Angelina Jolie, 45, has recently made a rare public appearance to deliver a powerful speech on gender-based violence.
At the 2nd International Conference on Action with Women and Peace in Seoul, Jolie, who is a UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) Special Envoy, spoke about the worldwide violence against women, offering advice for any woman fearing abuse.
In a video, obtained by Harper’s Bazaar UK, Jolie said, “The truth is, a woman’s life does not rank equally with a man’s, far more universally than we are willing to admit. Conflict-related sexual violence is a manifestation of this reality.”
The Salt star added that governments and politicians seem to believe in women and girls rights “only to a point,” adding, “it is this caring to a point that means that gender equality is still at least a century away, that domestic violence has grown sharply worse during the pandemic, and that the number of people displaced by conflict and persecution — over half of them women and children — has doubled in a decade.”
Nearly 243 million women and girls were abused by an intimate partner in the past year, according to UN Women, while less than 40% of women who experience abuse report it or seek help.
Jolie also shared advice for people experiencing or fearing abuse.
She said, “Talk to someone. Try to find allies. Be connected for emergencies. For example, you can agree a code word with a friend or family member, which tells them if you are facing an emergency.”
“Begin to build a network and gain knowledge. It’s sad to say, but you can’t assume all friends and family will always want to believe and support you,” she continued. “Often it will be strangers who help. Or other victims, support groups, or faith groups.”
“Above all, be careful,” Jolie added. “Only you really know the danger you are in, and until you find your support outside, you may feel quite alone.” The article originally appeared on InStyle and Health.
