Angelina Jolie and William Hague team up for African Union summit over rape of women in war

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Angelina Jolie teamed up with William Hague at an African Union summit
She spoke about rape as a weapon of warfare at the event in South Africa
The actress also urged African representatives to support women's rights

By Jenny Stanton For Mailonline

Published: 17:10 EST, 12 June 2015 | Updated: 19:47 EST, 12 June 2015

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Actress Angelina Jolie teamed up with former British Foreign Secretary William Hague at an African Union summit in South Africa today.

Jolie, the United Nations special envoy on refugees, spoke about rape as a weapon of warfare and asked African representatives to support women's rights.

She joined a panel with the African Union Commission Chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Hague and other prominent delegates.

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Team: Actress Angelina Jolie (right) attended the summit in South Africa with former British Foreign Secretary William Hague (left)

Cause: Jolie, the United Nations special envoy on refugees, spoke about rape as a weapon of warfare today

Jolie closed her speech by saying that the solution needs to be pioneered by women themselves

Angelina Jolie and William Hague team up for African summit

It was the latest destination in a whistle-stop international tour for the actress, who has visited the UK and France in the last week.

Jolie said: 'There is a global epidemic of violence against women – both within conflict zones and within societies at peace – and it is still treated as a lesser crime and lower priority.

'The near-total impunity that exists worldwide for crimes against women in conflict zones in particular, means that we are seeing more and more armed groups turn to it as a weapon of choice: Women and girls are bearing the brunt of extremists that revel in treating them barbarically'

She went on to pay tribute to African victims for their 'extraordinary resilience, dignity and strength in the face of trials that would break any of us'.

'They are some of the most formidable and impressive people I have ever met and they deserve better than to be left alone to suffer,' she said.

Jolie closed her speech by saying that the solution needs to be pioneered by women themselves.

Jolie paid tribute to African victims for their ' extraordinary resilience, dignity and strength in the face of trials that would break any of us'

Actress Angelina Jolie and former British Foreign Secretary William Hague are co-founders of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative

'We need policies for long-term security that are designed by women, focused on women, executed by women – not at the expense of men, or instead of men, but alongside and with men,'

She said 'There is no greater pillar of stability than a strong, free and educated woman, and there is no more inspiring role model than a man who respects and cherishes women and champions their leadership.'

According to The Telegraph Hague, 54, vowed to use his 'unusual alliance' with Jolie to continue fighting sexual violence in the world’s most troubled regions.

He explained that he and the actress had accepted the invite - which was rare for outsiders - to attend the summit in hopes of persuading the mainly male African leaders to take responsibility for the epidemic.

As co-founders of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, Jolie and Hague met with South African rights groups yesterday to discuss strategies to prevent sexual violence.