Angelina Jolie's Kenyan Peace Mission

The Hollywood star, Angelina Jolie, has been advising the British military team in Kenya providing support to ‘Sexual and Gender Based Violence’ training for UN and African Union Peacekeepers.

It's a subject close to her heart. She's not only a Special Envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees but also co-founded the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. She went to the see the work being done for the United Nations and African Union Peacekeepers at the International Peace Support Training Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

She believes that treating civilian populations properly isn't just a question of morality.

"It is about military effectiveness. If civilians do not have confidence in you as peacekeepers your mission will not succeed." 

The timing of her visit was significant. It coincided with both World Refugee Day, highlighting the plight of the many thousands made homeless by conflict in Africa, and the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

This specialist  course in Kenya is funded by the UK’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and delivered with the support of the British Peace Support Team in East Africa.

Among the British contigent was Major Cleo Bigwood who will deploy to the Democratic Republic of Congo in October as the UN Mission’s Gender Adviser. She's pleased that the problem of gender violence is getting more attention.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to share experiences and develop our knowledge on this vitally important topic that affects all levels of society. The British Army is investing personnel and its global experience into this effort.”

Support for initiative goes right to the top of the armed forces. General Sir Gordon Messenger, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, welcomed Angelia Jolie's visit.

“The UK continues to lead internationally on ending sexual violence in conflict and Defence is working hard in support of its partners, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development, to refine and strengthen the UK’s contribution to this most valuable work.”

The team in Nairobi has trained 500 armed forces personnel from across Africa already this year. Since 2012, over 17,000 Military and Police personnel have been trained on sexual violence issues, the PSVI Team of Experts has been deployed more than eight times. £40m in UK funding has been committed so far and we have supported over 70 projects across the world to help end sexual violence in conflict.