On Friday, Angelina Jolie was in South Africa to attend a panel discussion and make a speech about sexual/gender violence in conflict. Jolie co-hosted the huge summit on Sexual Violence in Conflict last summer, and this appearance was an extension of her ongoing work. Like she did in London, Angelina appealed with William Hague, the now former Secretary of State of Great Britain. Hague and Jolie are tight, and have been close allies and friends for several years now. His continued involvement with this issue (even now that he’s out of office) makes me believe that he really cares about violence against women in a real way.
Superficial note: Angelina’s grey dress in these photos is by Michael Kors. She really doesn’t look like she’s wearing much makeup and her continued work with these causes is not “glamorous.” And I love that about her. The other woman in these photos is African Union Commission chairperson Nkosasana Dlamini-Zuma. The conference in Johannesburg was part of the annual African Union Summit.
As I said, Jolie gave a speech about violence against women, specifically within war or conflict zones. She said, in part: “There is a global epidemic of violence against women – both within conflict zones and within societies at peace – and it is still treated as a lesser crime and lower priority…The near-total impunity that exists worldwide for crimes against women, in conflict zones in particular, means that we are seeing more and more armed groups turn it into their weapon of choice. Women and girls are bearing the brunt of extremists that revel in treating them barbarically. This is inextricably linked to our overall failure to prevent and end conflicts worldwide, which is causing human suffering on an unprecedented level.” I’m including a video below – skip ahead to the one-minute mark to see part of her speech.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Yes, there is! Right here in your own backyard, Angelina. Happening daily! Women being sold into to slavery, sex trafficking, rape, molestation etc. Why not get involved more in the US? I appreciate what you are doing worldwide however, you could certainly become MORE involved in the USA.
You really can’t please everyone, it doesn’t matter how much one does. Sad really! She is doing great work in the field she is passionate about.
Why don’t YOU take that as your cause?! She can’t be involved in EVERY cause at all times!
I HAVE, in 2007, and will continue…
+1000. I appreciate any and all charity work but we have a LOT of problems here in the U.S., why not start at home?
Because Americans won’t fawn and fall all over her or give her the attention she craves.
She said there is a GLOBAL epidemic of violence against women. The last time I looked, the U.S. is part of the globe.
Do you realize that your statement implies that the problems in the US are more important than those in war-torn countries? It also implies that the violence against American women should be addressed ahead of the violence against those in poorer nations. While you may not consciously think that, your words make it clear you don’t think that the foreign poor deserve our help as much as our domestic poor and oppressed.
Considering the fact that the broken criminal justice systems that allow perpetrators to commit these crimes with impunity means that every women who cannot afford a secure place to live is vulnerable, this creates a much bigger problem affecting millions more women internationally than here in the US. Shouldn’t it move those of us in safer, more secure situations to act on their behalf? Whether you work domestically or internationally to help those in need, it’s all good, worthy and important work.
It is utterly depressing, but she is so right! unfortunately, in most parts of the world women are still being treated worse than animals. Even here in Europe, where women are treated with the greatest degree of respect & equality (overall) relative to the rest of the world, there is still far too much abuse & mistreatment of women. If anything, with the rise of this ghastly & murderous extremist muslim ideology across so much of the middle East, Asia & Africa, the world is getting to be a really awful place to be a woman. Given that every human being is born to a woman, one really wonders why so many men & even women hate other women so much
Because although the U.S. could also use help, the situation in other countries is far worse for women. The female circumcision procedure is one of the most barbaric horrors I’ve heard of, sanctioned and carried out on young girls by the men who control them. This is just one in a long list of atrocities carried out against females. If men can dominate and abuse women, they will.
Last I checked – USA is not in war (as in a war is not happening in USA).
Angelina is focussing on an issue which for centuries were not seen as crimes/war crimes – rape during war time.
This initiative Angelina has put together has now been sanctioned as war crime. This will give millions of women and men who were raped during war to get justice.
You need to do some research.. she and Brad do a great deal for this country.. Besides personal funds.. they pay taxes.. and our government is suppose to use those funds to help.
It is sad that people need to find something negative about what she has been doing for 14 years.
