Angelina Jolie calls for long-term Syrian refugee solution
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- Published on Monday, 29 January 2018 05:13
- Written by SF Gate
Movie star Angelina Jolie visited a camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan on Sunday, calling for a political solution to Syria's long-running civil war and saying that "humanitarian aid is not a long-term solution."Children crowded around the U.S. actress as she spoke in a patch of muddy space between hundreds of rows of caravans in the desert camp of Zaatari, less than an hour's drive from the Syrian border.It was Jolie's fifth visit to Jordan."It is heartbreaking to return to Jordan and witness the levels of hardship and trauma among Syrian refugees as this war enters its eighth year," Jolie said after meeting refugee families and teenage girls in a U.N.-run community program."I'm very proud. You're very strong, all of you," Jolie, a special envoy for the U.N. refugee agency, told them.Nearly 5.5 million displaced Syrians are hosted by Jordan, Lebanon and other neighboring countries.Jolie said the hospitality of the overburdened host countries is "an example to the world at a time when solidarity with refugees is in short supply."She said the U.N. refugee agency received only half the requested funding for the Syria crisis last year and only 7 percent so far this year."Humanitarian aid is not a long-term solution. No one wants to get off aid more than a Syrian family," Jolie said."A viable political settlement is the only way to create the conditions for Syrians to be able to return to their homes, to end the human suffering and the strain on host countries," she added.Jordan hosts more than 650,000 registered Syrian refugees, according to the U.N. refugee agency. More than 78,000 live in Zaatari.
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'We don't have to keep our heads down!': Angelina Jolie inspires with powerful speech about 'asserting ourselves' at Women In Entertainment event
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- Published on Thursday, 07 December 2017 04:46
- Written by Daily Mail
Angelina Jolie took to the stage at The Hollywood Reporter's 2017 Women In Entertainment Breakfast in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning.The Maleficent actress, 42, dressed in black as she addressed the crowd that included Jennifer Lawrence, Gal Gadot, Lily Collins, Olivia Munn and Emmy Rossum.The mother-of-six gave a powerful speech about how women who assert themselves in Hollywood can inspire women all over the world. The room was silent as the estranged wife of Brad Pitt said her words.'We have the right to speak truth as we see it,' said the Oscar-winning Salt actress.'We all know women who were never able to live their creative dreams because they had to put their families first, who poured their creative truth into their families.'The Vogue cover girl spoke slowly and with passion as the room full of mostly women looked on.'We all know that our industry lacks diversity and equality and that there's so much we have to change.'Jolie was most likely referring to the pay gap where females are paid a fraction of what male stars earn. 'But we have a level of freedom that is unimaginable for millions of other women around the world,' added the UN spokesperson.'Women who live with conflict and terrorism and displacement and poverty who never get a chance, whose voices are always silenced.'And the Tomb Raider star reminded the room that they have privileges most don't. 'We don't have to keep our heads down, we don't have to think the film we made... could land us in prison where we might be tortured or punished.'
She further drove home her point by saying: 'We don't have to worry that a play we did or what will be seen on TV will bring dishonor to our families.'We don't have to tailor out clothes or our pinions to what is acceptable to religious authority of violent extremist groups.'Angelina also said that 'we have the right to think freely and speak freely and put forward our ideas on equal terms.'There are women across the world just trying to have a voice trying to have an opinion.' Then the superstar brought her speech back to what happens in Hollywood and how these ladies in the room are role models. 'Asserting ourselves as female artists represents something really, really important in the world today,' said the star.Angelina last directed First They Killed My Father for Netflix. The star is committed to star in the sequel to Maleficent for Disney.
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'All too often these crimes against women are laughed off': UN Special Envoy Angelina Jolie delivers passionate speech about preventing sexual violence at peacekeeping summit in Vancouver
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- Published on Friday, 17 November 2017 04:50
- Written by Daily mail
Angelina Jolie gave an impassioned keynote speech on Wednesday at the United Nations Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial conference in Vancouver, in the Canadian province of British Columbia.The 42-year-old - who is a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - spoke about preventing sexual violence in armed conflict at the event.In her powerful speech, the activist for the rights of women and refugees touched up current conflicts around the world, while also indirectly addressing the recent stream of sexual abuse allegations in Hollywood.She shared from the podium: 'We have to ask, how is it, after all these years, all these laws and resolutions and all the horrors endured, women still have to ask for this most basic of all entitlements: the right to a life free from violence?'Sexual violence is everywhere – in the industry where I work, in business, in universities, in politics, in the military, and across the world. It affects men as well as women.Adding: 'However it is recognized by the UN one of the prime reasons why women remain in a subordinate position in relation to men in most parts of the world, and as a critical obstacle to achieving women's equality and our full human rights.' The philanthropist recently opened up to the New York Times about her experience with disgraced US producer Harvey Weinstein and described the encounter as a 'bad experience' which left her refusing to work with him.Appearing to reference her past with the discredited movie mogul, Angelina explained that unfortunately crimes of sexual violence against women are often 'laughed off'. 'The first myth is that this behavior is sexual,' she said. 'All too often these kinds of crimes against women are laughed off, depicted as a minor offense by someone who cannot control themselves, as an illness, or as some kind of exaggerated sexual need.'But a man who mistreats women is not oversexed. He is abusive.' Arriving to the summit, the beautiful brunette looked elegant in a cream dress with a deep cowl neckline and pencil skirt that she teamed with cream high heels. The Maleficent actress styled her long, thick brunette tresses to cascade over her shoulders and frame her perfectly made-up face.Angelina chatted with Canada's Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, 47, the first Sikh to hold the post.Then they joined the representatives of 80 countries at the conference for a group photo.Angelina was named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador at the body's headquarters in Geneva, switzerland, on August 27, 2001.On April 17, 2012, after more than a decade of service, she was was promoted to the rank of Special Envoy to the High Commissioner.Brad Pitt's estranged wife has made dozens of trips to areas in need in Africa, both as an actress and as a Special Envoy. They adopted three of their six children from the continent: Maddox, 16, from Cambodia; Pax, 13, from Vietnam; and Zahara, 12, from Ethiopia.They also have three of their own children, Shiloh, 11, and nine-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.
