A/66/227 27. First, law reform on violence against children is an essential component of a robust national child protection system. For that reason, it needs to be supported by well-coordinated and well-resourced services and institutions, and pursued through a holistic approach. This involves addressing the root causes of violence; prohibiting and deterring incidents of violence; safeguarding the rights of all children, including those at greater risk; providing redress and reintegration; and fighting impunity. The establishment by law of accessible, child-sensitive and safe counselling, reporting and complaint mechanisms to address incidents of violence is a crucial dimension of this process. 28. Second, law reform is an ongoing process and cannot be reduced to isolated or fragmented actions. It requires consistent efforts to ensure harmonization with international standards and implement political commitments undertaken in this area; to fill gaps in implementation; and to address emerging concerns, such as those arising from the use of new technologies. Where deeply rooted social conventions condone the use of violence as a child-rearing practice or a necessary form of discipline, it is critical to promote a sustained process of advocacy, education, law enactment and enforcement, and evaluation. 29. Third, legislation to protect children from violence is by nature complex and wide-ranging. It requires a comprehensive and explicit legal ban to convey an unequivocal message that children’s right to freedom from violence must be safeguarded everywhere and at all times. Through constitutional reform or the introduction of new provisions in family and criminal codes and in child protection and domestic violence legislation, this process is gaining ground in an increasing number of States. 30. Legal prohibition must also be supported by detailed provisions in specific pieces of legislation, both to address distinct forms of violence, such as sexual abuse and exploitation, trafficking or harmful traditional practices, and to tackle violence in specific settings, including schools, care and justice institutions and the home. It is critical that enabling laws and regulations be developed in relevant legal fields to give full meaning to the prohibition and deter incidents of violence, to protect the children concerned, to ensure appropriate support for the process of enforcement and to fight impunity. 31. These two approaches, comprehensive and specific, are therefore needed and are indeed mutually supportive. 32. Fourth, law reform initiatives have been particularly successful when promoted through an inclusive and participatory process, with the involvement of key stakeholders including governmental departments, parliamentarians, independent national institutions for children’s rights and key actors in civil society, including professional groups, local authorities and religious leaders, as well as young people themselves. 33. Moreover, law enforcement has been more effective when such initiatives have been supported with social mobilization initiatives and awareness-raising campaigns (both for the public in general and for children and their families in particular) and supported by the development of ethical standards, capacity-building activities and concrete guidance for professionals and institutions working for and with children. For this reason, law reform initiatives should include a clear plan of 8 11-44118