Most Americans pay taxes so Angelina and Brad aren’t doing us any favors. I give ten percent of my gross to charity and, like many others, work for various causes. People in the trenches doing the hard work don’t have a need for photo ops.
And she acknowledges those people. You obviously don’t like her and that is fine. But stop calling what she does a Photo op. She and Brad both support many charities in the US. But again she gets to decide where she puts her money. Just as you do.
@Anon: you accuse Angelina for doing to get credit and as photo up – well you are no different because you yourself just said how much you donate time and money to charity.
The difference is that you are not famous and they are so therefore people will notice.
I find it freaking irritating and a bit hypocritical of people who are doing charity work and yet are attacking famous people who not only donate time and money but are actually bringing much needed awareness to the causes.
If you were a true humanitarian worker, instead of attacking these people, you will be happy that awareness is being brought.
Angie can never do enough, she is not Super Woman, when it is not, why she is not adopting American children? now is why she is not doing it in her backyard.
She chose to work with Refugees, and this is a continuation of that work.
USA is part of the World, not the only Country that needs help.
You can argue that the sex trafficking in the US is only possible because there are so many vulnerable women world-wide who allow for such a robust demand for such activity in the first place. (By vulnerable, I mean they have lost their home/city/culture and have to think about basic survival in terms of food and water every minute of their lives).
Angelina can only do so much! She can choose where to focus her attention.
What are you doing besides whine about her doing something productive with her time?
Sheesh! It’s always something and never enough when it comes to Angelina, amirite?
I canvassed briefly for UNHCR, so I know the work they do. I’m also aware of the problem of sexual violence in the US and trafficking, especially in LA. What people who make such criticisms of her don’t realize is that by bringing attention to the greater, global problem, she is highlighting those right here “at home”.
She’s only one woman. And, oh, yeah, she also has a major career – plus six kids of her own. Yet she’s tireless; meanwhile, I get tired just thinking about it all…
Same Sh##,different day.This is no different than the people who criticize her for adopting kids from Africa and Asia.This is no different from people who criticize Oprah for opening her school in Africa.Angelina has stated that she sees no borders.Her KIND organization(kids in need of defense) provides legal help for refugees and immigration children.She supports SOS Children’s Villages in USA and abroad.She is building a clinic in HIV/TB clinic in Ethiopia .Everybody doesn’t believe charity begins at home some people believe charity begins with the weakest, most vulnerable citizens of the world.
I will help a stranger with pneumonia before I help a relative with a cold.
So here is someone doing good. Trying hard to make a difference. And by all accounts, having quite a bit of success in the areas in which she’s concentrating.m And your reaction is to snipe about WHERE she’s doing it. Just great. Way to be another part of the problem. As my mother used to say, “When you see someone doing good, rather than comment on some ‘correction you feel compelled to make from your uninvolved armchair, perhaps a better choice might be to shut up and clap.”
So here is someone doing good. Trying hard to make a difference. And by all accounts, having quite a bit of success in the areas in which she’s concentrating.m And Judd’s reaction is to snipe about WHERE she’s doing it. Just great. Way to be another part of the problem. As my mother used to say, “When you see someone doing good, rather than comment on some ‘correction’ you feel compelled to make from your uninvolved armchair, perhaps a better choice might be to shut up and clap.”
You have a point. However, if good work is being done and women are being helped, it really all that matters. Maybe she’s doing something in the US that is never reported or donating. We only know what the media tells us.
She is doing something good, a lot of people, celebrities and regular, rich and poor, are doing a lot. Just because someone gets more press or more praise does not mean we are stupid enough to think they are the only people doing something. She’s a famous actress, whatever she does will get press. It doesn’t negate the work everyone else is doing. Goodness cannot be quantify or measured.
Why are our problems in the US more important the the problems in the rest of the world that she SHOULD be working here instead??? There’s no one in these war-torn countries standing up for the poor and the vulnerable, so it behooves those in other countries to speak up and act on their behalf.
I can’t believe the amount of cynicism for the good work Angelina is doing on behalf of the disadvantaged. I support a related organization that frees people from all kinds of slavery in the world and I’m grateful for whatever work she’s doing to raise money and bring attention to the horrific abuses of women and children in war-torn countries. She seems to really want to help and it’s a great way to use her money and name to help those less fortunate.
