A/66/227 (b) The introduction of an explicit legal ban on all forms of violence against children, in all settings; (c) The consolidation of a national system for data collection, analysis and dissemination, and a research agenda on violence against children. 6. Promising national progress has been achieved in these areas. The Special Representative has pursued these priority objectives through a process of regional engagement with intergovernmental organizations and political groupings, the convening of expert consultations on strategic dimensions of the agenda aimed at combating violence against children, and the development of thematic reports in support of advocacy, policy and legal reform, 3 as well as through 37 country missions in all regions. II. Consolidating progress on the strategic agenda for the implementation of the United Nations study 7. During the first year of the Special Representative’s mandate, in order to consolidate change in the aforementioned priority areas, particular attention was given to the revitalization of networks involved in the development of the study, the promotion of new alliances and further consolidation of strategic partnerships and, in particular, the institutionalization of regional governance structures related to violence against children. Those efforts have been critical in promoting the mainstreaming of the issue of the freedom of children from violence into the policy agenda at the international, regional and national levels. 8. The second year of the mandate was a key period in which to rally firm support for efforts to address persisting challenges and to accelerate global progress towards a world free from violence. In support of that process, the Special Representative organized, with key partners, three expert consultations on critical areas of concern, namely, child-sensitive mechanisms for addressing incidents of violence, law reform to ensure the protection of children, and strategies for preventing and addressing violence in schools. The main conclusions and recommendations resulting from those meetings are presented below. 9. The Special Representative is also preparing the publication of thematic reports and advocacy tools on these subjects, to assist governments and other stakeholders in ensuring the protection of children from violence. Materials will be developed especially for children, including on child-sensitive mechanisms for responding to incidents of violence. 10. As part of her advocacy and communication strategy, the Special Representative established a website (http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org) to disseminate information about significant developments related to the protection of children from violence. The website is also a platform for networking among key partners and includes social media tools and a Children’s Corner with child-friendly materials. __________________ 3 4 See the joint report of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Special Representative on Violence against Children on child-sensitive counselling, reporting and complaint mechanisms, submitted to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/16/56); two other joint reports, on law reform and violence in schools, are forthcoming. 11-44118