Hollywood star Angelina Jolie today told the Houses of Parliament that ISIS is using rape as the 'centrepoint of their terror' as she warned of the destruction caused by sexual violence in conflict zones.
The actress and human rights activist spoke of the harrowing moment she met girls as young as seven who had been brutally raped in war zones.
Jolie, who is giving evidence to a Lords committee, said jihadist fanatics in the 'most aggressive terrorist group in the world' were using sex attacks as a 'very effective weapon'.
She said the use of rape by ISIS as a 'policy' was a new horror that the world had not seen before and urged a 'very, very strong response' to the terror group in Iraq and Syria.
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As the extraordinary hearing got underway, it emerged that Jolie had given members of the committee copies of her film 'In the Land of Blood and Honey'.
Jolie, who is a long-standing campaigner on the issue, is appearing alongside former Foreign Secretary William Hague.
The pair hosted an 'End Sexual Violence in Conflict' summit in London in June last year which brought together diplomats, officials and non-profit representatives from more than 100 countries to press for the rights of victims of sexual violence — women, men and children alike.
The most aggressive terrorist group in the world today knows what we know, knows that it is a very effective weapon
Angelina Jolie
Speaking today, Jolie said she wanted to express her gratitude to the UK for its leadership on the issue.
And she said there was not a country in the world where the use of rape and sexual violence was a major issue.
The global star, who is married to actor Brad Pitt, told peers: 'I think the most important thing to understand is what it’s not. It’s not sexual, it is a violent brutal terrorising weapon.
'And unfortunately it is everywhere, in and out of conflict in every country basically. I can’t think of one where there is not this issue.
'The most aggressive terrorist group in the world today knows what we know, knows that it is a very effective weapon and they are using it as a centrepoint of their terror and their way of destroying communities and families, and attacking and dehumanising.'
She said ISIS in Iraq and Syria dictates the use of rape as 'policy', adding: 'This is what is beyond something we have seen before. This is actually put into their policy.
'They are saying "we should do this, this is the right way to build a society, so we tell you to rape".'
'We really have to have a very, very strong response at this time to this particular group on this issue.'
