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International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict and the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence

Four Nobel peace laureates, six survivors of sexual violence and actor Danai Gurira (“The Walking Dead”) are among the dignitaries attending the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence today through June 13th in London.

They are leading a delegation of almost 90 activists – including numerous grassroots women’s leaders from conflict countries.  The International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict organizes the event.  It’s the first and only global network of civil society organizations working to end sexual violence. The 700-member strong network brings together legal, medical and protection experts, as well as service providers and advocates.

The event focuses on how Sexual violence in conflict destroys lives and damages communities. Foreign Secretary William Hague is co-chairing the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict with Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

This Summit has over 100 countries and over 900 experts, NGOs, survivors, faith leaders, and international organizations from across the world that is committed to end sexual violence in conflict. It’s the biggest global meeting ever convened on this issue.  It’s also an opportunity to create momentum against sexual violence in conflict and implement some practical action that impacts those on the ground.

American Actor – Danai Gurira, Star of the television series The Walking Dead
is an award-winning playwright who has penned numerous works that highlight the strength of African women overcoming war, poverty and disease. She is also star of the American hit series.
– Her specialist areas include the impact of armed conflict on women in Liberia, and the impact of dramatic arts education.

She will be joined by Nobel Peace Laureates:

Leymah Gbowee, Liberia (language: English): Who united women across Liberia in a non-violence movement that lead to the end of the Liberian civil war. She is a trained trauma counselor and outspoken activist against sexual violence as a tool of war.  Her specialist topics include: peace-building in Liberia, reconciliation, trauma, counseling, and the impact of armed conflict on women in Liberia. She is delivering the keynote plenary at the Summit alongside William Hague and Angelina Jolie.

Jody Williams, USA (language: English/Spanish): Jody is a disarmament expert whose leadership forged the first global treaty banning landmines in 1997. She can also speak from the perspective of a survivor – in the 1980s she survived a politically motivated sexual attack by a member of El Salvador’s notorious death squad.  Her specialist topics include sexual violence and disarmament. 

Tawakkol Karman, Yemen (languages: English/Arabic): Tawakkol is known as the Mother of the Revolution for her role to promote the safety and participation of women in peace building processes in Yemen. Her specialist subject areas include nonviolent resistance in Yemen, documenting human rights abuses, supporting women journalists. 

Shirin Ebadi, Iran (Language: Farsi): Shirin Ebadi, one of the first female judges in Iran, is a strong advocate for the rights of women, children and political prisoners.  Her specialist subject areas include justice, political prisoners in Iran and Women’s Rights in Iran.  A number of Sexual Violence Survivors and support organizations will take part.

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Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and Foreign Secretary William Hague co-chair the 2014 End Sexual Violence in Conflict Global Summit.