British Embassy
Angelina Jolie is at the @foreignoffice today for an advance screening of her film “In the Land of Blood & Honey” ow.ly/bdRNI
Alex Schillemore
Angelina Jolie here @foreignoffice today to help launch UK initiative on preventing sexual violence in conflict fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest…
Foreign Office (FCO)
Ms Angelina Jolie will be at the
Angelina Jolie backs UK fight against rape in war zones
The
actor will attend a Foreign Office screening of her Bosnia war film as
part of her support for a team of experts who will gather evidence about
sexual violence in conflict areas
Special envoy … Angelina Jolie will
attend a screening at the Foreign Office of her film In the Land of
Blood and Honey. Photograph: Markus Schreiber/AP
Angelina Jolie's debut as a director, the gruelling drama In the Land of Blood and Honey set during the war in Bosnia, is to be screened at the British Foreign Office as the Oscar-winning actor gives her support to a new government initiative aimed at tackling rape in war zones.
Jolie, a special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency, will attend the event and give a speech prior to the screening. In the Land of Blood and Honey was the source of controversy during its production process after it was criticised by Bosnian victims of sexual violence during the Balkan conflict, their anger having centred on erroneous reports that the film saw a Bosnian rape
victim fall in love with her Serbian attacker. Since then, the film has
drawn praise from critics and rape victims alike. Earlier this year it
won a special Producers Guild prize – the Stanley Kramer award – for
illuminating provocative social issues.
Jolie is backing the assembly of a UK team of lawyers, human rights campaigners, psychologists, forensic experts and doctors, who will gather evidence about sexual violence in war zones in support of UN teams and local charities. The initiative is expected to be in place by the end of the year.
The foreign secretary, William Hague, who will host the launch event, said: "Sexual violence is a problem found in every society in the world, and all countries have to do more to tackle it at home. We have to ensure equal rights for women at every level of society, and to protect the vulnerable, most of all our children.
"But it is in the context of war and conflict that sexual violence is found to the most appalling degree, and on a scale most of us cannot imagine. Sexual violence is an issue which is central to conflict prevention and to peace-building worldwide. Where there is no justice, the seeds of future conflict are sewn, and development is held back."
The UN estimates that only 30 convictions have been made from an estimated 50,000 rapes committed during the 1990s Balkans conflict, during which sexual attacks were often used as a weapon of war and a tool of ethnic cleansing. Atrocities have also been particularly widespread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and the Darfur region of Sudan.
In the Land of Blood and Honey, which Jolie screened in both English and Serbo-Croatian versions, portrays a romance between Danijel (Goran Kostić), a Serb man, and Ajla (Zana Marjanović), a Bosniak woman, which blossoms as the last nails are being hammered into Yugoslavia's coffin. Torn apart by the war, they meet unexpectedly when Ajla is taken prisoner in a war camp and Danijel is her jailer. The Guardian's Andrew Pulver called it "sombre, powerful, and undeniably gripping" after the drama screened at the Berlin film festival in February.
Jolie is backing the assembly of a UK team of lawyers, human rights campaigners, psychologists, forensic experts and doctors, who will gather evidence about sexual violence in war zones in support of UN teams and local charities. The initiative is expected to be in place by the end of the year.
The foreign secretary, William Hague, who will host the launch event, said: "Sexual violence is a problem found in every society in the world, and all countries have to do more to tackle it at home. We have to ensure equal rights for women at every level of society, and to protect the vulnerable, most of all our children.
"But it is in the context of war and conflict that sexual violence is found to the most appalling degree, and on a scale most of us cannot imagine. Sexual violence is an issue which is central to conflict prevention and to peace-building worldwide. Where there is no justice, the seeds of future conflict are sewn, and development is held back."
The UN estimates that only 30 convictions have been made from an estimated 50,000 rapes committed during the 1990s Balkans conflict, during which sexual attacks were often used as a weapon of war and a tool of ethnic cleansing. Atrocities have also been particularly widespread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and the Darfur region of Sudan.
