A/HRC/19/64 consultation, when legislative initiatives on violence against children are pursued, the dimensions set out in the following paragraphs need to be taken into account. 21. Firstly, as an essential building-block of a robust national child protection system, legislation needs to be supported by well-coordinated and resourced services and institutions, and pursued through a holistic approach to address the root causes and promote investment in the prevention of violence. The establishment by law of accessible, safe and child-sensitive counselling, reporting and complaint mechanisms to address incidents of violence is a crucial dimension of this process. 22. Secondly, law reform is a long-term and ongoing process which cannot be reduced to isolated or fragmented actions. It requires consistent efforts to ensure harmonization with international standards and implement political commitments undertaken in this area; to identify and fill gaps in implementation and to address emerging concerns, such as those arising from the use of new technologies or addressing children on the move. 23. Thirdly, legislation to protect children from violence is by nature complex and wideranging. It requires a comprehensive and explicit legal ban to convey an unequivocal message of the imperative to safeguard children‘s right to freedom from violence, everywhere and at all times. Through constitutional reform, or the introduction of new provisions in family and criminal codes, in child protection and domestic violence legislation, this process is gaining ground in an increasing number of States. 24. A general legal prohibition of violence must be reinforced and complemented by detailed provisions in specific pieces of legislation, both to address distinct forms of violence, such as sexual abuse and exploitation, bullying, trafficking, corporal punishment or harmful traditional practices, and to tackle violence in different settings, including schools, care and justice institutions, the community and the home. It is critical to develop laws and regulations in all relevant fields to give full meaning to the prohibition, to establish procedures for reporting, referral and investigation, to secure the protection of victims and witnesses, impose effective sanctions to those found responsible, and to fight impunity. Both these approaches, comprehensive and specific, are therefore needed and in fact mutually reinforcing. 25. Fourthly, law reform initiatives are not relevant for legal experts only. They have been particularly successful when promoted in a participatory process, with the involvement of key stakeholders including governmental departments, parliamentarians, independent children‘s rights institutions, and key actors in civil society, including professional groups, religious communities, non-governmental organizations and young people themselves. With a far-reaching approach, legislation lays the foundation for a culture of respect for children‘s rights, and can trigger a process of lasting change in attitudes and behaviour, in overcoming social taboos and the social acceptance of violence against children. 26. Similarly, law enforcement has been more effective when legislative processes have been supported with social mobilization initiatives and awareness-raising campaigns (both for the public at large, and children and their families in particular) and supported by the development of ethical standards, capacity-building activities and concrete guidance for professionals and institutions working for and with children. With this in mind, law reform initiatives should include a clear plan of implementation, with an estimation of costs, and an anticipated allocation of resources to meet them. C. Consolidating data and research on violence against children 27. Good data and research are the bedrock of national planning, effective policymaking and adequate resource allocation to prevent violence and protect children. With 7