Angelina Jolie joined British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Zainab Bangura, UN Special Representative on sexual violence in conflict, for the G8 meeting in London today.
During the meeting, the G8 foreign ministers agreed to boost efforts to seek justice for victims of abuse and rape in conflict, and announced a £23 million ($35.5 million) pledge to fund prevention and response efforts.
“Hundreds of thousands of women and children have been sexually assaulted, tortured or forced into sexual slavery in the wars of our generation,” said Jolie following the meeting. “International political will has been sorely lacking, 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. Wartime rape is not inevitable. This violence can be prevented, and it must be confronted.”
Angelina Jolie is a Special Envoy for the UN Human Rights Council.
