News story

Baroness Anelay appointed Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict

Appointment of Baroness Anelay marks one year anniversary of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Baroness Anelay

Today the Prime Minister announced the appointment of Baroness Anelay, Foreign Office Minister of State, as his new Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. This appointment underlines the Government’s commitment to leading the world in tackling sexual violence in conflict.

Baroness Anelay’s appointment comes exactly a year after the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, hosted by the former Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and the Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie Pitt. The Summit brought together representatives from over 120 countries to address the political and practical barriers to ending the use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war.

Speaking on the news of her appointment, Baroness Anelay said:

I am honoured to have been asked to take over from Mr Hague in leading this vital work across government. I look forward to taking our efforts to end the appalling scourge of sexual violence in conflict to the next level.

I am proud of everything the Initiative has achieved in the last three years including the launch of the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, our support for conflict-affected countries such as the DRC, Iraq and Bosnia and of course the enormously successful Summit last June.

There is still much more to do. I am looking forward to working with civil society, governments, international organisations and survivors to ensure that we drive forward the campaign to end sexual violence in conflict once and for all.

Baroness Anelay recorded a video message to mark the one year anniversary of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict:

Anniversary of the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict

Published 10 June 2015