Now 'Hollywood Hague' hangs out with Brad too: Starstruck Foreign Secretary steps out with Pitt and Jolie as A-list couple join him at war rape summit

• Arrived at the ExCel in London's Docklands for sexual violence summit
• It is the first day the Tomb Raider actress has been joined by her husband
• Foreign Secretary said the 'double act' could be future of foreign policy
• Trio all arrived in black suits and posed for photographers at the entrance
• They have joined officials from more than 100 governments at the event 

The Daily Mail (UK) |  12 June 2014  

In the commons, he is flanked by the likes of Theresa May and Philip Hammond.

So when William Hague walked into a summit between Hollywood's most famous couple, it was likely he was going to be a little starstruck. 

The Foreign Secretary arrived alongside Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for the third day of the global summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

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Unlikely trio: Brad Pitt (left), William Hague (centre) and Angelina Jolie (right) arrive at the ExCel in London Docklands for the third day of the Global Summit To End Sexual Violence

Political prowess: The Foreign Secretary last night said the Hollywood collaboration is how foreign policy should be conducted in the future

Strength: The trio have joined officials from more than 100 countries in a bid to combat sexual violence in warzones

In their stride: After posing for photographs, the group walk away from the backdrop

As they entered the ExCeL exhibition centre in London's Docklands, the Conservative politician stood in the middle of the Hollywood couple to pose for photographs.   

The coming together of an 'unlikely double act' - Jolie and Mr Hague - is an example of how foreign policy should be conducted in future, the Conservative politician said last night.

The Tomb Raider actress, who is special envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, is dressed in an entirely black outfit, having been in white for the first two days of the summit.

Her husband wore a black suit with an open white shirt and sunglasses, while Mr Hague donned a pink tie. 

The combination of Jolie's star power along with government can be 'formidable', Mr Hague said last night. He also said the film star is 'a pleasure to work with'.

He said: 'My admiration for her work has grown even greater over the last two years.  

Brad and Angie arrive for third day of rape summit

The Tomb Raider actress, who is special envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, is dressed in an entirely black outfit, having been in white for the first two days of the summit

'She has the power to speak to the whole world, to raise awareness, change attitudes.

'Governments like the one I am a member of hold in their hands levers of decision making and action. And this combination can be formidable.

'And is in many respects a strong example of the future of foreign policy and how it should be conducted.

'It's no longer the sole preserve of governments.'

Fashion sense: The Conservative politician's black suit is an improvement on the baseball cap and anorak combination he wore during a tour of Flambards Theme Park, Devon, in 1997

Couple: Last week he attended the D-Day commemorations in Ouistreham, France, with his wife Ffion

He said Jolie brings 'vast expertise', adding: 'She is an inspiration.'

The summit has seen diplomats, officials and non-profit representatives from more than 100 countries gather to press for the rights of victims of sexual violence — women, men and children alike.

While Mr Hague and Miss Jolie may seem an odd  couple, even by the standards of Hollywood, they have made a number of visits to war zones around the  world together.

Angelina talks at the 'End Sexual Violence in Conflict' summit

With the cameras of the world focused on her, Jolie said she wanted to dedicated the conference to a rape victim she and Hague recently met in Bosnia

William Hague (L) and Angelina (R), pictured here with Congolese women's rights campaigners Carine Safari (centre left ) and Nyota Babunga (centre right) have worked together for years on the issues of women's rights and sexual abuse

  

Angelina Jolie attends film screening to address rape issue

Angelina embraces delegate Esther Ruth Atim of Uganda during the emotional second day of the 'End Sexual Violence in Conflict' summit

Angelina pauses to look at a photo exhibition by photographer Pete Muller

Last year Oscar winner Miss Jolie was named by Forbes magazine as Hollywood’s highest-paid actress.

Yesterday, she was moved close to tears as she listened to the harrowing accounts of women who had endured sexual violence in conflict zones. 

She embraced Neema Namadamu after speech depicting the struggle of women in the Congo.

