A/HRC/34/45 II. Consolidating progress in the protection of children from violence 13. The past year has presented strategic opportunities and seen important developments in the elimination of violence against children at the global, regional and local levels. Ten years after the United Nations study on violence against children was submitted to the General Assembly, the protection of children from violence has evolved from a largely neglected topic into a global concern that is now included as a distinct target in the sustainable development agenda. 14. Joining forces with United Nations partners, the Special Representative has successfully promoted the mainstreaming of the protection of children from violence in the United Nations policy agenda. This collaborative effort has resulted in groundbreaking standards and action plans, including the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, 9 as well as studies and mobilization campaigns that in turn have guided regional and national strategies, policies and measures for the prevention and elimination of violence against children. 15. The inclusion of the elimination of violence against children as a specific target and a cross-cutting concern in the 2030 Agenda stems from these converging efforts. It is the result, on the one hand, of the sense of urgency generated by the magnitude and impact of the problem and, on the other hand, by the growing body of evidence proving that there are solutions that work. 16. The agenda of the Special Representative has been guided by four strategic priorities: consolidating progress and mainstreaming implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations study; ensuring that violence against children is given prominence on the global agenda; reinforcing regional processes to enhance the protection of children from violence; and addressing emerging concerns. Significant results have been achieved, including: (a) Consolidation of the human rights foundation for protecting children from violence through the launch in 2010 of the campaign for universal ratification of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This has led to a steady increase in the number of ratifications to the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, in force in 173 countries, and to the promotion of new international standards, including the Optional Protocol on a communications procedure, in force in 29 States; the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) of the International Labour Organization (ILO); and the United Nations Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Children in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; 10 (b) Enhancing awareness and consolidating knowledge to prevent and respond to violence against children through international expert consultations, the development of research and the release of strategic thematic studies. As noted above, in 2016, two major studies Protecting Children Affected by Armed Violence in the Community and Ending the Torment: Tackling Bullying from the Schoolyard to Cyberspace were released. Previous studies by the Special Representative have addressed violence in schools and in the justice system; restorative justice for children; the rights of girls in the criminal justice system; child-sensitive counselling, and reporting and complaint mechanisms; protection of children from harmful practices; and the opportunities and risks for children associated with 9 10 6 General Assembly resolution 64/293, annex. General Assembly resolution 69/194, annex.