In the Land of Blood and Honey, which Jolie screened in both English and Serbo-Croatian versions, portrays a romance between Danijel (Goran Kostić), a Serb man, and Ajla (Zana Marjanović), a Bosniak woman, which blossoms as the last nails are being hammered into Yugoslavia's coffin. Torn apart by the war, they meet unexpectedly when Ajla is taken prisoner in a war camp and Danijel is her jailer. The Guardian's Andrew Pulver called it "sombre, powerful, and undeniably gripping" after the drama screened at the Berlin film festival in February.
29 May 2012
Last updated at 07:15 ET
UK experts will be trained to deploy at short notice to gather evidence in conflict-hit areas, under the scheme.
Rape is often used as a tactic of war against men, women and children in conflicts across the globe.
The team of experts will be selected from professions including the police, psychologists, doctors, lawyers, and forensic experts.
Apart from gathering evidence, they will mentor international organisations fighting sexual violence, and help to draft effective legislation.
'Horrifying reports' An audience of public figures and human rights campaigners will gather for the launch of the scheme, at the Foreign Office in London.
Actress Angelina Jolie, a special envoy for the United Nations, is to speak at the launch, before a screening of her new film, In the Land Of Blood and Honey - a love story set in the 1992-95 Bosnian war.
BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge said that while sexual violence was frequently used as a weapon of war, conviction rates were still too low.
Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo will be the project's biggest concern, he said.
Our correspondent says Foreign Secretary William Hague will also use the launch of the initiative to speak about "horrifying reports now starting to emerge" of rape in Syria.
In the run-up to the scheme's launch, Mr Hague said: "Sexual violence is a problem found in every society in the world, and all countries have to do more to tackle it at home.
"But it is in the context of war and conflict that sexual violence is found to the most appalling degree, and on a scale most of us cannot imagine."
In November, Margot Wallstrom, special representative of the United Nations secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict, revealed that although up to 50,000 women had been raped during the Balkans conflict, there had been only 30 convictions.
Around 200,000 women of all ages were raped during the war in Congo, which ended in 2003.
In 2010 alone, 8,000 women and girls were raped due to continuing violence in the country.
The British government said it would use the UK presidency of the G8 in 2013 to promote a global approach to tackling sexual violence in war-torn countries and bringing perpetrators to the courts.
BBC Angelina Jolie backs UK anti-rape scheme in war zones
Angelina Jolie is a special envoy for the United Nations
An initiative aimed at tackling sexual violence in war zones across the world is to be launched by the UK government.
It is hoped the scheme, which is backed by actress Angelina
Jolie, will mean more perpetrators of sexual violence can be pursued in
international courts.UK experts will be trained to deploy at short notice to gather evidence in conflict-hit areas, under the scheme.
Rape is often used as a tactic of war against men, women and children in conflicts across the globe.
The team of experts will be selected from professions including the police, psychologists, doctors, lawyers, and forensic experts.
Apart from gathering evidence, they will mentor international organisations fighting sexual violence, and help to draft effective legislation.
'Horrifying reports' An audience of public figures and human rights campaigners will gather for the launch of the scheme, at the Foreign Office in London.
Actress Angelina Jolie, a special envoy for the United Nations, is to speak at the launch, before a screening of her new film, In the Land Of Blood and Honey - a love story set in the 1992-95 Bosnian war.
BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge said that while sexual violence was frequently used as a weapon of war, conviction rates were still too low.
Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo will be the project's biggest concern, he said.
Our correspondent says Foreign Secretary William Hague will also use the launch of the initiative to speak about "horrifying reports now starting to emerge" of rape in Syria.
In the run-up to the scheme's launch, Mr Hague said: "Sexual violence is a problem found in every society in the world, and all countries have to do more to tackle it at home.
"But it is in the context of war and conflict that sexual violence is found to the most appalling degree, and on a scale most of us cannot imagine."
In November, Margot Wallstrom, special representative of the United Nations secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict, revealed that although up to 50,000 women had been raped during the Balkans conflict, there had been only 30 convictions.
Around 200,000 women of all ages were raped during the war in Congo, which ended in 2003.
In 2010 alone, 8,000 women and girls were raped due to continuing violence in the country.
