JK Rowling and Victoria Beckham call for end to sexual violence against war zone children

Author JK Rowling has call for urgent action Picture: mindakms

A group of influential women have called on the UK government to help end the scourage of sexual violence against children in conflict zones.

They include the Harry Potter author JK Rowling, the fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, UNICEF UK ambassador Jemima Khan, the model Claudia Schiffer and Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts.

They joined UNICEF UK in writing to The Times newspaper ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8.

Their letter said: “In war zones sexual violence is as devastating as bullets and bombs.”

It explained that in times of war and conflict, girls and boys are at greater risk of abuse, violence and exploitation.

Their letter added: “One of the starkest reminders is Syria, where an entire generation is at risk of being lost as a fourth year of conflict and unimaginable atrocities approaches.”

The group of women demanded the UK government prioritise action to protect children at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London in June.

Jemima Khan said: “Many girls and boys in war zones live in daily terror not only of gunfire and explosions but of the threat of sexual violence. Children whose young lives are scarred by conflict are at terrifying risk of abuse.”

UNICEF is urging people to help them by calling on the British government to protect children from the horror of rape and sexual violence.

You can sign the UNICEF petition here.