A/HRC/16/54 present report, child-led initiatives and networks are also often represented in regional governance structures established for the study follow-up. 75. The West Africa Youth Forum on Violence against Children illustrates the above point well. The Forum held an important meeting in Accra, in September 2010, in which the Special Representative participated. Attended by young people from countries across the region, it provided an excellent platform for sharing experiences, reflecting on critical factors hampering progress and reaffirming a shared commitment to promote change and enhanced collaboration in the prevention and elimination of violence.18 Discussions with children yielded first-hand accounts of their experience and perspectives on violence, as well as information on significant initiatives conducted in the region and on opportunities for enhancing child participation in the follow-up to the United Nations study. 76. Reiterating its determination to “Say no to violence against children”, the Forum made significant recommendations, including on the essential role of education in violence prevention and for the abandonment of cultural practices that help to perpetuate violence; on the need to secure effective legal protection from violence to fight impunity and punish perpetrators; and on the urgency of strong legislation to prohibit all forms of violence and give confidence to children to report incidents of violence whenever they occur. The participants also called on the Special Representative to urge the United Nations and all leaders and Governments to express their commitment to and support for every campaign to end all forms of violence against children. IV. Securing support 77. Securing sound support and predictable funding has been indispensable to promote progress in the present strategic agenda, and remains critical to ensure effective and independent performance of the Special Representative’s mandate. 78. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 62/141, the mandate of the Special Representative is funded from voluntary contributions. In this connection, the Assembly called upon States and institutions concerned, United Nations agencies and entities, regional and civil society organizations and the private sector to provide necessary support, including financial contributions. The Assembly also anticipated the evaluation of the mandate three years after its establishment, including with regard to its funding. 79. UNICEF provides administrative support for the mandate, having established a trust account to receive, hold, administer and disburse financial contributions provided to fund the operation of the Office of the Special Representative, including payment for personnel costs. 80. Initial contributions received by December 2010 have been crucial to relaunch and promote the process of follow-up to the United Nations study, and to secure indispensable office support. Additional funding remains, however, critical to allow the Special Representative to effectively pursue her role as a global, independent advocate for violence prevention and children’s protection from all forms of violence; to advance progress in the priority areas identified in her strategic agenda, including through strategic expert meetings, outreach activities and research initiatives; and to consolidate critical alliances and the further institutionalization of regional governance structures in support of this process. Firm support from strategic partners will be indispensable to achieve these critical goals. 18 18 The Forum was organized by Plan International in collaboration with Save the Children Sweden and with the support of UNICEF, ActionAid, World Vision, ECPAT and War Child Holland. GE.11-11445