The British government said it would use the UK presidency of the G8 in 2013 to promote a global approach to tackling sexual violence in war-torn countries and bringing perpetrators to the courts.
Foreign Secretary announces UK initiative on preventing sexual violence in conflict
29 May 2012
Foreign Secretary William Hague will announce a UK initiative on preventing sexual violence in conflict later today.
It will include the establishment of a dedicated UK team devoted to combating and preventing sexual violence in conflict. This team will be able to be deployed overseas at short notice to gather evidence and testimony that can be used to support investigations and prosecutions.
The initiative will be launched to an invited audience of political and civil society figures at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, followed by an advance screening of “In the Land of Blood and Honey.”
The film’s Director and Special Envoy to the UN High Commissioner on Refugees, Ms Angelina Jolie, will be present, along with members of the cast.
The Foreign Secretary will say:
“Sexual violence is a problem found in every society in the world, and all countries have to do more to tackle it at home. We have to ensure equal rights for women at every level of society, and to protect the vulnerable, most of all our children. But it is in the context of war and conflict that sexual violence is found to the most appalling degree, and on a scale most of us cannot imagine.
“In Bosnia and Herzegovina between 20,000 and 50,000 women were raped between 1992 and 1995. In Sierra Leone, the figure was between 50,000 and 64,000. During the genocide in Rwanda, the UN estimates that at least 250,000 women were raped. In Liberia, 49% of women between the ages of 15 and 70 reported experiencing at least one act of physical or sexual violence by a soldier or fighter. And there are horrifying reports now starting to emerge of rape in Syria.
“Sexual violence is an issue which is central to conflict prevention and to peace building worldwide. Where there is no justice, the seeds of future conflict are sown, and development is held back. This was brought home to me personally when I met women in refugee camps in Darfur and survivors of Srebrenica.
“As a community of nations we will not succeed in preventing conflict and building sustainable peace unless we give this issue the centrality it deserves; alongside the empowerment and participation of women at every level in all societies.
“Despite the valiant efforts of many individuals and organisations, the perpetrators of the worst sexual crimes generally go unpunished. So today, I want to publicly renew the British Government’s commitment to the fight against sexual violence. We want to use Britain’s influence and diplomatic capability to rally effective international action.
“We want to help find practical ways to ensure that survivors feel confident to speak out, and regain the dignity, rights, and restitution that is their due. And we want to see a significant increase in the number of successful prosecutions so that we erode and eventually demolish the culture of impunity.
“To that end, we will set up a new team of experts devoted to combating and preventing sexual violence in conflict. This team will be able to be deployed overseas at short notice to gather evidence and testimony that can be used to support investigations and prosecutions. It will be available to be drawn on to support UN missions, and to provide training and mentoring to national authorities to help them develop the right laws and capabilities. It will draw on the skills of doctors, lawyers, police, psychologists, forensic experts and experts in the care and protection of victims and witnesses.
“On top of this, we will use Britain’s Presidency of the G8, starting on January 1st 2013, to run a year-long diplomatic campaign on the need for stronger international action to deter and prevent sexual violence in conflict.
“We will use these crucial seven months before our Presidency to build real momentum around this initiative. Within that time, we will bring the new team fully into operation; and we will consult other countries and work with the UN and our NGO partners on specific detailed initiatives for the UK’s G8 Presidency and beyond.
“We are deeply honoured that Ms Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, has joined us tonight at this launch. Ms Jolie, we are very grateful to you for coming and for graciously allowing us to screen your film ‘In the Land of Blood and Honey’. For more than ten years you have worked to highlight the plight of refugees worldwide in Haiti, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and many other countries; to support numerous charitable causes, and to promote education, justice and the rights of women worldwide. And in this film you bring to life the devastating human consequences of international inaction in the face of conflict, the appalling human rights abuses that stem from it, and the impact on women. It is a rallying call that none of us can ignore.”
Telegraph.co.uk
Angelina Jolie to join William Hague in campaign against sexual violence
Angelina Jolie is to give her support today to the launch of a new Government initiative aimed at tackling sexual violence in war zones across the world.
