A/HRC/19/64 Operative principles 1. Violence against children is multidimensional. This approach presupposes that a combination of factors needs to come into play in order for violence to occur, recur, or cease. It calls for holistic treatment of the circumstances of the violent incident, on the basis of their interdependence, not dealing with a single cause and effect relationship. 2. Prevention of violence requires cross-sectoral co-operation and co-ordination. This involves, in particular, co-ordination across central government departments, across provinces and regions, and between government and civil society. 3. Violence against children demands an integrated (systemic, holistic) approach. This approach allows factors of different orders (cultural, psychological, pedagogical, behavioural, physical, political, socio economic, etc.) to be treated on the basis of common ground. It implies that all programmes and actions aimed at preventing and protecting children from violence, in the broad context of the promotion of the rights of the child, should operate across a range of disciplines and sectors. In the same spirit, the guidelines‘ sections are interrelated and should be read in conjunction with each other. 4. A multi-stakeholder approach is indispensable for the eradication of violence against children, as this is a responsibility that extends beyond state-controlled bodies and services to include all members of society, such as state institutions, local authorities, nongovernmental organisations, professionals, the media, families and children. In the planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes and actions to protect children from violence priority should be attached to: a. building partnerships between families and the state, based on trust and respect for different cultures and traditions; b. engaging in true dialogue with children and progressively building a culture of respect for children‘s views, including by informing them of the outcome of the processes and explaining how their views were taken into account. 3. Integrated national, regional and local action 3.1. Integrated national strategies for the protection of children from violence 1. A multidisciplinary and systematic framework (hereinafter referred to as ―the strategy‖) integrated into the national planning process, rooted in the UNCRC and bringing together all stakeholders, represents the most effective response to violence against children that is sustainable over time. The strategy‘s core element should be a complex of effective and comprehensive primary, secondary and tertiary prevention measures i that are childcentred, families-focused, multidisciplinary and oriented towards fulfilling children‘s and families‘ needs. The strategy should contain realistic and time-bound targets, be supported by adequate human and financial resources, be based on current scientific knowledge (with regard to what works) and be systematically evaluated. i Preventive work directed at society at large is known as primary prevention. It prevents violence by addressing broad issues, such as health or education, and reduces risk factors, such as unemployment and social exclusion. Children who run a high risk of being subjected to violence or inflicting violence upon others are targets of secondary prevention. Its examples include measures for children of drug or alcohol abusers, etc. Tertiary prevention attempts to prevent, reverse or limit the consequences of violence that has already occurred. It focuses on victims‘ and perpetrators‘ rehabilitation and re-integration. 75