Camilla: Time to stop pandemic of violence
New Queen’s landmark summit to highlight women’s suffering
THE Queen Consort vowed to speak out about the ‘global pandemic of violence against women’ in a watershed speech at Buckingham Palace yesterday.
Camilla, a long-term advocate on the issue as Duchess of Cornwall, made clear that she will continue to use her position to campaign as she convened a group of 300 activists.
In a marked departure from the style of Queen elizabeth, she welcomed the group as part of ‘16 days of activism against gender-based violence’ – marking the UN’s annual campaign for the elimination of violence against women.
She was watched by two other Queens – Rania of Jordan and Mathilde of Belgium – Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and the Countess of Wessex. They were also joined by first ladies, Fatima Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and Olena Zelenska of Ukraine.
Other ambassadors included Spice Girl Melanie Brown and Love Island star Zara McDermott who have campaigned on issues such as domestic abuse and revenge porn. The Queen Consort said: ‘Throughout the world, individuals and organisations are coming together to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. Why?
‘Because over a period of 16 days worldwide, more than 2,000 women will be killed by a partner or a member of their own family.
‘Because, in england and Wales alone, during the same period, police will record that more than 3,000 women have been raped. And because up to one in three women across the globe will endure domestic abuse in the course of their lifetime.’
‘We are uniting today to confront what has, rightly, been called a global pandemic of violence against women.’
The Queen Consort named just a handful of the women and girls who have been killed this year including Mariam Kamara, hina Bashir, Jillu Nash and her 12-year old daughter Louise. She added: ‘We remember those women who have lost their lives at the hands of a stranger, or of the person who should have loved them best.
‘In so doing, we refuse to be desensitised by cold facts and figures and we resolve to keep the names and the memories of these women alive. We remember – because we cannot forget – all the other women and girls who died in similarly horrific circumstances.’
Stressing that there is life after abuse, Camilla, 75, told her guests: ‘Armed with that hope, let us press on. Let us not lose this precious opportunity to speak up and to galvanise action that will see the end of these heinous crimes forever. With determination and courage, we will succeed.’
The Queen Consort spoke with Mrs Zelenska, who has been married to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky since 2003, about the way sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war by Russian forces.
Speaking through an interpreter, Mrs Zelenska told the Daily Mail afterwards: ‘The fact that this even is being hosted by her Majesty The Queen Consort of the UK highlights the issue and increases the level of attention.
‘This violence that has emerged during the war is the rape by Russian soldiers of Ukrainian women, children and even men. Sexual violence in conflict. We really hope your readers will also see the issue of sexual violence as a war crime and that they will see this from another perspective and open this issue for themselves.’ Domestic abuse survivor Miss Brown, who was awarded an MBE for her work as a patron of Women’s Aid this year, also praised Camilla for raising awareness.
She said: ‘[Camilla] is brilliant. It may be an epidemic but it is such a taboo topic. People don’t know how to talk about it. She is helping us to piece together how to share awareness.
‘There’s such an amazing buzz here, so many incredible women. The fact that she is willing to take such a big step forward and get everyone here is amazing.’
The Queen also met politicians including home Secretary Suella Braverman and health Secretary Steve Barclay as well as women’s safety campaigner Mina Smallman whose daughters Bibaa henry and Nicole Smallman were murdered in a London park. Two officers guarding the scene were later jailed after sharing pictures of the sisters’ bodies on WhatsApp.
Mrs Smallman said: ‘[Camilla] immediately knew my story and wanted to talk to me about it. She was so engaged and told me to never stop fighting and never to give up. It meant a lot to me as I know my girls would say the same thing to me too if they could.’
‘With courage, we will succeed’