Angelina Jolie will speak before an
advance screening hosted by Foreign Secretary William Hague of her film
In The Land Of Blood And Honey Photo: AP
The actor will speak before an advance screening hosted by Foreign Secretary
William Hague of her film In The Land Of Blood And Honey, a love story set
against the backdrop of the Bosnia war.
The film shows the brutality of the war and is said to depict summary
executions and the systematic rape of Muslim and Croat women.
The event at the Foreign Office in London, for a specially-invited audience of
senior public figures, lawyers and human rights campaigners, marks a new
Government initiative aimed at helping secure more prosecutions against
perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict zones across the world.
A UK team of experts will be created by the end of this year drawn from
professions such as the police, lawyers, psychologists, doctors and forensic
experts aimed at helping international efforts to gather evidence on sexual
violence in conflict zones.
Members would also be able to help in mentoring and training organisations
tackling sexual violence and provide expertise in drafting legislation aimed
at strengthening sanctions against perpetrators.
The Government said it planned to use the UK presidency of the G8 next year to
promote practical ways of tackling sexual violence in war zones.
Rape has been used as a weapon of war against women, men and children in conflicts across the world, including Congo, Rwanda and former Yugoslavia.
A Tearfund report Silent No More published last year outlined United Nations statistics showing that worldwide one in five women will become a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime.
During the war in Congo, aroun 200,000 women and girls were raped but in spite of the war ending in 2003, in 2010 alone 8,000 women and girls were raped amid continuing conflict in the country.
During the Rwandan genocide in 1994, between 250,000 and 500,000 people were sexually assaulted and in Liberia sexual violence was ''recognised weapon of war'', the report said.
In spite of widespread sexual violence in war zones, conviction rates remain ''far too low'' according to the Foreign Office.
Margot Wallstrom, special representative of the United Nations secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict, said in November that there have been only 30 convictions in spite of an estimated 50,000 rapes committed during the Balkans conflict.
Jolie, a special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency, said earlier this month that she was ''grateful and proud'' to be officially named an honorary citizen of Sarajevo as a result of her film, her directorial debut.
Mr Hague said: ''Sexual violence is a problem found in every society in the world, and all countries have to do more to tackle it at home.
''We have to ensure equal rights for women at every level of society, and to protect the vulnerable, most of all our children.
''But it is in the context of war and conflict that sexual violence is found to the most appalling degree, and on a scale most of us cannot imagine.''
He added: ''Sexual violence is an issue which is central to conflict prevention and to peace building worldwide.
''Where there is no justice, the seeds of future conflict are sown, and development is held back.''
Rape has been used as a weapon of war against women, men and children in conflicts across the world, including Congo, Rwanda and former Yugoslavia.
A Tearfund report Silent No More published last year outlined United Nations statistics showing that worldwide one in five women will become a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime.
During the war in Congo, aroun 200,000 women and girls were raped but in spite of the war ending in 2003, in 2010 alone 8,000 women and girls were raped amid continuing conflict in the country.
During the Rwandan genocide in 1994, between 250,000 and 500,000 people were sexually assaulted and in Liberia sexual violence was ''recognised weapon of war'', the report said.
In spite of widespread sexual violence in war zones, conviction rates remain ''far too low'' according to the Foreign Office.
Margot Wallstrom, special representative of the United Nations secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict, said in November that there have been only 30 convictions in spite of an estimated 50,000 rapes committed during the Balkans conflict.
Jolie, a special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency, said earlier this month that she was ''grateful and proud'' to be officially named an honorary citizen of Sarajevo as a result of her film, her directorial debut.
Mr Hague said: ''Sexual violence is a problem found in every society in the world, and all countries have to do more to tackle it at home.
''We have to ensure equal rights for women at every level of society, and to protect the vulnerable, most of all our children.
''But it is in the context of war and conflict that sexual violence is found to the most appalling degree, and on a scale most of us cannot imagine.''
He added: ''Sexual violence is an issue which is central to conflict prevention and to peace building worldwide.
''Where there is no justice, the seeds of future conflict are sown, and development is held back.''
