A/HRC/31/20 surveys in 15 countries in Asia and Africa, most recently concluded in Cambodia, Malawi and Nigeria; (e) Promoting global advocacy on neglected areas of concern in support of new United Nations initiatives, including the requests by the General Assembly in its resolution 69/158 for a report on protecting children from bullying and in resolution 69/157 for a global study on children deprived of liberty, and the decision of the Human Rights Council in its resolution 28/6 to establish a new mandate for the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism; (f) Fostering the growing alliance among Governments, national institutions, civil society and faith-based organizations, academics and children’s networks as a major thrust of the global advocacy efforts of the mandate to mobilize action and investment in the protection of children from violence and supporting national implementation efforts, including by undertaking over 130 missions to 60 countries since 2009. A. Violence against children: a distinct priority in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10. Placing the protection of children from violence as a distinct priority and crosscutting concern in the 2030 Agenda has been a priority for the Special Representative, as has ensuring the inclusion of children’s views in this process. 11. Growing up in safety and free from violence is a top priority for children in all regions. Children were eager to help shape the 2030 Agenda and remain strongly committed to playing a crucial role in the work ahead as serious partners and agents of change. 12. Implementing the new agenda presents the global community with a unique opportunity to transform the vision of target 16.2 into a reality for all the world’s children. But along with this opportunity comes a special responsibility. Protecting children from violence must not be simply an ideal that becomes diluted by attention to many other concerns. While the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals demonstrates a shared sense of purpose and a renewed impetus to global efforts, it also conveys a very special sense of urgency to ensure that no one is left behind. It is incumbent upon all Governments and stakeholders to show leadership, to mobilize and to inspire action, championing this noble cause in a broad alliance of tireless ambassadors committed to the cause of freeing children from violence. 13. There is no time for complacency. Around the world, millions of girls and boys of all ages continue to be exposed to appalling levels of violence, in their neighbourhoods, in their schools, in institutions aimed at their care and protection and within the home. 14. Violence leaves long-lasting scars on children’s lives, and often has irreversible consequences on their development and well-being and their opportunities to thrive later in life. It also weakens the very foundation of social progress, generating huge costs for society, slowing economic development and eroding nations’ human and social capital. According to a recent study on the economic burden resulting from physical, psychological and sexual violence, the global costs could be as high as $7 trillion per year, or more than 4 per cent of global gross domestic product. Yet, with relatively modest investments in proven strategies for violence prevention, a long-lasting difference can be made in protecting children from violence. Violence will become part of the distant past only when the values, goals and targets of the new agenda are translated into tangible national action. 15. As the process of follow-up to the study on violence against children has shown, there is already a sound basis to build upon. An increasing number of States have strong 5