Angelina Jolie may have started out as an actress, but she’s since proven that she takes her role as human rights activist incredibly seriously when she spoke out in support of women suffering from domestic abuse. The 45-year-old actress voiced some words of guidance in an interview for Harper’s Bazaar U.K., stating, “Talk to someone. Try to find allies. Be connected for emergencies.” Unfortunately, intimate partner abuse is not uncommon with 1 in 4 women suffering, including during the holiday season.
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Jolie, who became the UN Refugee Agency Special Envoy in 2012, is passionate about the issue of domestic violence. After noting that friends and family may be the first choice to turn to for help, she went on to counter, “Often it will be strangers who help. Or other victims, support groups, or faith groups. Above all, be careful. Only you really know the danger you are in, and until you find your support outside, you may feel quite alone.”
As a social activist, Jolie has been outspoken in the past about human rights issues, opening up to Vogue UK in June about her role within the UN to fight for better opportunities for those who need protection. Regarding her Special Envoy role she said, “My work now involves fighting alongside my colleagues for refugees to have rights and protection, to resist forced returns, and to push for better learning opportunities.”
In her interview for Harper’s Bazaar U.K, Jolie spoke on her support of the UN’s 16 Days of Activism campaign which battles against gender-based violence, expressing her pain in seeing women and children suffer from inequalities within society. She said, “We don’t take domestic or gender-based violence seriously enough anywhere, and we often overlook the trauma and injury suffered by children who witness or experience violence, in their own homes.”
Jolie is adamant that it’s vital to support anyone in your life who you believe may be a victim of abuse, staying near to them and present to help whenever they need it. While she may have started her career as an actress, the powerhouse activist is making her mark with social justice, using her voice to bring awareness to major issues across the world.
