Jolie at the United Nations for Women and Children

Jolie at the United Nations for Women and Children

Angelina Jolie has been a powerful and consistent voice at the United Nations, using the global platform to champion the rights and protection of women and children affected by conflict, displacement, and violence. Her appearances at the UN have helped elevate critical issues from the margins to the center of international discussions.

Jolie first entered the UN system in 2001 as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. Over the following years, she transformed from a celebrity advocate into a respected humanitarian figure. Her work at the United Nations has focused heavily on two vulnerable groups: women facing sexual violence in war zones and children deprived of safety, education, and hope.

One of her most significant contributions came in 2012 when she co-founded the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) with former UK Foreign Secretary William Hague. This partnership brought the issue of rape as a weapon of war to the forefront of global politics. In June 2014, Jolie co-chaired the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London, but she also carried this mission directly to the United Nations. She has addressed the UN Security Council on multiple occasions, urging member states to treat conflict-related sexual violence with the same gravity as other war crimes.

In her speeches, Jolie has spoken with clarity and emotion about the devastating impact on women and girls. She has emphasized that sexual violence destroys communities, hinders peace processes, and leaves long-lasting trauma across generations. She has called for better survivor support, legal accountability, and the inclusion of women in peace negotiations.

Jolie has also been a strong advocate for children at the United Nations. She has repeatedly highlighted the plight of refugee and displaced children, stressing that education is a fundamental right even in emergencies. She has supported the Education Cannot Wait fund and spoken about the need to protect children from recruitment as soldiers, early marriage, and exploitation. During her visits to the UN, she has shared stories from her field missions — from Syrian refugee children in Jordan to Rohingya girls in Bangladesh — to humanize the statistics.

As UNHCR Special Envoy from 2012 to 2022, Jolie participated in high-level meetings, panel discussions, and briefings. She has testified about the failures of the international community to protect the most vulnerable and has pushed for increased funding and political will. Even after stepping down from her official role, she has continued to engage with UN agencies and forums on women’s and children’s issues.

Jolie’s presence at the United Nations combines personal credibility with strategic advocacy. She does not simply deliver speeches — she brings firsthand experience from over 60 field missions. Her work has helped influence policy conversations, mobilize resources, and raise global awareness.

Through her dedication at the United Nations, Angelina Jolie has shown that protecting women and children is not a peripheral issue but central to achieving lasting peace and stability. Her voice continues to remind world leaders that behind every resolution and statistic are real lives deserving dignity, safety, and opportunity.