Queen’s Birthday Honours recognise those fighting to end use of rape as a war weapon
16 Jun 2014 12:04 PM
The Diplomatic Service
and Overseas Birthday 2014 Honours list has been published, announcing 100
awards in recognition of exceptional service to Britain
overseas.
The list recognises
outstanding people for achievements in a range of fields and includes 6 honours
for contributions to the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI). Angelina
Jolie receives an honorary Damehood for her campaigning work in this field and
there are OBEs for Brigid Inder, Executive Director, Women’s Initiatives
for Gender Justice, Madeleine Rees, Secretary General, Women’s
International League for Peace and Freedom, Robert Williams, Chief Executive,
War Child and Emma Hopkins, Head of PSVI at the Foreign Office. There is also
an MBE for Dr Ingrid Elliott, International Criminal Lawyer.
Awards also go to Professor
Tejinder Virdee, Professor of Physics, Imperial College, London, for services
to science, and Brendan Gormley, previously Chief Executive, Disasters
Emergency Committee, for the UK emergency humanitarian response to
disaster-affected people overseas. They both receive Knighthoods. BBC Chief
International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, receives an OBE for services to
British broadcast journalism. And June and Brian Cox are awarded British Empire
Medals for charitable work for children and families in The
Gambia.
The Foreign Secretary, William
Hague MP said:
These honours recognise people
carrying out extraordinary work overseas. I am particularly delighted by the
awards conferred upon those working with us to eradicate rape and sexual
violence in conflict, through the Preventing Sexual Violence
Initiative.
Each individual on this list has
made a real difference and achieved lasting results for our country; whether it
is fostering peace and stabilisation in war-torn countries, delivering vital
humanitarian assistance to disaster-affected people, striving to tackle major
humanitarian issues, or winning business for Britain. I am extremely grateful
to them all and congratulate them on their awards.
Angelina JOLIE (Honorary)
DCMG
Co-Founder of the Preventing
Sexual Violence Initiative and Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees, Angelina Jolie receives an honorary Damehood (DCMG) for services to
UK foreign policy and the campaign to end war zone sexual
violence.
Since co-founding the Preventing
Sexual Violence Initiative with William Hague, Foreign Secretary, in May 2012,
Angelina Jolie has made an exceptional contribution to the development,
promotion and impact of this major UK objective. Building on her long-term
humanitarian work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
she has been at the forefront of the initiative to highlight and seek justice
for the plight of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet, the victims
of sexual violence in conflict.
On learning of her award
Angelina Jolie said:
To receive an honour related to
foreign policy means a great deal to me, as it is what I wish to dedicate my
working life to.
Working on the Preventing Sexual
Violence Initiative and with survivors of rape is an honour in itself. I know
that succeeding in our goals will take a lifetime, and I am dedicated to it for
all of mine.
Brigid INDER
OBE
Executive Director,
Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice. For services to women’s
rights and international justice
Based in The Hague, Brigid Inder
has dedicated more than 25 years to working in the international justice,
women’s rights and health fields. As a campaigner and champion of PSVI,
she has worked tirelessly, both directly with victims to document accounts of
sexual violence and with the International Criminal Court and conflict-affected
countries to increase accountability for the crimes of rape and sexual
violence.
On learning of her award Brigid
Inder said:
It is humbling to receive this
honour. It highlights the need for prevention and greater accountability for
gender-based crimes, both in armed conflict situations and everyday life. I pay
tribute to all those who advocate for gender justice, especially victims and
survivors to whom justice most belongs.
Madeleine REES
OBE
Secretary General, Women’s
International League for Peace and Freedom. For services to human rights,
particularly women’s rights and international peace and
security
Based in Geneva, Madeleine Rees
has devoted almost 25 years to combating discrimination and promoting human
rights. She has been instrumental in bringing individual countries and the UN
system together to place women’s rights at the centre of their work by
making sure the victims’ concerns are heard at the heart of the
international arena. As a supporter of PSVI she has made a significant
contribution to the development of the International Protocol for the
investigation and documentation of sexual violence in conflict, as well as
promoting the role of women in preventing conflict and the equal and full
participation of women in all efforts to create and maintain peace and
security.
On learning of her award
Madeleine Rees said:
This is a complete surprise! I
am honoured. It is recognition that all of us who work on human rights and
combating discrimination are making a contribution, not just to peace but to
real security. I see it as an endorsement and encouragement to never give
up!
Robert WILLIAMS
OBE
Chief Executive, War Child. For
services to protecting and improving the lives of children including those
affected by conflict overseas
For over 20 years Rob Williams
has been committed to improving the lives of children both in the UK and
overseas. Under his guidance, War Child has become an agency capable of
supporting the most vulnerable children in some of the worst conflict disasters
as well as campaigning to improve the lives of many more children around the
world. Since the launch of PSVI, Rob has provided key support to address the
specific needs of children who are a majority of victims of sexual violence in
conflict as well as raising the profile of the issue
internationally.
On receiving news of his award
Rob Williams said:
It is fantastic to have such
recognition of the work that War Child does to keep children safe even in the
middle of conflict. I see this as a major tribute to the staff, volunteers,
artists, supporters and donors who have built an organisation we can be proud
of”.
Dr Ingrid ELLIOTT
MBE
International Criminal Lawyer.
For services to international justice
With 15 years of experience in
investigation, trial and advocacy, Dr Elliott has worked relentlessly towards
improving the international legal framework to tackle impunity for
international crimes including sexual violence in conflict, contributing
towards the delivery of justice for survivors. She was involved in the
investigations in Bosnia into mass atrocities, and more recently has been
supporting work with Syrian refugees. She has also been responsible for best
practice guidelines in this field and capacity building to improve
documentation and application of international criminal law.
On hearing news of her award, Dr
Elliott said:
I am humbled to receive this
honour which recognises the work of many dedicated souls who champion the fight
against impunity for international crimes and sexual violence. This award also
acknowledges the importance of the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in
Conflict Initiative, to which I am honoured to contribute.
Further
information
Birthday Honours lists
2014
Honorary British Awards to Foreign Nationals - 2014
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