Angelina Jolie backs UK campaign against sexual violence in war zones

The advance screening hosted by Foreign Secretary William Hague of her film ‘In The Land Of Blood And Honey' at the Foreign Office in London, for a specially invited audience of senior public figures, lawyers and human rights campaigners, marks a new Government initiative aimed at helping secure more prosecutions against perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict zones across the world.

Angelina Jolie

A UK team of experts will be created by the end of this year, including people from professions such as the police, lawyers, psychologists, doctors and forensic experts aimed at helping international efforts to gather evidence on sexual violence in conflict zones.u00a0Members would also be able to help in mentoring and training organisations tackling sexual violence and provide expertise in drafting legislation aimed at strengthening sanctions against perpetrators.

The Government said it planned to use the UK presidency of the G8 next year to promote practical ways of tackling sexual violence in war zones.u00a0Margot Wallstrom, special representative of the United Nations secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict, said in November that there have been only 30 convictions in spite of an estimated 50,000 rapes committed during the Balkans conflict.

Jolie, a special envoy for the United Nations refugee agency, said earlier this month that she was "grateful and proud" to be officially named an honorary citizen of Sarajevo as a result of her film, her directorial debut.u00a0