A/HRC/34/45 elimination of child marriage, female genital mutilation and all forms of child labour; combating organized crime and reducing violent deaths; ensuring children’s safety and protection in schools and in urban communities; and children’s rights to access justice and information and to a legal identity. The marking of these important milestones provided an important opportunity to reignite commitments, to consolidate the gains that have been made, to fully grasp the lessons learned, and to redouble policy efforts to build a world where children can grow up free from violence, everywhere and at all times. 19. The inclusion of violence against children as a distinct concern in the global development agenda is an historic breakthrough and presents the global community with a strategic opportunity to transform target 16.2 into a reality for all the world’s children. As the implementation process of the 2030 Agenda is now well under way, the chief priority of the Special Representative is supporting efforts to accelerate progress towards the achievement of all the violence-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially target 16.2. Protecting children from violence must not remain simply an ideal; indeed, the international community has a special responsibility to translate the ideal into tangible change for every child. 20. The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals demonstrates a shared sense of purpose on the part of the international community and gives renewed impetus to global efforts. In addition, it conveys a heightened sense of urgency to act and ensure that no one is left behind. It is incumbent upon all Governments and other stakeholders to show leadership and to inspire and mobilize action. 21. This 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 also within the home. 22. The roots of violence against children are multifaceted, and preventing and eliminating it require a multisectoral and integrated approach, as recognized in the 2030 Agenda. Indeed, violence goes hand in hand with vulnerability and deprivation, with high risks of poor health, poor school performance and, at times, long-term welfare dependency. Children exposed to violence — at home, in schools, in the community, at work, in care and justice institutions or online — are at greater risk of enduring cumulative acts of violence and engaging in aggressive and violent behaviour later in life. 23. Violence leaves long-lasting scars on children’s lives, and often has irreversible consequences on their development and well-being and for 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 States’ human and social capital. But through enhanced cooperation, and with serious investment in proven strategies for violence prevention, violence can become a thing of the distant past. 24. The 2030 Agenda is global and universal and has the unique potential to bring positive results to all parts of the world. But more importantly, it concerns all children. It is indeed critical to invest in children to achieve inclusive, equitable and sustainable development for present and future generations. 25. The value and success of the 2030 Agenda will be measured by the strategic action taken and tangible progress made in implementation on the ground, especially for those furthest behind, those who are the least visible and most forgotten children and who are often also the most at risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. It is therefore essential to promote the adoption and implementation of a comprehensive and cohesive nationally owned sustainable development strategy that is supported by predictable resources; informed by solid evidence and robust, reliable and disaggregated data; and reviewed through an open, inclusive and periodic assessment of progress using internationally agreed benchmarks. 8