America is rich and selfish it doesn’t need any advocacy it has all the wealth in the world and connections. I am so sick and tired of insular selfish yanks saying “what about America?” Stuff America! America is far too rich. Americans really don’t understand that in these countries they barely have running water let alone are able to leave abusive situations.
While America and all first-world countries have problems, the broken criminal justice systems in every third-world country exposes the vulnerable to all kinds of everyday violence that we Westerners have no experience with. It’s an even bigger problem than poverty because if girls can’t go fetch water at the well or go to school without being kidnapped or raped or if widows get kicked off their land by greedy relatives, they remain in a cycle of poverty and violence because there’s no one to advocate for them.
Just check out Gary Haugen’s TED talk on this, His organization works on behalf of slaves and victims of violence in poor countries:
https://www.ted.com/talks/gary_haugen_the_hidden_reason_for_poverty_the_world_needs_to_address_now/transcript?language=en
The problems are so much more fundamental and basic and can’t be solved with just money. Having their issues put before us, compelling the more stable, richer nations to act is imperative.
At least ,in America, the women have basic rights in a completely different way than in wartorn countries.
I’m not saying that what happens to some women in the US aren’t equally horrible because of course it is and of course it matters just as much, but there are countries in more accute need and there are a lot more people on the womens sida in America than in a lot of countries at war
America has the resources to advocate for
itself. Does Africa? Who advocates at a global level for women there, who bear the brunt of large-scale endemic violence? Don’t be so parochial.
I’m a little late to this game because it was a holiday in South Africa and i went home to visit my family. Nothing against Angelina at all but they should have chosen one of ours to talk at the summit. There are soo many women who have experienced atrocities, that could have spoken. Very Very Bad Choice.
I am really not attacking you and I know your country experienced (and still does) horrible violence, but picking her is about awareness. Would people click on a piece of news about an unknown woman that suffered such violence from anywhere in the world? No, they wouldn´t. Maybe the organizers needed another voice too, not only hers, but her being there is news. That said, I work for a news organization that also has a charitable side and I didn´t see not even 10 lines about this. Not even with her there.
The war on women needs all the attention it can get, and if we have to get actresses (which in this case is also a humanitarian activist) to open people eyes so be it.
I’m a sorry but do you know what this ‘conference’ was that she attended?? It’s the African Union Summit. It’s a Summit that’s held annually by the African Union, which is a Union of African Nations. The theme this year was Women Empowerment for the future. It had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the media or awareness. So you saying she’s creating awareness here, means nothing to me. Creating awareness for what exactly?? The violence and atrocities are often committed by the very leaders that attend the summit against their own people. Having someone with cultural knowledge and someone who experienced it speak to their humanity, probably wouldn’t have worked but it would be better then, a sexy Hollywood starlet (as African leaders see Jolie). They are not going to listen to her or take her seriously. The people who you needed to affect was the leaders who attended the summit.
It also Royally pisses me off that I and the rest of our people had to pay for her and her luxuries when she wasn’t necessary. In any situation, you have to know your audience and this was a fail!
No offense, I just don’t find her comments ground-breaking. She is stating the obvious, I wonder if she has a speech-writer, or writes them herself.
It’s true. There’s nothing ground-breaking about her comments but it’s a good thing she keeps talking about it and making this problem visible and not something we get used to.
A couple of weeks ago in Argentina people, women mainly, walked the streets because crimes against women were becoming everyday news: women of all ages burnt, killed, raped, sold into sex slavery. I applaud Angie for keep talking about it.
I don’t think she has a speech writer. She writes her speeches, op-eds & even authored a book.
I based my opinion on how consistent she is while listening to her many interviews (past & present) & numerous speeches as well as reading her many op-eds and a book she has written (Notes From My Travels). The style is very Angelina. There is something about how she formulates her thoughts that I could say she writes her own thoughts. She is a rare combination of beauty, talent and intelligence plus substance. She doesn’t even hire a publicist/ spokesperson because she doesn’t like anyone speaking on her behalf and not really expressing what’s on her mind. So she’d rather speak herself. That’s how independent she is.
