated that the study should be funded through voluntary contributions and conducted in close cooperation with relevant United Nations agencies and offices and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including Member States, civil society, academia and children. The study will help to consolidate data and sound evidence to inform policy and law, develop capacity building initiatives for professionals and promote a change to stigmatizing attitudes and behaviour towards children in detention. 49. On 20 November 2015, Universal Children’s Day, the Secretary-General urged Member States and others to support the coalition of Uni ted Nations actors that had come together to assemble resources and expertise to take the study forward. 50. In its resolution 70/137, the General Assembly encouraged Member States, United Nations agencies, funds, programmes and offices, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to support the elaboration of the study. 51. The study is a high priority for the mandate of the Special Representative, and she has facilitated the initial coordination and planning efforts in the lead -up to its development, in partnership with the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral for Children and Armed Conflict, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Committee on the Rights of the Child. To prepare the ground, the Special Representative has spearheaded efforts to establish an institutional framework, including a United Nations inter -agency task force, a civil society forum and a cross-regional academic research network. 52. To mobilize political support and funding for the development of the study and identify strategic opportunities and processes upon which it can build, the Special Representative has consulted with Member States, United Nations entities, treaty bodies and special procedures of the Human Rights Council, civil society 16-12906 11/23