In an impassioned speech in front of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords last Tuesday, Academy award-winning actress and U.N. Special Envoy for Refugees, Angelina Jolie has appealed to the British parliament and the world to put a stop to ISIS’ policy of sexual violence in Iraq and Syria.
“They are dictating it as policy… beyond what we have seen before,” Jolie-Pitt told the assembled members of Parliament who attended her hearing in the newly established committee on sexual violence in conflict
She also added that ISIS leaders were effectively urging their fighters to commit acts of sexual violence “We ask you to rape. “They are saying, ‘you should do this, this is the way to build a society’,” Jolie-Pitt said.
The Oscar winner then went on to recount the ordeals of girls she had met in conflict-ridden areas who told her that they had been raped multiple times and have been sold like slaves for as little as $40.
When asked what she thought were the cause of this problem was, she had this to say “I think the most important thing to understand is what it’s not. It’s not sexual, it is a violent, brutal terrorizing weapon.” she then added that “Unfortunately, it is everywhere in and out of the conflict in every country, basically. I can’t think of one where there is not this issue.” “it is a very effective weapon and they are using it as a centre point of their terror and their way of destroying communities and families and attacking and dehumanising”.
She then appealed for what can be done. “Laws need to change, policies need to change, governments and leaderships need to come together and that will make the real change.”
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