She can easily express herself very well. Articulate or eloquent. Doesn’t stammer. No unnecessary statement when she gives answers. No flowery words. Confident. Speaks with convictions. No difficulty in getting her message across. Deep.
I loathe the concept that beautiful (famous) women are not smart, as if intelligence had anything to do with physical beauty and the level of fame someone has.
Thank goodness you’re not in position to make changes in these women’ lives that need help desperately, babies at three months old to 74 yr old women getting rape.
It is not hard to beleive that she writes them herself. She has been involved with these issues for over a decade now. She has experienced and seen enough to be able to write her speeches. Even in candid interviews she speaks intelligently and knows her stuff.
I was reminded of Maggie G saying she was told she was not attractive for a particular part. Well here is the other end. Just because you are an attractive woman and actress does not mean you are inarticulate and unable to write your thoughts on paper. I don’t see anyone saying this about men. But because it is Angie she has to have a “speech writer” to write down her thoughts of issues she has been involved in for over 13 years.
I read comments from posters here that are well thought out and well written. Are they using speech writers or are they just able to articulate a thought without the need for someone to do it for them. She is an intelligent woman. I have never seen or read anyone that has met her or worked with her say she is an airhead. In fact they all say the same.. Smart, thoughtful and clued in.
Credit that to a fact that she loves to read even when she was a kid. Her mother trained her and her brother to love reading books. She has a vast collection of books, mostly FIRST EDITION books. She reads magazines or other reading materials that has nothing to do with entertainment or Hollywood BUT rather on international policies etc. So it doesn’t come as a surprise if she’s articulate or can write effectively. It is due to her being a wide reader.
I agree. I’m glad she is speaking out and using her star power to bring attention to these causes, but these celebrity speeches don’t usually lead to major changes.
I recommend this article published only a few days ago in The Guardian which addresses these sort of problems that continue long after Hollywood and UN celebrities leave town:
Revealed: how the world turned its back on rape victims of Congo
A year ago a global summit hosted by Angelina Jolie and William Hague vowed to end army sexual violence in Africa. But women are still threatened and funds are drying up
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/13/rape-victims-congo-world-turned-away?CMP=fb_gu
As always, very inspiring.
+1000. Most definitely.
I would say that there has ALWAYS been a global epidemic of violence against woman, save a few matriarchal cultures (pre-Minoan, e.g.).
Yes, that is very sad, but true. Hopefully, now though, women in modern countries have more power than they ever had before, so we are in a position to do more about it. But look at a lot of women on this thread saying she shouldn’t bother to help anyone who isn’t American or it’s really not newsworthy… We have a long, long way to go, but I’m glad she keeps returning the conversation to it.
I agree, unfortunately it’s nothing new.
But we are seeing more and more focus on it, and in the information age we’re living in, people around the world can learn about it, and learn about ways to help.
It’s true. Between the fundies here obsessed with women’s vaginas and the extents abroad raping and enslaving women , she is absolutely right.
Rape has always been a weapon of war. You demoralize the fighting men by violating their women and you subdue your enemy by breeding them out. Don’t believe me read the Old Testament , read the Quran.
Another reason to do away with these barbaric desert religions.
Great work. OAN she is looking more and more like her father.
I get that this is a celebrity blog and discussing Jolie’s clothes and weight and kids and what not are fair game. Buuuutttt…it does seem like her program is having a bit of trouble attaining its goals while spending copious funds hosting summits.
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jun/13/warzone-rape-congo-questions-uk-campaign
@DogMom…From the same newspaper…another point of view which supports her efforts, and chides the media’s attempts to trivialize it. This article proves her point in a way. The epidemic has become so commonplace/out of control that it seems almost as if nothing is being accomplished, although on many levels, small steps are being made.
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jun/19/reports-rape-summit-made-it-sound-trivial-everyday-sexism
Umm that report obviously doesn’t say the complete truth.
Yes millions were spent here but this summit did achieve what it set out to. To have wartime rape sanctioned as war crime at the tribunal – that will give justice to millions of victims.
