Angelina Jolie denounces the inaction of leaders in the face of sexual violence in conflict zones

“Despite the commitments made by governments, we do not have meaningful and lasting actions globally. It is deeply painful and frustrating. »

In an open letter published in The Guardianactress Angelina Jolie turned to governments their inaction in the fight against sexual violence in armed conflicts. His observation is clear: fine words have not given way to action and nothing is being done to curb wartime sexual violence around the world. He points to the cowardice of leaders who have not delivered on what they promised:

“When it comes to making tough choices about implementing those promises, we run into the same problems over and over. We are faced with members of the security councils who abuse their right of veto, as happened in Syria.

We address political and economic interests that come first, treating some conflicts as more important than others.

And we are faced with a lack of political will, which means that in recent years governments have pushed aside the importance of efforts to combat sexual violence in conflict zones, despite the direct link to peace and international security. »

As co-founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and special envoy to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reminds us, the issue must not be underestimated, particularly as these multiple consequences are harmful and sustainable for all countries concerned:

“Sexual violence in conflict zones makes peace more difficult to achieve and less stable. They increase the risk of domestic violence. They cause population displacements. They prevent girls from going to school. They leave marks of trauma and stigma that affect entire societies and cross generations. »

A summit of the Conflict Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative, bringing together 70 countries, will be held in London this week. The British government has already pledged to put £12.5m on the table over the next three years. A “drop in the sea” says Eva Tabassam, director of Gender Action for Peace and Security “compared to the amounts of funds that have been cut from the gender equality program”.

An observation shared by Nimco Alo, director of The Five Foundation, for whom a simple renewal of commitments will not be enough. “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office must implement a sea change and update its priorities by putting the principles of equality at the heart of its political advocacy and diplomacy. »

Photo credit: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons