Angelina Jolie is speaking up about a controversial issue between the United Nations and the women and children refugees from war-torn countries. The ambassadress and special envoy for the agency admitted that the U.N.'s reputation has been affected because of allegations of sexual abuse. These abuses were supposedly committed by the peacekeepers themselves.
"The credibility of U.N. peacekeeping has been sadly undermined by the actions of a few intolerable cases of women and children being sexually exploited by the very people in charge of protecting them," said Angelina Jolie, according to The Guardian. The actress made her statements during the U.N. peacekeeping summit in London last Sept. 8, where over 80 countries had delegates in attendance. Angelina Jolie's presence at the London gathering was actually unexpected, but her speech was timely as the forum discussed what changes need to be made in the U.N.'s peacekeeping efforts.
Angelina Jolie cited that the abusers against the women and children refugees must be sanctioned and prosecuted according to the law. Human Watch Rights reports that from 2008 to 2013, there have been 480 cases of exploitation against women and children refugees at the camps, where over 100,000 peacekeepers are employed.
The Hollywood actress, who is herself a mom to six children, also emphasized that a new approach must be taken by the nations taking these refugees in so that peacekeeping efforts will always ensure the "rights and protection and involvement of women at its heart." She called for more women to become active in helping the refugees because it could help improve that trust the public has over the rehabilitation efforts.
The humanitarian is also calling on the leaders of the world to enact laws that will answer the refugee crisis. The actress cited that conditions at refugee camps are far from ideal and bearable. Aside from the cases involving a few peacekeepers, there's also the issue on the lack of food and basic supplies at the camps.
Many are actually still waiting for aid and funding that was promised to these camps since last year. "None of the basic protections under international humanitarian law are being applied," said Angelina Jolie, via People.
