Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
National

WATCH: In Vancouver Angelina Jolie Urges Un To Renew Efforts To Stop Sexual Violence In War

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Nov, 2017 12:40 PM

    VANCOUVER — Angelina Jolie delivered a stinging rebuke Wednesday of global efforts to stop the use of sexual violence in war and called on the UN to finally help turn the tide.

     

    The Academy Award-winning actress was addressing foreign dignitaries and military officials attending the two-day United Nations peacekeeping summit, where the role of women in preventing conflict figured prominently.

     

    The meeting also saw a renewed push to prevent the use of child soldiers and better protect children caught in conflict, as attendees unveiled a series of commitments signed by 53 countries.

     

    Canada played a key role in advancing both conversations as host of the meeting and by pledging $21 million to increase the number and role of women in peacekeeping missions and military operations.

     

    The pledge was made amid a growing recognition that female personnel are essential when it comes to many peacekeeping tasks, such as helping victims of sexual violence and interacting with local women in the field.

     

     

    It also coincides with ongoing concerns about peacekeepers themselves sexually abusing or exploiting the very populations they have been ordered to protect.

     

    Yet only 7 per cent of the 13,000 police officers deployed as peacekeepers and two per cent of the 87,000 military personnel are women, and those numbers have remained stagnant despite promises to double them.

     

    During her address, Jolie, who is also a special envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, listed the many promises, laws and resolutions that have failed to eliminate sexual violence from war.

     

    And she didn't pull any punches as she blasted the UN's failure to increase the number of female peacekeepers deployed on missions, or its efforts to stop peacekeepers from sexually abusing vulnerable populations.

     

    "It has 21 years since the UN first promised to address sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers and to increase the number of women deployed in operations," she said.

     

    "Yet the exploitation of defenceless civilians still takes place. And still less than four per cent of all peacekeepers are women."

     

    But there was also an acknowledgment that a cultural shift is afoot, with Jolie saying that many military leaders have started "to address the taboos around these issues and to take action."

     

    Canada along with the United Kingdom and Bangladesh were singled out for special mention for promising to work together to increase the number of women and better incorporate gender perspectives in their militaries.

     
     

    That initiative was only one of several unveiled by the Trudeau government on Wednesday, along with a pledge of $21 million to boost the number of women in peacekeeping operations around the world.

     

    The money included $6 million to help with reforms at the UN and $15 million for a new trust fund that will be used to help countries increase the number of women in their respective militaries.

     

    The money could be used to facilitate partnerships with other countries that already boast sizable female contingents, and provide incentives to increase the deployment of women into the field.

     

    Several European countries also pledged to dramatically increase the number of female soldiers and police officers assigned to peacekeeping missions.

     

    "I hope they are just the beginning," Jolie said. "We will not only strengthen our societies and improve peacekeeping."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Teamwork Between VPD, Security Guard In Olympic Village Results In The Arrest Of A Property Crime

    Teamwork Between VPD, Security Guard In Olympic Village Results In The Arrest Of A Property Crime
    Police were called to the area of Manitoba Street and Athletes Way just before 2:30 a.m. on October 25th, after a security guard witnessed a man allegedly break into a parked car. 

    Teamwork Between VPD, Security Guard In Olympic Village Results In The Arrest Of A Property Crime

    'Lifetime Collection' Of Classic, Cars Lost In Fire In Langley, B.C.

    'Lifetime Collection'  Of Classic, Cars Lost In Fire In Langley, B.C.
    Alyn Edwards, a columnist who writes about classic cars and a good friend of the owners, Garry and Darlene Cassidy, said they are devastated by the loss.

    'Lifetime Collection' Of Classic, Cars Lost In Fire In Langley, B.C.

    Power Restored After Fire Under Queensborough Bridge Darkens Neighbourhood

    Power Restored After Fire Under Queensborough Bridge Darkens Neighbourhood
     Officials in New Westminster, B.C., say power has been restored to thousands of residents, but why high voltage lines under a major bridge exploded and burned is still under investigation.

    Power Restored After Fire Under Queensborough Bridge Darkens Neighbourhood

    VPD Officer Michael Bal Named One Of Top 40 Under 40 Law Enforcement Professionals In The World

    VPD Officer Michael Bal Named One Of Top 40 Under 40 Law Enforcement Professionals In The World
    In early 2016, Constable Bal launched Project Jawani, along with Detective Constable Steve Kingra. The project has South Asian youths gather for an open discussion about the issues they are facing.

    VPD Officer Michael Bal Named One Of Top 40 Under 40 Law Enforcement Professionals In The World

    Electrical Fire Closes Queensborough Bridge, Darkens Part Of New Westminster

    Electrical Fire Closes Queensborough Bridge, Darkens Part Of New Westminster
    Crews were scrambling to reopen a local bridge in New Westminster, B.C., that was closed when an overnight fire destroyed high voltage electrical cables under it, setting off commuter chaos on Wednesday.

    Electrical Fire Closes Queensborough Bridge, Darkens Part Of New Westminster

    Chilliwack School Trustee Apologizes To Those Hurt By Gender Identity Rant

    Chilliwack School Trustee Apologizes To Those Hurt By Gender Identity Rant
    Chilliwack's Barry Neufeld Said His Post Was A Criticism Of Use Of Educational Resources, Not Individuals.

    Chilliwack School Trustee Apologizes To Those Hurt By Gender Identity Rant