Photograph: Tamil Guardian

The time has come to 'shatter the culture of impunity' over sexual violence in conflict stated the British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Angelina Jolie earlier today.

Speaking at the opening of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, currently underway in London, the Foreign Secretary stated that “ending sexual violence was a moral issue for our generation” adding,

“We know how few of these crimes have ever been punished and because of impunity they continue today, in Syria, South Sudan and the Central African Republic to name just a few examples... We want the summit to shatter the culture of impunity for sexual violence, to increase support for the survivors and change the situation on the ground for the most affected countries."

See his full address here.

He was joined by the Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Angelina Jolie, who reiterated that the end of an armed conflict does not mean violence does not occur. Jolie stated,

“Other survivors live in countries where war is over, but the peace has brought no justice and as an international community we are responsible for that. We need to shatter that culture of impunity and make justice the norm not the exception for these crimes."

"We need political will replicated across the world and we need to treat this subject as a priority. We need to see real commitment to go after the worst perpetrators, to fund proper protection for vulnerable people and to step in and help the worst affected countries.”

Speaking on survivors of sexual violence she added,

“They live in refugee camps or bombed out streets in areas where there is no law, no protection and note even the hope of justice. They struggle to keep their children safe and if they admit to being raped, they are likely to face even more violence and social rejection.

Jolie also stated that sexual violence “is a weapon of war aimed at civilians”. “It has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with power”, she added. “It is done to torture and humiliate innocent people and often very young children.”