But of course the media won’t write that and instead use it to attack Angelina as they always do. The media and some of the public never likes a strong woman who dares to do something.
I’m sure every country waste millions upon millions of dollars on the most silly things. This was not a waste. And as far at the “it has accomplished nothing’ really.. Civil Rights and laws don’t change in a day or week or even a year. It takes a long time to make change. You don’t stop because it didn’t happen the next day.
A couple day long rape summit in which £300,000 is written off as food expenses deserves every bit of condemnation it gets. There have been articles out recently about the complete ineptitude of the Red Cross (although I think it’s really something more sinister than plain ineptitude tbh) in Haiti, it is sad and sickening – a lot of these NGOs, charitable organisations and the people fronting them are doing so for less than altruistic reasons.
Angelina has a very soft, media friendly approach to these crises and never really addresses the root causes…idk if she’s clueless or wilfully ignorant, it’s not a particularly brave position.
If she addressed them truthfully she would most likely face ire from some quarters and would no longer be everyone’s darling which I suspect would bother her and says something about her efforts.
Smh, summits are good and discussions need to be held but if the money isn’t being spent to physically change things and focus on the ‘ground work’ then it’s a waste.
It’s not her fault but these things happen and hopefully it’ll be curbed so the overall effort can produce more results.
If you had read any of the articles about this summit you would that the African Union Summit has been going on for 25 years and was not host by William Hague. Actually Angelina was invited to South Africa as a special guest of African Union Committee Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who she was meet many times and she was not there on formal UN business.
I think there has been an epidemic of violence against women since the dawn of times bur it is getting better now that women have rights and are speaking out, and also with the social media and internet speaking out is much easier.
However, I am going to get on my high horse and point out that women who watch and support shows such as Game to Thrones, which normalize the violence against women, are not doing any of us any favors and pretty much negate all the work Angelina and others are doing.
Interesting perspective.
Seems like the more things are reported on the more people think, “There’s this huge surge in this thing” when it’s actually about the same or dipping slightly higher or lower.
Depending on what time period you look at and what parts of the world this would seem about right to me, still we should always work to reduce that number.
This. GOT is a misogynist show and that it’s so popular and has so many female viewers makes it worse.
I’m part of the problem because I watch Game of thrones? I support rape and violence against women because I watch a tv show? Sigh.
What you do is you support society become desensitized to the violence. After all, men think that since women don’t think there is anything wrong with the show, then there isn’t anything wrong with the show .
Using your logic if I watched Breaking bad that means I supported the manufacturing, selling and abuse of drugs? That’s a very simplistic view you have.
I didn’t watch Breaking Bad and don’t know what it is about. With he GoT most people make the same comments as you do. But there are such things that you can’t explain in words but when you see it you know it , kind of like porn? GoT is a porn of violence. People can dance around it, and refuse to acknowledge it, but deep down everybody knows it., GoT is unhealthy and wrong.
If you don’t want to watch GOT, don’t. But don’t tell me that my watching it negates your efforts to end violence against women. It depicts what would be a very realistic truth about violence against women in that era, had that place actually existed, and what is actually true about the treatment of women in many places still – they are not protected and as long as someone is stronger or has more power, they can do what they want to you with very little consequence. Pretending that isn’t true doesn’t help the fight against violence towards women. Showing the truth does not “normalize” it any more than football games with advertisements for beer featuring half naked women, or sitcoms with stupid, large breasted women, or cop shows and thrillers with the dainty woman twisting her ankle as she runs away from her attacker in high heels. If you watch TV at all, or go to most movies, or buy most magazines or products using the over sexualization of women in their advertising or listen to music, or live in our society, you are constantly exposed to and, by your standards, participating in, the degradation of women. So don’t pat yourself on the back too hard for refusing to watch one tv show. You’re not really accomplishing much.
It’s misogynistic because it uses female nudity and sexual violence against women as titilation for the male viewers. It’s disgusting.
I don’t watch it. But it is like saying – you don’t like rape, stop reading about it and talking about it. The rape doesn’t stop if we pretend it doesn’t exist.
