A/69/264 progress in related goals addressing poverty eradication, gender equality, maternal health, child mortality, education and HIV/AIDS. 46. This situation can be changed this time around. As noted in its report, the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda stated that “to fulfil our vision of promoting sustainable development, we mu st go beyond the Millennium Development Goals. They did not focus enough on reaching the very poorest and most excluded people. They were silent on the devastating effects of conflict and violence on development.” 13 47. The urgency of addressing violence against children emerged as a strong concern in numerous national, regional and thematic consultations that were held in preparation of the post-2015 development agenda. “My World”, the United Nations global survey for a better world, shows that protection against violence ranks high among all population groups in all regions. This includes thousands of children involved in these consultations who have steadily conveyed a clear message: violence is a major obstacle to child development and well -being and it needs to be brought to an end. 48. This concern has been equally echoed by the important process promoted by the General Assembly Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals. In its proposal to the Assembly, violence against children is given disti nct attention, both as a component of peaceful and inclusive societies, and as a cross -cutting dimension of other goals, including education, gender equality and empowerment and decent work. 49. As this process reflects, there is a wide consensus on the urgency of addressing violence against children. Indeed, freedom from violence is indispensable to sustainable development, to a future in which children can grow up healthy, well nourished, resilient, well-educated, culturally sensitive and effectively protected from neglect, abuse and exploitation. 50. Violence compromises social progress and is often associated with poor rule of law, weak law enforcement, high levels of organized crime and homicide rates, and also with a culture of impunity. For children, violence goes hand in hand with deprivation, with high risks of poor health, poor school performance and long -term welfare dependency. 51. In early childhood, the impact of violence is often irreversible, damaging the development of the brain, compromising children’s physical and mental health, and in serious cases leading to disability and death. As children grow up, the cumulative exposure to various manifestations of violence often becomes a continuum, spilling over from one context to another, spreading across children’s life cycle and persisting across generations. 52. Violence is equally associated with high costs for society. It diverts billions of dollars from social spending, slows economic development and erodes nations ’ human and social capital. In a matter of hours, violence can destroy development gains that took years to achieve. __________________ 13 14-58801 See A New Global Partnership: Eradicate poverty and transform economies through sustainable development, executive summary. 11/23