Last week, Angelina Jolie spoke at a G8 press conference.
Foreign Ministers, Ambassadors, Ladies and
Gentlemen, hundreds of thousands of women and children have been
sexually assaulted, tortured, or forced into sexual slavery in the wars
of our generation. Time and again the world has failed to prevent this
abuse, or to hold attackers accountable.
Rape has been treated as something that simply
happens in war; perpetrators have learnt that they can get away with it;
and victims have been denied justice. But wartime rape is not
inevitable. This violence can be prevented, and it must be confronted.
There are many individuals and NGOs who have
worked tirelessly to address these crimes for years. But the
international political will has been sorely lacking. I have heard
survivors of rape from Bosnia to the Democratic Republic of Congo say
that they feel the world simply does not care about them. And who could
blame them?
For too long they have been the forgotten
victims of war: responsible for none of the harm, but bearing the worst
of the pain. But today, I believe, their voices have been heard, and
that we finally have some hope to offer them.
I welcome the long-overdue stand that the G8 has
taken, and this landmark Declaration. And I want to thank the
Governments of the countries that have made funding commitments today. I
particularly endorse the Declaration’s strong words on rights and
freedoms for women and children, and its promise to include women in
peace processes and democratic transitions.
I welcome the recognition of male victims of
sexual violence; and the practical action promised to help to lift the
stigma from survivors and provide rehabilitation - particularly for
children.
There is no choice between peace and justice:
peace requires justice. So I welcome the pledge by the G8 to regard rape
and sexual violence in armed conflict as grave breaches of the Geneva
Conventions; and to give no amnesty to those who commit these crimes.
And I fully support the work that will now begin on an International
Protocol on the Investigation and Documentation of Sexual Violence in
Conflict, and look forward to its adoption.
Foreign Ministers, millions of people have been
waiting for the commitments you have just made, and they will be
watching to see them implemented. You have promised to work together to
raise awareness of sexual violence and to bring down the barriers to
justice. And this significance cannot be understated.
It is also encouraging to see men in leadership
positions speaking out against rape, and I hope many others will follow
your example.
I pay tribute to Zainab Bangura for her
courageous and wonderful work; And I want to thank William Hague for his
leadership: Rape is not a women’s issue, or a humanitarian issue, it is
a global issue and it belongs here at the top table of international
decision-making where he has put it. So I look forward to campaigning
with him at the UN, and I call on other governments to make this cause
their priority. If they do, this will be the start of a new global
alliance against warzone rape and sexual violence; and finally an end to
impunity.
Thank you.