@Damn
And that separates it from 99% of our cultural experiences how, exactly? My point is that GOT may be misogynistic, but it’s hypocritical and self-congratulatory to single it out when it’s no more misogynistic than most commercials. I happen to think the female characters who experience sexual violence in GOT are portrayed very sympathetically, and I can’t help what other people experience it when watching it. It’s silly to say all men are titillated by one thing or another. I imagine many men find it sad and disgusting. But regardless of that, it just angers me to see the blame for rape and sexual violence placed – AGAIN – on women. It’s my fault, or I’m negating the work Angelina does because I watch a tv show? Let’s put the blame for rape on the rapists, where it belongs.
Ermagherd… did you read whay you wrote? Enjoy a tv show and you’re pro violence against women and are ruining efforts in third world countries to stamp out said violence….?!?
Yes, the Internet gave you a place to type; doesn’t mean what you’re saying is valid.
GoT also normalizes riding on dragons. at least i hope that Dragon Riding will become more popular in our society.
see, now, I see that as sensationalizing dragon riding…when in reality dragons are quite volatile in their mood swings and could actually really hurt you if you don’t know what you’re doing. pretty irresponsible, actually…
😉
@EN: the problem I’m having with GoT is that it’s totally over the top when it comes to violence in general, not just against women.
Male characters like Theon also have to endure really aweful abuse/torture, the Unsullied are an army of eunuchs, etc.
What I also find very problematic is the aesthetic way in which violence is presented – and that the nudity shown is almost exclusively female.
I haven’t seen the latest episodes so maybe that has changed?
Or maybe it shows exactly what has happened and happens to us everywhere at the hands of man?. how different it is from the real world? Sansa was raped on her wedding night, just exactly all the child brides from all history (Lucrezia Borgia was raped on her wedding night, Catherina Sforza also if I am remembering correctly, two real women with powerful families in history), not to mention what is going on right now everywhere.
And how not watching a show will help? how not making a series, wrtiting a book will change anything? how that will change men´s mind? violence against women it´s in their genes and in society (we women are part of the problem too, we can´t deny that).
Call me extremist, but I 100 pct agree with the show´s motto: “All men must die”. Maybe then the world can raise a gender not as idiotic and sick as it is now.
These quotes from Angelina’s speech shows you what a true feminist Angelina is and that she is a true woman who fights for other women. She doesn’t go around claiming to be a feminist or a girls girl but instead just does everything she can by doing the work:
1) women’s right is not a side issue, it is the issue
2) there is no more inspiring role model than men who respects women and champions their leadership
3) we need policies for longterm security that are designed by women, focused on women and executed by women. Not at the expense of men or instead of men but alongside and with men
4) there is no greater pillar of stability than a strong free educated woman
4) there is no greater pillar of stability than a strong free educated woman
And sadly, 1 out of 5 women in US colleges are sexually assaulted. I am glad Angelina is taking up the most extreme aspect of abuse of women, because it really shows you where society can go if no one cares about this issue.
go on, girl…!
Never failing at inspiring people, this woman. I’m usually very cynical about celebrities, even those ones who are known for doing charity work, but Angelina is the one that comes across as real and sincere in her actions, you can tell by the way she presents herself.
Angeline I’m never cynical of. I’m never cynical of a celebrity if they stay with the cause and not for a photo-op or for a year or a visit to a country with photo-ops one time, etc. But even if some of their efforts don’t always work I believe if someone is devoted to a cause or causes for enough years it really is about a true desire to help and make a difference in the world and I believe their heart is in the right place. People can hate on Sean Penn for his douchey attitude, but the man didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk big time in Haiti and has for years.
I am. Human beings are too complex, and I’ve seen terrible people doing charity, just because no one is 100% evil. I’m pretty sure that, if I was starving, it wouldn’t make any difference who the help comes from, still the helper might be making someone else’s life miserable or just doing it to feel proud of him/herself. Anyway, I don’t think it’s Angelina’s case; I believe she really means it.
I have never been a fan of hers but her focus on this issue and her openness regarding her cancer prevention surgeries has completely won me over. She is a true leader and I appreciate the role model she is to young women.
I don’t get exactly how these press conferences actually help these women other then bringing personal glory to Jolie and William. Case in point apparently William spent total of 5 million pounds of tax payers money on these conferences and trips with her and this is half the amount UK actually gives to this particular cause.