Neema is an advocate for change in Congo, and founder of the Maman Shujaa, the 'Hero Women of the Congo’ who fight for the rights of women. She who was struck down with polio at age two, and became the first disabled woman to graduate from Congo’s national university. 

She began campaigning when her 25-year-old daughter was attacked by a group of men metres from her own home in the Congo. 
  
Yesterday, Angelina talked of losing her mother to breast cancer, and her decision to have a preventative double mastectomy: 'The thought of telling my children I had cancer because I didn't have the surgery was more frightening to me.'

'I am very happy that I made a decision that will enable me to be around for my children. For me it was in fact an easy choice.'

Of her mother Marcheline, she said: 'Had she had the surgery she might have been around for years longer to have met my other children.'

The programme also shared the harrowing accounts of two women who suffered sexual violence during conflict.

One un-named women described her attack during genocide in Rwanda in these words: ‘I didn’t see their faces, I don’t know them, how can you see someone who is hitting you in the eyes? How will you know someone who is inserting a gun barrel into your mouth, and then between your legs? Then he leaves, and another one enters.’

Another woman spoke of her attack in Minova in the Democratic Republic of Congo: ‘The man said that he wanted to rape me, that if I refused he is going to kill me. Then another five men came. They all raped me. My daughter keeps asking me about her dad. When I try to reveal who her father is, it is really hard for me.

Angelina, here greeting Neema Namadamu, has been key in organising the summit which is being attended by governments from over 100 countries, over 900 experts, NGOs, Faith leaders, and representatives from international organisations across the world

Neema, who is disabled after having polio as a child, sat as her and Angelina talked for some time following the speeches

‘I fear also telling her because a lot of men raped me… it is really hard for me to tell my daughter. 

‘I just feel really depressed, when I think of it I burst into tears.  I feel like I am nothing. Sometimes  I even feel like dying .’

A rape survivor who attended the conference today, Wangu Kanja, from Kenya, who has set up her own organization to help others, said she hoped the summit will send a message that governments cannot continue to ignore the issue.

'I'm really hoping that from this the Kenyan government will be forced to do something,' she said hours after the summit began.

After the formal talks, the actress took time to look at products made by women and sold by the International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence to support victim of violence

Angelina chatted with activists from NGOs, who are selling products to support victim of violence, in the market area of the 'End Sexual Violence in Conflict' summit

Jolie, here looking at a bag made by a women in a conflict area, is set to help launch a guidance document on best practices on Wednesday to help strengthen prosecutions for rape in conflicts

British Foreign Secretary William Hague, left, and Angelina arrived together for the second day of the landmark summit

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William Hague compared sexual violence in war zones to slavery as an injustice that demands action.

'As was said with slavery in the 18th century, now we know the facts, we cannot turn aside,' he said.

Others far afield also offered support. Pope Francis, who has made combatting sex trafficking and human slavery one of his priorities, sent a tweet on Tuesday in support of the summit's work, saying 'Let us pray for all victims of sexual violence in conflict, and those working to end this crime.'

Hague and Jolie are set to launch a guidance document on best practices today to help strengthen prosecutions for rape in conflicts. Hague will also host a meeting Thursday on tackling Boko Haram, the Islamic terror group that abducted more than 300 schoolgirls and young women in Nigeria in April.

As well as speaking at the conference, Angelina was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour this morning, talking about how she came to be involved in working to end sexual violence

Angelina and Hague have been campaigning on the issue of sexual violence for two years

The pair have campaigned hard on the issue of sexual violence for two years, and on Tuesday they were welcomed with cheers from others fighting for the cause as they toured a lively fringe program featuring photo exhibitions, poetry readings, and artists performing skits.

Nigerian rap and soul singers sang about rape and other problems facing young Africans, while volunteers taught Swahili folk songs in workshops similar to those performed in conflict zones to help reduce trauma. An eclectic group of charity workers and computer experts brainstormed on ways to use technology to improve reporting on sexual violence.