Religious communities commit to ending corporal punishment of children – launch of the Coventry Charter for Children and Non-violence in the UK

The Coventry Charter for Children and Non-violence outlines the commitment of religious groups and organisations to work with others in ending violence against children, including corporal punishment, and in addressing the recommendations of the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence against Children. It was launched on 14 October 2006 at an ecumenical service in Coventry Cathedral, chosen for its recognition as a world centre for pilgrimage and spiritual renewal and as a focus for international reconciliation, “a place of nurture for communities and a beacon for peace and non-violence”. It was signed by representatives of religious communities, including Christian, Hindu and Muslim.

The Charter promotes the child as a person with rights and inherent dignity, based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, stating:

“Violence that is within the law, as in the legal right of parents to use ‘reasonable’ force in disciplining children, is viewed as violating children’s right to equal protection under the law, as well as their physical, spiritual and emotional integrity. This view is grounded in the sacred respect that religious communities hold for every child.”

The Charter acknowledges the important role that religious communities can play in ending violence, promoting positive parenting and advocating for legal prohibition of corporal punishment, within the context of the recommendation of the UN Study that such prohibition be complete in all settings by the year 2009. The introduction to the Charter states:

“Action towards ending violence against children requires religious communities to ensure that all sacred texts are used to promote non-violence and not to condone or recommend violence, punishment and humiliation of children in the name of religion. Contemporary study, theological reflection and teaching can help pave the way towards eliminating violence and transforming the lives of children. Religious communities working with children have the capacity to work with others to develop high quality resources and tools to inform and support people in taking action towards eliminating all forms of violence against children. All religious groups should support parents in positive, non-violent parenting which leads to mutual respect, self-discipline and loving relationships between parents and children.

“The Coventry Charter acknowledges the strength and influence of religious communities to create awareness about the effects of violence against children, to learn from others and work in solidarity towards preventing and ending all forms of violence against children.

“Religious groups have the moral standing to be advocates for children and to work with communities and governments to pass legislation to prohibit all forms of violence against children, including corporal punishment. Ending violence against children requires legal prohibition as well as education.

“The Report of the Global Study on Violence Against Children urges States to implement the Report recommendations without delay. The Report recommends that legal prohibition of violence against children together with reliable national data-collection systems, should be achieved by 2009 (Report of the United Nations Secretary General’s Study on Violence Against Children 2006 para 116).”

Article 2 of the Charter states:

“All children are entitled to grow up in family and all other settings free from corporal punishment and all other forms of violence and humiliating treatment.”

The full Charter is available here.

For further information, contact the Churches’ Network for Non-violence info@churchesfornon-violence.org, www.churchesfornon-violence.org

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