Jewish leaders join Jolie at anti-sexual violence summit

Representatives from the Jewish community joined Angelina Jolie in London last week to discuss ways to end sexual violence in conflict.

Attending a ministerial briefing on Thursday with Faith and Communities Minister Baroness Warsi was Edward Kessler, director of the Woolf Institute, together with Christian and Muslim leaders.

In a hard-hitting speech, delegates heard Warsi speak candidly about past shortcomings, saying: “Faith leaders have been part of the problem. We have seen sexual violence used in conflict, and those with faith, and those who lead faith communities, have not done enough to condemn what they have seen. 

“Survivors have been allowed to become victims for a second time, when communities have judged and rejected them,” she said, adding: “You are uniquely placed to influence, challenge and transform social and cultural norms.”

A day earlier, Liberal Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu and World Jewish Relief (WJR) Campaign Manager Richard Verber attended a fringe event organised by the NGO coalition We Will Speak Out, discussing how best civil society and faith leaders can work better together on the issue.