A/HRC/13/46 I. Background 1. In 2001, following a recommendation of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, in General Assembly resolution 56/138 the Secretary-General was asked to conduct an indepth study on the question of violence against children. In 2003, the Secretary-General appointed Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro as independent expert to lead the study. 2. The Secretary-General’s study on violence against children1 was presented at the sixty-first session of the General Assembly. It addressed violence against children in five settings: the family, schools, alternative care institutions and detention facilities, places where children work and communities. The study recognizes that violence against children affects every country and knows no social, cultural, religious or ethnic boundaries, remaining widespread, largely hidden and often condoned by society. Moreover, violence against children has a serious, lifelong emotional and health impact on children’s lives; it undermines child development and learning abilities, inhibits positive relationships, provokes trauma and depression and often leads to risk-taking and aggressive behaviour. 3. The study calls for urgent action to prevent and respond to all forms of violence, and presents a set of recommendations to guide follow-up actions. These recommendations provide a solid navigation chart for future steps and constitute a decisive reference for accelerating and monitoring progress. To promote dissemination and ensure effective follow-up to the study’s recommendations, the appointment of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children was recommended in the study. 4. The General Assembly took note with appreciation of the study’s recommendations and requested the appointment by the Secretary-General of a Special Representative on violence against children2 to act as a high-profile, global independent advocate to promote prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children. II. Appointment of the Special Representative on violence against children 5. On 1 May 2009, the Secretary-General announced the appointment of Marta Santos Pais of Portugal as his Special Representative on violence against children at the level of Assistant Secretary-General. Ms. Santos Pais took her position on 1 September 2009. 6. According to the terms of reference approved in compliance with General Assembly resolution 62/141, the Special Representative reports directly to the Secretary-General, chairs the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence against Children and collaborates closely with a wide range of partners, within and beyond the United Nations system. The Special Representative reports annually to the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council and the Economic and Social Council. 7. In conformity with the General Assembly resolution, the position of the Special Representative and the supporting Office are funded from voluntary contributions. The mandate was established for a period of three years, after which time it should be evaluated, including with regard to its funding. The Office of the Special Representative is located in New York and provided with administrative support by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF has established a trust account in order to receive, hold, administer 1 2 4 A/61/299. General Assembly resolution 62/141. GE.10-10640