Angelina Jolie urges an end to rape in war
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 06:51
- Written by CBS News
Actress Angelina Jolie made her debut before the U.N.'s most powerful body as a special envoy for refugees Monday and urged the world's nations to make the fight against rape in war a top priority.She told the Security Council that "hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of women, children and men have been raped in conflicts in our lifetimes."Jolie, a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, said the Security Council has witnessed 67 years of wars and conflict since it was established "but the world has yet to take up war-zone rape as a serious priority.""You set the bar," she told the council. "If the ... council sets rape and s e x ual violence in conflict as a priority it will become one, and progress will be made. If you do not, this horror will continue."British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who presided over the meeting, stressed that "in conflicts in nearly every corner of the globe, rape is used systematically and ruthlessly, in the almost certain knowledge that there will be no consequences for the perpetrators."Soon after Jolie spoke, the council adopted a legally-binding resolution demanding the complete and immediate cessation of all acts of sexual violence by all parties to armed conflict. It noted that s e x ual violence can constitute a crime against humanity and a contributing act to genocide, called for improved monitoring of sexual violence in conflict, and urged the U.N. and donors to assist survivors.Jolie, who has traveled extensively in her role as goodwill ambassador, recalled several of the survivors she had met — the mother of a five-year-old girl raped outside a police station in Goma in eastern Congo, and a Syrian woman she spoke to in Jordan last week who asked to hide her name and face "because she knew that if she spoke out about the crimes against her she would be attacked again, and possibly killed."Jolie pleaded with the Security Council — and all countries — to implement the resolution and not let the issue drop."Meet your commitments, debate this issue in your parliaments, mobilize people in your countries, and build it into all your foreign policy efforts," she urged. "Together, you can turn the tide of global opinion, shatter impunity and finally put an end to this abhorrence."Secretary-General Ban paid tribute to Jolie for being the voice of millions forced to flee their homes "and now for the many survivors of wartime rape whose bodies have been used as battlegrounds."
 |
Brad Pitt: Japanese Meal in Spain with Zahara & Shiloh!
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 23 June 2013 08:40
- Written by Just Jared
Brad Pitt has dinner with his daughters Zahara and Shiloh at a Japanese restaurant on Friday evening (June 21) in Madrid, Spain.The 49-year-old World War Z actor drank a beer while Zahara, 8, and Shiloh, 7, sipped on sodas during their meal.That same evening, Brad surprised his fans at a screening of World War Z in the capital city. He was seen doing some sight-seeing with his girls earlier that day in Russia.World War Z is set to debut at the domestic box office this weekend in second place with more than $60 million. Congrats on the big hit, Brad!
 |
Brad Pitt: Kremlin Visit with Shiloh & Zahara!
- Details
- Published on Saturday, 22 June 2013 13:53
- Written by Just Jared
Brad Pitt holds hands with his two daughters Zahara, 8, and Shiloh, 7, as they visit the famous Kremlin complex on Friday (June 21) in Moscow, Russia.The 49-year-old actor is in town to promote his flick World War Z, which opened the 2013 Moscow International Film Festival the evening before.World War Z opened today in theaters in the US and other parts of the world – be sure to check out the action packed apocalypse film! The day before, Brad‘s fiancee Angelina Jolie attended a press conference for World Refugee Day.
 |
Angelina Jolie: World Refugee Day Press Conference in Jordan
- Details
- Published on Friday, 21 June 2013 04:32
- Written by Just Jared
Angelina Jolie sits in front of an audience at a press conference to mark World Refugee Day in Al-Zaatari Refugee Camp for Syrian refugees on Thursday (June 20) near Mafraq, Jordan.The 38-year-old actress and UNHCR Special Envoy was joined at the front table by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.“I appeal to the world leaders – please, set aside your differences, unite to end the violence, and make diplomacy succeed,” Angelina said at the event (via the New York Daily News).Earlier in the week, Angelina met with some refugees and listened to their stories.
 |
Angelina Jolie visits Syrian border
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 19 June 2013 16:31
- Written by UNHCR
Jaber border crossing, Jordan--Along a dirt track on an unexpectedly cool and windy night on Jordan's border with Syria, as shadows lengthened across the barren hills, UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie listened to the stories of men women and children who had fled Syria just hours before. She heard stories of bombs and pain and loss from people fleeing Homs, Dara'a and Qusair, three of the communities devastated by the Syrian conflict. Ms. Jolie encouraged the refugees to tell her, and through her the world, of their ordeal. "We can't know your pain," Ms. Jolie said at one point, speaking to families who had lost their loved ones. But she listened.Ms. Jolie is in Jordan to mark World Refugee Day, which each year is commemorated on June 20. She and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, arrived in the country on 18 June. Mr Guterres started his visit to the region in Lebanon, where he met with refugees and government officials. In Jordan, he and Ms. Jolie will meet with the government and refugees living in Jordan's cities, as well as in the sprawling Za'atri refugee camp.The purpose of her visit, said Ms. Jolie, is "to show support for Syria's refugees, to call on the world to address their plight, and to better understand needs in Jordan and other countries in the region most directly affected by this devastating conflict."At the Syrian border, Ms. Jolie heard stories of great courage and sadness. Mohammed Al-Kassem, his wife Walida and their young daughter Faten had just arrived after escaping from Qusair, the site of a bitter battle which left the town in rubble and unleashed a new wave of refugees into neighbouring countries. "In the battles and bombing, most of my friends died," he said. "There is nothing left, all was destroyed, no buildings, no medicines. Ninety five men died because their wounds became infected and there was nothing to treat them with. I was the only one of my family to escape. Those who could not flee can only wait for death."
After meeting with refugees, Ms Jolie was briefed by Maj. General Hussein Al-Zyoud, the commander of the Jordan Border Security Forces, and his staff. As they talked, shelling just across the border in Syria could be clearly heard.The war in Syria forced more people to flee last year than any other conflict in the world. In the last six months the number has more than doubled to 1.6 million, of whom 540,000 are in Jordan."The worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century is unfolding in the Middle East today," said Ms. Jolie. "By the end of this year half of Syria's population – ten million people – are expected to be displaced and in desperate need."She urged the world to do much more to help the people of Syria. "The international response to this crisis falls short of the vast scale of this human tragedy," she said. "Much more humanitarian aid is needed, and above all, a political settlement to this conflict must be found."
 |
Share
