According to Jolie, rape was being used by ISIS as a highly effective weapon of war. The new House of Lords committee charged with considering UK's policy of preventing sexual violence in conflict held its first evidence session with former foreign secretary William Hague, Angelina Jolie Pitt and Baroness Helic (former special advisor to Hague). Hague launched UK's Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) in May 2012 along with Ms Jolie.
Jolie who along with Hague has been campaigning to end the use of rape in war zones and last year hosted a global summit in London attended by over 100 countries who promised to tackle the issue told the committee "it's not sexual but a violent, brutal, terrorising weapon". "The most aggressive terrorist group in the world today knows that it is a very effective weapon and is using it to destroy families," she added.
The actor then told the committee of her experience of meeting 13-year-old girls who were repeatedly raped by ISIS fighters and then sold. "They told me that what was even worse than the physical violence was that they then had to stand in rooms and watch their friends be sold and to hear about what they were worth," she said. "Were they worth $40? $50?," Jolie added.
The London conference say a historic agreement reached which designated rape during conflict equivalent to being a war crime. For the first time, an agreement was reached by G8 countries that included US and UK to actively search for, prosecute or hand over for trial anyone accused of these crimes, regardless of their nationality, wherever they are in the world. The G8 countries also increased funding for international prevention amounting to nearly $35.5 million or £23 million.
Jolie's efforts saw Queen Elizabeth designate her as an honorary dame — the female version of a knight becoming the first Hollywood super star to get the royal recognition. The 39-year-old Oscar winner is now a dame commander of the order of St Michael and St George. However, because she is not a British or Commonwealth citizen, Jolie won't be entitled to use the title dame before her name.
ISIS raping 13-year-olds and selling them for $30, says actor Angelina Jolie - The Times of India