Photo: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty
Angelina Joliedelivered a rousing speech advocating for more women to join the United Nations’ peacekeeping force.
The 43-year-old activist and actress, who has been working with the UN Refugee Agency for 18 years, appeared in front of the UN Defense Peacekeeping Ministerial in America for the first time on Friday. She was outfitted for the event in a Ryan Roche coat and Cartier jewelry.
Jolie was appointed special envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 2012 and has since traveled the world advocating for refugees and women and children, in particular.
This time, the Oscar winner furthered her work in fighting to eradicate sexual violence during war.
“Around the world there are countless examples of women rising, taking leadership, taking their destiny into their own hands, inspiring all of us. But women and girls are still the majority of the victims of war. They are over half of all refugees, and the vast majority of the victims of rape and other sexual and gender-based violence,” she said in her speech.
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Bintou Keita (United Nations Assistant-Secretary General for Africa), Angelina Jolie (U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees special envoy), and U.N. Peacekeeper Lt. Cmdr. Marcia Andrade Braga.Bebeto Matthews/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Jolie went on to call for more women to take places in leadership positions in the peacekeeping missions, and for nations around the country to include women in the highest positions of decision making.
“Denying half a population representation in peace negotiations or in government is not the route to long-term stability,” she said. “As long as we continue to put almost every other issue ahead of women’s rights and participation, we will remain stuck in a cycle of violence and conflict. We will have learnt nothing. And our institutions will count for far less than they should.”
Bebeto Matthews/AP/REX/Shutterstock
“There is still much more to do to increase the number of women in the ranks of peacekeeping missions. Having met some formidable female peacekeepers this morning I think this change cannot come soon enough for the effectiveness and impact of UN peacekeeping,” she said.
source: people.com
