Join the Global Movement to End Sexual Violence in Conflict
06 May 2014
Sexual violence in conflict is real. It exists. And it affects people all over the world. It’s time to act to put a stop to it.
Supporting the call to end this injustice, the Australian and British embassies are participating in a Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict hosted by British Foreign Secretary William Hague and one of the campaign’s staunchest supporters, Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie.
One of the best ways to end sexual violence in conflict is to ensure women have a meaningful role in conflict resolution. To highlight the significant contribution of women to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the embassies are sponsoring a delegation of Filipino women who have played key roles in conflict resolution and peace building to attend the Summit and share their experiences.
Young Filipinos also have much to contribute to the global movement to end sexual violence in conflict. To support youth participation in the summit, the two embassies are launching an essay competition to select two winners to join the Philippine delegation.
The essay competition is open to Filipinos from 18 to 30 years old. More information may be found on the websites and social media accounts of the Australian and British embassies: http://www.philippines.embassy.gov.au and https://www.gov.uk/government/world/philippines.
The Global Summit to End Sexual Violence will be the largest gathering ever brought together on this subject, with a view to creating irreversible momentum against sexual violence in conflict and practical action that impact those on the ground. The Summit will also clearly situate this issue within the broader Women, Peace and Security agenda and be an opportunity to make further progress in the international community’s commitment to guaranteeing women’s full economic, social and political rights.
The Summit will take place in London from 10 to 13 June 2014.
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Notes:
In May 2012 the UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and the Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie, launched the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI). Its goal is to end the culture of impunity for the use of sexual violence both as a tool and a side-effect of war worldwide. A Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict was launched at the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2013, with 144 governments (including the Philippines) endorsing the Declaration. The Declaration must be translated to practical action that delivers real progress on the ground in the fight against sexual violence in conflict.