From the last conference do we know how many actually went back and put the rules and new sanctions (for which Jolie) in action or they basically just went to London to dine with Hollywood actress on Tax payers expense. I bet my house the latter one is the reality and the last conference in London bought positive media attention to everyone involved without any real change.
Gd thing you really dont have a house to bet anyway….just more empty rhetoric from the ignorant penny section.
Oh yeah you like totally got me on that one !!! That was so bad ass, I am like totally like speechless 🙂
yes, i like that they all stand up for good causes, but these summits are all about photo ops and PR, nothing groundbreaking happens. In the end it´s all about us wanting to feel “good” humans with such actions. Horror happens around the worls and we don´t know what to do. It´s the little, unknown helpers on the frontline and at home who live with the horror and make life better for victims, not some foreign actor.
We others feel better when we think our money, politicians, royals and celebrities “do” something against the bad in our name. Jolie and Co. massage our egos.
But don’t you think that sometimes these events might inspire someone to become one of the unknown helpers on the frontline? I mean, if it weren’t for people like Angelina shedding light on the subject, many people wouldn’t even know that rape is used as punishment in some places, or that women in some countries are routinely raped by soldiers. I get your frustration, and anoldprude’s, too. And it won’t happen overnight. But I do honestly believe that publicity for these kinds of issues helps, even if it’s just a little.
@ Elly
Thank you for your comment!
@ GoodNamesAllTaken
I have no idea where you live but over here (Europe) EVERYBODY knows about Isis who they are what they do and who created them.
Unknown helpers at the frontline won’t change anything.
Try curing the cause instead of barely treating the symptoms.
Well aren’t you a pleasant person, Subconciously. I think I’ll save my conversation for someone a little less bitter. But please let me know when you’ve “cured the cause” since you seem to know how.
Every little bit helps. Something has to be done. I am beyond horrified by ISIS’s taking of female children, teenagers, adult women and the gang raping and torture of them, used as sex slaves, beaten. I can’t wrap my mind around it when I read about it and first-person accounts. There is a global epidemic of violence against women and young girls and it is heartbreaking.
Guess who started ISIS and who supports it.
Stop the USA supporting Isis and make those US allies stop supporting ISIS and there might be a chance …
Bingo.
Love her. She’s the best.
Violence against women exists in areas of wars and civil wars because wars are an act of violence and violence is acceptable in times of war. So when war happens then violence happens. Strong pick on weak. And in times of war there isn’t much of a difference between beating your enemy and beating your own kin because in times of war violence is acceptable.
These are academic theories, btw.
So if you want to end a lot of the violence which is a result of wars then end the wars.
Or don’t start any wars.
So if Jolie were in any way a little bit honest about her cause then she would have to start a pacifist movement against those US-american warhawks in politics and in certain think tanks.
Not all US-american politicans or think thanks are warhawks. But there are plenty and they make sure that the USA starts wars directly or indirectly by supporting certain military groups.
Jolie does neither scratch the surface nor does she offer any kind of approachable solution. She barely advocates curing symptoms.
Calling for an end of violence against women without ending the wars and war mongering is like calling for an end of severe infectious diseases without allowing antibiotics. Does anybody seriously think that that might work?
You clearly didn’t read or listen to her whole speech.
She clearly stated that the the inability to end wars and conflicts is one of the reasons for the violence against women.
Tell that truth! We need everyone on board with this. I don’t care about Angelina the Movie Star or Angelina The Most Beautiful or Angelina The Whatever. I care about Angelina, the human being, who is truly trying to make a difference. Her speech is spot on, and this is how we change the world. Don’t be afraid to look at the truth, don’t be afraid to speak it. this is how we take our lives, and the lives of our sisters back. All of us can do something.
Love her, love her work.
Just would like to add that this dress is complete perfection for this kind of appearance. She looks stylish, modern, and powerful, but it’s also extremely understated and lets her do the talking.
What hair care products does she use? What skin care regimen does she follow? I’m waiting.
