UNHCR S.E Angelina Jolie speaks before the UN Security Council on CRSV

Speaking to the UN Security Council today, UNHCR Special Envoy #AngelinaJolie cited an upcoming Amnesty International report on Yezidi child survivors of the armed group calling itself the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq. Highlighting the lack of services available for child survivors of sexual violence and other violations, and calling for an urgent increase in international funding and dedicated services for children, Angelina Jolie’s remarks cited Amnesty International’s research: “Many children were murdered, but nearly 2,000 have returned. Many suffer from post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression. “They experience flashbacks and recurrent nightmares that are typical for children who have experienced trauma and abuse. “Many of the children witnessed the murder of their relatives, and the rape of their mothers.”

She added: “If we are not able to live up to our promise of a survivor-centred approach for Yezidi children, who make up just one relatively small group of survivors, then how many more children and young adults are suffering in silence at the global level?”

Angelina Jolie urged the Security Council to live up to their promises to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, saying: “We have to be prepared to admit where we have failed, and do the hard work to support survivors, change laws and attitudes and bring perpetrators to account, over many years…These are all promises that must be kept.”