A/HRC/22/55 household and may have an irreversible effect on children’s development and future life. Moreover, for very young victims it is particularly hard to expose these situations or seek help. 39. A significant body of research highlights the serious impact of violence on children, including on their brain development. There is also sound evidence about the valuable contribution of early childhood initiatives to the prevention of violence in early years and across the child’s life cycle, as well as to the reduction of inequalities and the prevention of discrimination and social exclusion. 40. To capitalize on this potential, in 2012 the Special Representative convened an expert consultation in cooperation with the Government of Peru, the Bernard Van Leer Foundation, UNICEF and the Global Movement for Children in Latin America and the Caribbean. 41. The meeting included the participation of a cross-regional group of experts, including young people, and highlighted the urgency of: (a) Promoting strong political engagement to prevent and reduce violence in the life of young children, supported by a national strategy and by well-coordinated public policies across governmental departments and between central and decentralized authorities. With this aim, countries should designate a high-level government institution responsible for the prevention of and response to violence against children, well-versed in the issues affecting the youngest children and with the capacity to involve multiple sectors, such as education, health, social services and justice; as well as for securing adequate funding and effective monitoring and evaluation to assess results and impact; (b) Strengthening the legal protection of young children through the enactment and enforcement of a comprehensive legal ban on all forms of violence in all settings, to ensure the safeguarding, redress, recovery and reintegration of child victims and fight impunity; (c) Ensuring gender-sensitive approaches and child-sensitive support to young children through well-resourced institutions and services and well-trained professionals, taking into account children’s perceptions and experiences in the light of their evolving capacities; (d) Supporting families and caregivers in their child-rearing responsibilities and securing a responsive national child protection system to strengthen families’ capacity to raise young children in safe environments and prevent child abandonment and placement in residential care, and promote the social inclusion of young children at special risk; (e) Consolidating data and research to assess and measure progress in the exposure of young children to incidents of violence, supported by funding for impact evaluations of relevant programmes; (f) Strengthening strategic partnerships with all relevant stakeholders to widen awareness about the high return of investment in early childhood initiatives and the social cost of inaction; raise the profile of early childhood initiatives in the policy agenda and in the public debate; and promote a change in attitudes that condone violence against young children, including when pursued in the form of discipline or education or as a harmful practice; and (g) Enhancing international, regional and bilateral cooperation to reenergize political action, promote cross-fertilization of experiences, address persistent challenges and mobilize vigorous support for young children’s protection from violence. 10