A/HRC/22/55 I. Mandate and strategic priorities 1. The mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children is framed by the United Nations Study on Violence against Children (A/61/299) and its strategic recommendations. The mandate was established by the General Assembly resolution 62/141 and the Special Representative assumed her position in September 2009 (see her preliminary report, A/HRC/13/46). 2. The Special Representative is a high-profile, global independent advocate for the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children, acting as a bridgebuilder and a catalyst for action across sectors and settings where violence against children may occur. She promotes the protection of children from violence as a human rights imperative, making use of mutually supportive strategies, including advocacy; the promotion of international, regional and national consultations to advance progress, identify good practices and promote cross-fertilization of experience; the hosting of expert consultations; the development of thematic studies and information materials; and the organization of field missions. 3. The overall thrust of the Special Representative’s mandate is to accelerate progress in the implementation of the Study recommendations, with a particular emphasis on those with a time-bound target, namely: (a) The development in each State of a national comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to all forms of violence; (b) The introduction of an explicit legal ban on all forms of violence against children, in all settings; (c) The consolidation of a national data system and research agenda on violence against children. In previous reports, the Special Representative reported more fully on these priorities, which are further addressed in chapter III of the present report on the global progress survey on violence against children. 4. In December 2012, the General Assembly, in its resolution 67/152, recommended that the Secretary-General extend the mandate of the Special Representative on Violence against Children for a further period of three years, and decided that for the effective performance of the mandate and the sustainability of its core activities the mandate would be funded from the regular budget starting from the biennium 2014–2015. 5. Marking the start of a new phase of the mandate, the present report takes stock of the most significant developments and achievements during the previous three years (chaps. II and III below); and, informed by the lessons learned in this important process, identifies strategic priorities for the future (chap. V) to sustain and accelerate progress in children’s protection from violence. II. Consolidating progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Study on Violence against Children 6. The findings and recommendations of the Study shape the agenda of the Special Representative. Over the last three years they have offered a solid foundation to translate into practice a core principle of the Study: no violence against children is justifiable and all violence can be prevented. 3