Hollywood actress and UN envoy
on refugee issues, Angelina Jolie-Pitt spoke at a panel discussion ahead of
this weekends AU Summit held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
She highlighted the fact that sexual crimes
against women are becoming the weapon of choice for armed groups all over the
world because these often happen without punishment.
"The near-total impunity that exists
worldwide for crimes against women in conflict zones in particular, means that
we are seeing more and more armed groups turn it into their weapon of
choice," said Angelina, who was dressed in a long, sleeveless charcoal
dress.
With her hair drawn up in a pony tail
highlighting large pearl earrings, Angelina said that women and girls are
bearing the brunt of extremists. "This is inextricably linked to our
overall failure to prevent and end conflicts worldwide, which is causing human
suffering on an unprecedented level."
Angelina, who is the UNHCR special envoy
and who kept the 200 or so diplomats and leaders waiting for half an hour,
spoke as part of a high-level panel on women, peace and security, which
included AU Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and former British
foreign secretary William Hague, who is working with Angelina on an initiative
to deal with sexual crimes against women in conflict zones. Angelina says that 50 million people have been displaced by war today, more
than half of which are women and children.
"This means more women and children
are exposed to violence, countless more girls out of school who are vulnerable
to rape and sexual slavery, generations whose talents are lost to their home
communities and to humanity as a whole," she went on to add.
And while Angelina says this is certainly
not an African problem, it is a global one, she did say that African nations
have suffered the most.
She called on societies who are at peace to
lead in the fight against sexual violence against women and said men should
work alongside women in this fight.
Her arrival was met with excitement by
members of the press and delegates.
Yesterday, Angelina spent the day meeting
activists as well as survivors of sexual violence. It's also believed that she
may do some charity work while in SA before she is expected to leave the
country over the weekend.
Source: The Juice
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