Earlier in November 2024, representatives from more than 100 countries attended the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children. The event in Bogotá, Colombia, marked a significant milestone, reflecting a strong global commitment to the prevention of violence against children. Throughout the event, speakers consistently communicated key messages on progress towards ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children (SDG 16.2), the role of community, youth and survivor voices in addressing violence, and the importance of achieving impact at scale. The conference introduced a pledging platform and emphasized the need for ambitious commitments to end abuse against children. As a result, 101 countries submitted pledges to action. What were the main pledges? Were they bold enough? Here, we review the pledges made by governments and organizations, noting that if translated into action, they could lead to significant progress in the fight against violence toward children.