A/HRC/34/45 V. Looking ahead 95. In 2006, the United Nations study on violence against children confronted the international community with the extent, pervasiveness, complexity and impact of violence against children. The mobilization generated by the study and the process of implementation of its recommendations around the world have led to important progress, and States are now better equipped to prevent, eliminate and respond to violence. 96. The mandate of the Special Representative draws attention to both the worst and the best aspects of humankind. The worst is that countless children are exposed to violence that is often concealed but nevertheless pervasive. Children are intentionally targeted in politically driven processes, manipulated in organized crime, obliged to flee violence in their communities, sold and exploited for economic gain, groomed online, disciplined through violent means, sexually assaulted in the privacy of their homes, neglected in institutions, abused in detention centres, bullied in schools, and stigmatized and ill-treated as a result of superstition or harmful practices. Every five minutes, a child dies as a result of violence. 97. Children’s exposure to pervasive violence is well documented by United Nations reports, academic evidence and children’s own heartbreaking stories. For millions of children around the world, life is defined by two words: fear and pain. For those children, the world has no safe haven. And States are missing the chance to build a better world for all of them. 98. Violence compromises all children’s rights. It goes hand in hand with deprivation and high risks of poor health, poor school performance and long-term welfare dependency. In early childhood, the impact of violence is often irreversible. As children grow, cumulative exposure to manifestations of violence becomes a bleak continuum, spreading across children’s life cycle and, at times, persisting across generations. 99. But beyond the impact on individual victims and their families, violence is associated with far-reaching costs for society. It diverts billions of dollars from social spending, slowing economic development and eroding States’ human and social capital. 100. The mandate of the Special Representative also honours the best of humankind; this comes, not surprisingly, from children themselves. Time and time again, the Special Representative has met children who have emerged from the most terrible nightmares and who yet remain resilient, confident, generous and eager to show the way ahead. In all regions of the world, young advocates join hands with national authorities, civil society and many other allies in raising awareness about the detrimental impact of violence, empowering young people to be the first line of protection from abuse and exploitation, and inspiring many others to build a world where children can grow up respected, nurtured and supported to achieve their ambitions and dreams. Even in the most desperate of situations, children demonstrate hope for a better world and determination to achieve lasting change. This is much more than positive thinking; this is about achieving positive change. 101. Since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, the world has made tremendous strides towards the realization of children’s rights. But the vision of the Convention will not be fully realized unless children’s rights become one of the sustaining pillars of society and are embraced as a core value of the dialogue between generations. 102. Recent estimates show that at least one billion children are victims of violence every year. Clearly, much more needs to be done. It is high time to close the gap between international standards, political commitments and action. It is high time to promote a culture of respect for children’s rights and of zero tolerance for violence. 20