It is shocking to me that anyone is bringing up her lack of work in the states. The problems experienced world wide pale in comparison to what occurs here. Plus, many of these victims need advocates because they cannot protect themselves. It says to me that some people feel that Americans are more important than poor and destitute foreigners. Which sounds like the American way to me.
It is very much American worldview but they don’t even notice it about themselves. They alway talks about 2-3 thousands soldiers who were killed in Iraq, for example but don’t give a thought to 500 thousand Iraqi civilians who died as a result of the war they started.
The same deal with Afghanistan and Syria and Libya and on and on.
Yep with Americans it is always me myself and I. For them it’s always about how much they are suffering but never about how much the other side is suffering as well. They get offended if we don’t show proper respect for the thousands of American soldiers who have died in the wars but they themselves point blank refuses to even pay respect to the millions of soldiers from countries like Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, UK etc who died alongside those American soldiers.
A resounding YES! to all of the above. So insular, so self-regarding, so sanctimonious, so blindly unaware of – or uncaring about – the bigger cause-and-effect global picture.
Jesus wept. The begrudging and ignorant nature of so many comments on here is truly depressing.
Well done, Angie Jolie. for keeping on keeping on.
I find the comments criticizing Angelina for not focusing more on US’centric problems depressing. One of the things I really appreciate about her is that she uses her fame to make Americans aware of the lives of people in other countries. I love the US but we can be ridiculously insular and frankly spoiled.
I’m not someone that tends to drag the US. In fact I’m pretty “Rah Rah America. Even with our many MANY flaws I’d rather live here than anywhere else”. But this is an area where we really suck and I love her for sticking these issues into our collective faces as we carry on our privileged lives doing things like consuming celebrity gossip. Maybe it will inspire a few people to step up and at least write a check or make a phone call to Congress. It’s not much but it could make a difference on the margin.
Nor am I a Brangeloonie. I’ve been AJ’s fan since “Girl Interrupted” but I’m indifferent to Brad. I suspect that most of the vitriol she gets nowadays has nothing to do with Jennifer Aniston. I bet it’s because she’s so lauded and beloved in certain circles That gets annoying to some people, especially when they see other celebs ripped to shreds for relatively minor offenses. I dunno. Anyway Go AJ! Keep it up bb!
My Lady!
Western women complain against violence against them – which is fully justified, of course – but turn a blind eye too often to the systemic, widespread and (worse yet) completely acceptable violence against women (both legally and morally) in places around the world. Here, in the Western World, when men commit violence against women, their crime is considered morally reprehensible, illegal and they are often thrown in jail. In TOO many parts of the world, there is no such moral outrage or crime indictment. Female genital mutilation, forced marriages, honor killings, sex slave trafficking, government-sanctioned beatings, stonings, etc… There are parts of the world where women are routining stoned to death or otherwise executed for the crime of being raped without the requisite number of men to speak out in her defense. This is abhorrent. It always reminds me of that jail scene from the 2nd Bridget Jones movie where she’s going on about what a jerk Mark Darcy is after the other girls say they made them work multiple jobs, beat them and made them take heroin.
The movie “Beyond Borders” changed Angelina. I can not forget that movie. It has everything about humanity and love. What made me wonder was why it didn’t change Clive Owen.
So glad she’s speaking up. The genocide in other countries- rape, forced marriage, sexual slavery, selling women from TRUCKS like cattle, genital mutiliation- this violence against women needs to stop. Yesterday.
The last thing this thinly veiled neocon cares about is ending violence.
Open your eyes. She works for the CFR and the UN.
Time to wake up. Stop scarfing down the propaganda. It’s painful to watch.
The problem that I have with Angelina is that she is being somewhat narrow minded about this issue. If you want to end violence towards women and girls, start by ending violence against men and boys. If you saw American Sniper, you were informed that a sniper’s mission was to kill all men and boys between the ages of 15 and 65, and we invaded their country. A boy could be with his mom and be killed. The average of the boys who were sent to Viet Nam was 19. Guys, who had barely graduated from high school were forced from their families, their homes, and their friends and sent off to fight a war, and they had no choice. The first thing the military does is to de-humanize you, so why should you treat another human being as a human, if you are not being treated as a human. If you want to end violence against women and girls, work to end violence against everyone.