Members of the UK's major faith groups and charities have pledged commitment to protect children from violence, following the recommendations of the United Nations Secretary General's Global Study on Violence Against Children, released this week.

A special service was held on Saturday 14 October at Coventry Cathedral to bring attention to the issue, with members from the Anglican, Catholic, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Methodist and Jewish communities as well as representatives from the NSPCC, Save the Children, Barnardos and the Children's Society signing up to a special charter.

An initiative of the Churches' Network For Non-Violence (CNNV), the Coventry Charter for Children and Non-Violence pledges to work in cooperation to foster respect for children, to campaign for greater recognition of children's rights under law and to support all those working with children.