A/HRC/37/48 113. The Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) of the Council of Europe requires States parties to adopt legislative and other measures to prevent sexual violence, to protect child victims, and to prosecute offenders. Recognizing that information and communications technology presents risks of sexual abuse and exploitation of children, the Lanzarote Committee gave priority attention to this topic. The information gathered by the Committee will allow it to assess the implementation of the Convention by States parties and to identify good practices to support capacity-building at the national level. 114. In April, the Council of the European Union adopted a revised version of the Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child, reaffirming its commitment to the protection of the rights of the child globally. The Guidelines promote the mainstreaming of children’s rights in European Union policy and action, and aim to strengthen efforts to ensure that children in the most marginalized and vulnerable situations are reached effectively. They promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, including the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal target 16.2, and reaffirm support for the Special Representative’s work, alongside that of other international and regional child rights actors. They also identify priority actions, including the development of national strategies and enhanced coordination between all levels of government to ensure effective implementation; the alignment of national legislation with international human rights standards; and the collection and use of data to inform advocacy, legal and policy reforms and the mobilization of resources. 115. In November, the Special Representative participated in the eleventh European Forum on the Rights of the Child, held in Brussels. The Forum brought together more than 300 experts from States members and institutions of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Balkan States, and from civil society, international organizations, children’s ombudspersons and academia. Young people affected by situations of deprivation of liberty also actively participated. 116. The Forum expressed support for the global study on children deprived of liberty.17 Placing special emphasis on alternatives to detention, it addressed the situation of children in the criminal justice system, in immigration detention, in care or health institutions, and children whose parents are in prison. In her address to the Forum, the Special Representative presented the preliminary findings from the research undertaken by her office with strategic partners in Latin America on the experience of young people whose parents are in detention (see para. 27 above). V. Violence prevention starts in early childhood 117. The 2030 Agenda recognizes the crucial role played by early childhood development in creating peaceful and prosperous societies. Target 4.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals specifically commits States to ensuring that all children have access to inclusive and quality early childhood education and care so that they may acquire the knowledge and skills to fulfil their potential, pursue opportunities and participate fully in society as productive citizens. 118. Investing in early childhood and ending violence in children’s lives are first and foremost a question of children’s rights. But the evidence continues to mount that it is also a highly cost-effective strategy leading to better health, education and social outcomes that 17 18 See General Assembly resolution 69/157.