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Sexual violence: From conflict to conference Angelina Jolie: Messages for actress from rape victims
(32 minutes later)
Can a four-day meeting of experts, activists and politicians in a London exhibition centre really make difference to people shattered by a combination of war and rape? A global summit in London is aiming to tackle the widespread use of sexual violence in conflict zones.
Delegates from more than 150 nations are gathered in London for a global summit that aims to tackle the widespread use of sexual violence in conflict zones. Ahead of the summit the BBC travelled to Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, to ask those affected what they wanted out of the summit, which is being attended by Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, special envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The event is the culmination of two years of work by UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, special envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Ahead of the summit the BBC travelled to Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, where those affected told our reporters what they wanted out of the London event.
Rosetta: 'Make rape a war crime'Rosetta: 'Make rape a war crime'
Rosetta, 44, was gang-raped in 1999 during Burundi's civil war.Rosetta, 44, was gang-raped in 1999 during Burundi's civil war.
The perpetrators arrived at her parents' home, put a hood over her head and raped her repeatedly. She says she's unsure how many times she was raped, or by how many men.The perpetrators arrived at her parents' home, put a hood over her head and raped her repeatedly. She says she's unsure how many times she was raped, or by how many men.
"When rapists are released from prisons and they re-enter the villages where we live, they intimidate us by saying: 'Did you get what you wanted?'"When rapists are released from prisons and they re-enter the villages where we live, they intimidate us by saying: 'Did you get what you wanted?'
"My call to world leaders attending this conference is to ensure that rape is named a war crime with tough consequences so that no other vulnerable person is attacked the way we were during the war.""My call to world leaders attending this conference is to ensure that rape is named a war crime with tough consequences so that no other vulnerable person is attacked the way we were during the war."
Lucy: 'Punishments must be tough'Lucy: 'Punishments must be tough'
Lucy was raped during Burundi's civil war, which lasted from 1993 to 2005. She was 12 years old when three attackers put a hood over head and attacked her as she walked home from school.Lucy was raped during Burundi's civil war, which lasted from 1993 to 2005. She was 12 years old when three attackers put a hood over head and attacked her as she walked home from school.
"In Burundi, rapists often don't serve their full term, which is traumatic for us. So we would ask world leaders and celebrities who are attending the conference in London is to make sure just and tough punishments and sentences are handed out to the guilty.""In Burundi, rapists often don't serve their full term, which is traumatic for us. So we would ask world leaders and celebrities who are attending the conference in London is to make sure just and tough punishments and sentences are handed out to the guilty."
Fidela: 'We need support'Fidela: 'We need support'
Fidela, 37 - pictured on the far left - has six children to support. She is one of many rape victims whose lives are blighted after the actual attack. Women are often ostracised or discriminated against because they have been raped. Fidela, 37 - pictured on the far left - lives in Burundi and has six children to support. She is one of many rape victims who have faced discrimination because they have been raped.
"My call to world leaders would be to ask them to support vulnerable rape victims like me."My call to world leaders would be to ask them to support vulnerable rape victims like me.
"If the international community could provide us more support to rebuild our lives, that would be helpful.""If the international community could provide us more support to rebuild our lives, that would be helpful."
South Sudan: 'They raped 31 women in my village' Faida Maria: 'Men need to be told to stop'
There has been a sharp rise in sexual assaults since fighting broke out in South Sudan last year. Faida Maria, from DR Congo, was walking home with three other girls when they were ambushed by two men.
In South Sudan, one woman, known as "Jane", told the BBC's Karen Allen about an attack on her village that saw 31 women raped and seven killed, "The younger girls managed to run away to the village but I didn't have the strength to flee and they took me. They raped me and stabbed me," she said.
Fighting between the country's Dinka and Nuer communities has sparked a sharp increase in the numbers of rapes.
Read more: Raped under the noses of UN troops
Burundi: 'I love my child of rape'
DR Congo: Faida Maria's story
"I was coming from the river with three other girls when we met two men. The younger girls managed to run away to the village but I didn't have the strength to flee and they took me. They raped me and stabbed me.
"I didn't wake up for three hours after that. I was 12 years old."I didn't wake up for three hours after that. I was 12 years old.
"I think that in order to end sexual violence here there needs to be more awareness raising campaigns for men, through radio programmes. The programmes would tell men to stop raping women.""I think that in order to end sexual violence here there needs to be more awareness raising campaigns for men, through radio programmes. The programmes would tell men to stop raping women."
For more testimony and BBC reports from the Burundi and DR Congo, visit the BBC World Service on Soundcloud.For more testimony and BBC reports from the Burundi and DR Congo, visit the BBC World Service on Soundcloud.