Kerry Calls For Action Against Sexual Violence In Conflict On Summit’s Final Day

News outlets report on the final days of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, which took place in London this week.

Agence France-Presse: Kerry to close conference on ending sexual violence in war
“…The top U.S. diplomat will speak at the closing session of the four-day long Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, which is being co-hosted by Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie and British Foreign Secretary William Hague. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will also appear by video link…” (6/13).

CNN: Kerry urges end to sexual violence in conflict, says it’s time for world to act
“Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday told an international summit on ending sexual violence in conflict that it was time for the world to banish the crime ‘to the history books where it belongs’…” (Smith-Spark, 6/13).

The Economist: Sexual violence in conflict: Drawing a line
“Government officials, aid workers, and activists from dozens of countries converged on London this week to discuss ways to solve a horrible problem: the tendency of combatants in war and civil strife to commit sexual atrocities…” (6/14).

The Guardian: Sexual violence survivors launch global advocacy and support network
“…Four Nobel laureates joined survivors and the Norwegian and Dutch foreign ministers to launch the Survivors United for Action network on Thursday at the Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict summit in London…” (Ford, 6/13)

The Guardian: U.K. aims to ‘lead from the front’ to end sexual violence in conflict
“The U.K. government is aiming to take a lead role in ending sexual violence in conflict and getting more women involved in peace-building, through its national action plan on women, peace and security, launched on Thursday…” (Ford, 6/12).

The Lancet: Responding to sexual violence in armed conflict
“…Sexual violence in conflict cries out for attention both because of its extraordinary prevalence — the U.N. Secretary General’s most recent report documented massive abuses in 20 countries — and the complex and long-lasting consequences for victims’ physical and mental health…” (Alcorn, 6/14).

Reuters: Hollywood duo Pitt, Jolie put spotlight on sexual violence in war
“Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie appeared together on Thursday at a global summit on ending sexual violence in conflict, in a show of celebrity power that British Foreign Secretary William Hague said was helping put a spotlight on the issue of rape as a weapon of war…” (Goldsmith, 6/12).

VOA News: Nigerian Girls’ Abduction Called ‘Heinous Example’ of Sexual Violence
“Nigeria and several of its African neighbors call the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls by Boko Haram militants ‘a heinous example of the scourge of sexual violence’…” (6/12).

Washington Post: John Kerry, at conference in London, to address ending rape as weapon of war
“At a London conference Friday on ending sexual violence in conflict, Secretary of State John F. Kerry plans to call for five concrete steps to end a weapon of war so common it has its own catchphrase: rape, pillage, and plunder…” (Henneberger, 6/12).

Yahoo! News: Jimmy Carter: Sexual Violence Impunity a ‘Devastating Blow to Humanity’
“Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter gave a video address on June 13 to the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, taking place in London from June 10-13…” (6/13).

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