Jolie adds voice to help end sexual violence in wars

Angelina Jolie and British Foreign Secretary William Hague are co-chairing the largest gathering ever on the subject of sexual violence in conflict.

The global summit — End Sexual Violence in Conflict (ESVC) — began overnight in London.

Along with Hague, Hollywood star Jolie, who is the Special Envoy for the UN Commissioner for Refugees, will also open the Global Summit Fringe, which aims to increase awareness of sexual violence in conflict.

They will also take part in meetings with youth delegates, according to the Foreign Office.

Tonight they will attend an event to launch an international protocol to help strengthen prosecutions for rape in conflict.

Tomorrow, delegations from more than 100 countries and Hague will chair a ministerial meeting on security in northern Nigeria.

Among the leaders at the meeting will be Natasha Stott Despoja, Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls. On Friday, Hague, Jolie, UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon (by video message) and US Secretary of State John Kerry will speak in a closing plenary session.

There will be more than 140 free events open to the public.

Events and performances include the Royal Court Theatre presenting the world premiere of the award-winning

There will be an exclusive screening of

with the opportunity to hear its director, Jolie, and Hague discuss the film and how it inspired the initiative that led to the summit.

As part of the #TimetoAct campaign, a short animation has been produced to portray the horror of rape and sexual violence through the eyes of a child.