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Angelina Jolie lends her star power to international peacekeeping summit in Canada
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- Published on Friday, 10 November 2017 07:53
- Written by CBC
Angelina Jolie will deliver a keynote address at next week's international peacekeeping summit in Vancouver, her office has confirmed to CBC News.More than 80 countries have so far said they will attend the two-day United Nations ministerial meeting beginning on Nov. 14, where improving the gender balance of peacekeeping operations will be one of the overarching themes.The Academy Award-winner and special envoy of the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees will deliver her remarks on the second day of the summit. The content of her address is not known but she is expected to broach issues she has touched on many times in the past, including the prevention of sexual violence in conflict and justice for victims. According to a draft program obtained by The Canadian Press, the other major address at the summit will be delivered by Patrick Shanahan, the U.S. deputy secretary of defence.More than five years ago Jolie and former British foreign secretary William Hague launched the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. Last year she made a surprise appearance at the first UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial meeting in London, where she called for the prosecution of peacekeepers accused of sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as the deployment of more women peacekeepers."Peacekeeping forces can only gain and keep the trust of local populations if they are able to engage with women as well as men in that community," she told delegates in the room.Jolie told the delegates that numbers alone won't resolve conflicts and that modern peacekeeping must have ''the rights and protection and involvement of women at its heart." Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan was among the 80 or so defence ministers at the 2016 UN meeting, where he reaffirmed Canada's commitment to playing a leadership role in peace operations."Conflicts today are more complex than ever before, and we're serious about being part of the solution," he told delegates. "That's the reason we're bringing our resources and skills to the table."It's expected Ottawa will announce the long-awaited details of that contribution either at or right before the peacekeeping summit next week.
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'My children look up to her!' Angelina Jolie and kids join primatologist Jane Goodall at documentary premiere
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- Published on Thursday, 12 October 2017 03:24
- Written by Daily mail
Jane Goodall was a 26-year-old secretary with just a high school education when she was sent to Africa to study chimpanzees in their native habitat.Nearly sixty years later, newly uncovered original footage of the English scientist's years in the African bush has been turned into a fascinating new documentary by Brett Morgen.And Angelina Jolie and her children were there to support her longtime friend, as the film about the famed primatologist premiered at the Hollywood Bowl on Monday night.Never one to miss an educational opportunity, the well connected actress turned director brought along her four youngest children to meet Dame Goodall.Shiloh, Zahara, Knox and Vivien looked delighted to meet the 83-year-old, who remains a committed activist and spends her life travelling the world to educate people about the importance of conservation.Speaking at the event, Angelina said Jane was an inspiration to her six children.'I am so happy to be here to support my friend, and the cause that she has given her whole adult life to — helping us understand nature and our place in it,' Angelina told People magazine.'And now calling on us all to really grasp that we don’t have unlimited time to save wildlife and the environment. When someone with all Jane’s wealth of experience and knowledge and wisdom tells us that, we really have to take notice.'The two met eight years ago when Angelina was cast as the primatologist in the film Jane's Journey, about her life. Both UN Ambassadors, they bonded and became firm friends.The new documentary, narrated by Jane herself, was created from 100 hours of newly discovered 16MM film footage, filmed back in 1962 by Hugo van Lawick.Van Lawick was employed by National Geographic to create the film record. He went on to marry Jane, and the two had one son before divorcing, but stayed close until his death in 2002. Speaking to the sell-out crowd at the Hollywood Bowl on Monday, Jane shared the message she has spent her life promoting.'I have a very important message to take around the world. Which is that we are destroying this planet. And we need to get together to try and make change,' she told the audience, who gave her a standing ovation.'The National Geographic has been helping me to spread this message around the world ever since 1962 when they sent Hugo van Lawick to Gombe [National Park in Tanzania] and he was the one whose films and still photographs took the story of Jane and the chimps into homes around America and then around the world.'She said she initially rolled her eyes at the idea of another movie about her life. 'I was persuaded. "Well Jane never mind, it's going to be another film but it will help spread the message." So I agreed.'She said she was told her involvement would require just three hours of interviews.'We met for the first time out in Tanzania and it didn't work out quite like that. I met him [director Brett] and he started this interview. It lasted for two, two and a half days.'Brett, known for films such as Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck, interjected: 'The first thing I asked Jane was "Do you get tired of telling your story."'And she looked at me and said "It depends who's asking the questions."' To laughter, the pair introduced the film.
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