Foreign Secretary and Special Envoy open Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict
11 Jun 2014 11:22 AM
The Foreign Secretary
William Hague and Special Envoy Angelina Jolie marked the start of the Global
Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict
yesterday.
The Foreign Secretary William
Hague and Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Angelina Jolie
opened the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict yesterday. The
Summit will welcome governments from over 100 countries, over 900 experts,
NGOs, Faith leaders, and representatives from international organisations
across the world. It is the biggest ever international meeting on this issue.
It demonstrates the global commitment to end sexual violence in conflict and to
take decisive action against this crime.
The Foreign Secretary pledged a
further £6 million to support survivors of sexual violence in conflict to
rebuild their lives and communities. Opening the Summit, the Foreign Secretary
said:
From the abolition of slavery to
the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty, we have shown that the international
community can tackle vast global problems in a way that was once considered to
be impossible. There is power in numbers and if we unite behind this cause we
can create an unstoppable momentum and consign this vile abuse to
history.
The Special Envoy
said:
We need to shatter that culture
of impunity and make justice the norm, not the exception, for these crimes. We
need political will, replicated across the world, and we need to treat this
subject as a priority. We need to see real commitment and go after the worst
perpetrators, to fund proper protection for vulnerable people, and to step in
to help the worst-affected countries. We need all armies, peacekeeping troops
and police forces to have prevention of sexual violence in conflict as part of
their training.
A full transcript of their remarks is now
available.
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