Angelina Jolie Supports Refugees, Speaks At Darfur Panel

Angelina Jolie is furthering her work on behalf as refugees beyond her role as Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. She has teamed up to help refugee children:

Actress Angelina Jolie and a team of 25 powerful law firms are joining forces against the government's attempt to deport thousands of unaccompanied and illegal immigrant children - including hundreds from New York City.

Backed by Microsoft Corp., Kids in Need of Defense will provide free legal representation to children separated from their parents. The group will open offices in New York and other several other cities...

"These children often have nothing - no money, no support and no family," Jolie said in a statement. "Many end up becoming lost, traumatized, and ultimately forgotten."

Jolie also spoke Friday at the Council on Foreign Relations, introducing a panel on the International Criminal Court and the prosecution of perpetrators in Darfus, sponsored by the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.

"Over the past seven years, I've worked with UNHCR and I've traveled around the world trying to bring attention to refugees," she said. "It's been a remarkable education."

Jolie, who has visited dozens of war-torn countries around the world, spoke passionately on behalf of the victims she's met. "I've seen refugees return to live among the same people who attacked them," she said. "They are returning to the same lawlessness that sent them running in the first place. I've seen aid workers tear up as they put ladies on a bus and say, 'I don't know what we're sending them back to...

"I don't know if the ICC is the answer. And I don't know what type of court is, or what it would need to be to make all of us agree and make it strong enough," Jolie admitted. "But I do know this: No mother who had her children killed in front of her, no young girl sold into slavery, no boy kidnapped and forced to be a child soldier and no young girl like the 3-year-old I met in Sierra Leone, who had her limbs cut off, should be expected to simply forget. No one should have to choose between peace and justice."

Comments

[PT6]

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT VOTING YET!

Young people GET to the Voting Booths EARLY to avoid lines!

DROP EVERYTHING and VOTE or your life will be Miserable!

Obama is DEPENDING on YOUR VOTE to WIN and to take Control of Congress!

[ligaya]

Apparently not enough to satisfy Ms. Jolie - maybe Mr. Obama wasn't specific enough.

1. A recent article said that celebrity endorsements are a double-edged sword. A recent poll showed that an overwhelming number " something over 70% - of voters said celebrity endorsements would NOT influence their vote. In fact, some celebrity endorsements would have a negative effect.

2. Angelina did NOT endorse either McCain or Obama. It means she"s being publicly neutral, like the UN and Bono. IMO, not being partisan in this election is a choice she has the right to make. I think she"ll be more effective with her advocacy work. She's respected on Capitol Hill " not only for her knowledge and experience, but also for being non-partisan.

3. Angelina was absolutely right to ask both candidates for their positions on the issues most important to her. For one thing, neither had said anything about those issues. For another, it"s not wise to assume things " especially of politicians running for President of the U.S.

4. What with the havoc caused by this Republican administration abroad and at home, it would seem a no-brainer for Angelina to endorse Obama, right? Not so fast. People, especially progressives, minorities and young people, were so desperate to throw the Republicans out of office, and so elated about Obama"s messages that coincided with theirs that they rushed headlong to support him without getting any guarantees about following through.

[Bitsko]

Have you noticed how you rarely see celebrities in commercial ads anymore? That's because the companies discovered that Americans don't like being patronized by stars.

[harriettubman]

I was reading an adoption site that said Angelina cries daily over the stress of taking care of all those children yet in public she appears Superwoman. Enough children already.

[paganmist]

Taking care of children is stressful. When my 8 year old was a baby, I cried every day. Now that she's eight, it's only about once a week, if that.

When you really care for children, you are stressed out about them.

I don't get what your point is. People like you seem to exist only to make attack comments towards this woman, but you offer no actual substance to the conversation.

Go be bitter elsewhere.

[harriettubman]

You're such a silly and missed the point. Have you read Dick & Jane yet? I was saying it is time for the Jolie/Pitt family to stop with the revolving door or children.

Just because Angelina has become a humanitarian doesn't mean we can't comment on the plight of her children. We all know the stories from children of Joan Crawfrod, Lucille Ball and other Hollywood celebs who were either abused or raised by nannies. The site was illustrating how stressed out Angelina is "behind closed doors". I'm a mother and know full well what raising kids means and it doesn't mean nannies and boarding schools.

If you don't get it, move on to another comment.

[happycat]

Cut the c rap, pagan. You know exactly what harriettubman was saying. I am a mother also and it is exhausting and stressful. No rational woman with 6 young kids - 2 of whom she just gave birth to could actually ponder adopting more kids in the immediate future. I don't want to hear the same argument over and over again about Angelina - the "great" humanitarian. Her kids always look dirty, they are being dragged from country to country, state to state at any moment. Kids need stability and adherence to some sort of schedule. Before Angelina adopts more children or buys them, she needs to get a complete psych evaluation.

[MaggieDoe]

What adoption site?

[harriettubman]

http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/271426/angelina-joile-s-twin-stress-makes-her-hysterical/1/

http://celebslam.celebuzz.com/angelina-jolie-stress/

It's everywhere. The girl is tired and stressed. She needs to reexamine why she's adopting all those kids. How many nannies can one have?

Tori Spelling said she was raised by her nanny, yet her mother got an attitude with her. Lucie Arnaz said she was raised by her nanny and how many other wealthy kids have been raised by nannies?

[harriettubman]

I was looking for the adoption but couldn't find it. It a woman's personal experience of being against adoption. She was adopted herself and was treated horribly. I don't think Angelina is like that but the girl is tired like the rest of us mothers and needs to slow down with adopting.

[marymansour]

I don't think it's too off topic on this particular heading, but in all seriousness, if Obama wins the presidency, there will be a new focus on Africa. Obama, being a son of Kenya, can help change the way the rest of the world looks at Africa and its people. A continent too long neglected by others, except for the pillaging of its wealth by colonialists, may find a new global awareness has begun and some much needed attention in the wake of an Obama victory. Darfur, Rawanda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique - to name a few countries on that continent that have been or are still suffering. Those who care about its problems may find a new day dawning in helping those in need on that continent which was the beginning of the human race. Let's hope Obama wins!

[harriettubman]

I can't see him paying special attention to Africa. He has so much to do at home first and foremost then the Middle East. I think you assume wrong.

[marymansour]

Harriet, my reference was really a world focus on Africa as a result of Obama being our president. I realize he has more pressing issues but the fact that he is half African could lead to a greater interest and more aid on that continent from others.

[lioness39]

I do get and agree with your point, marymansour.

[ginia51]

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are two of the most dedicated actors out there. Not only great parents but great activists. I wish we had more like them. Not only have they advocated for the poor and the helpless but they put their money where their mouth is. I LOVE THESE GUYS.....

[CKieffer]

Grow up. You don't even know these people. If you want to judge them, fine. Use criteria about which you actually have knowledge.

For instance, I don't like how often they make these children move. Travel is great but upheaval every 8 weeks is not. Irrespective of how much money goes to their foundation, I disagree with repeatedly selling photos of your children. These children are not commodities.

These are not comments that require me to look inside their home; that require me to hear a private conversation between Jolie and Pitt. They are my observations based on what these people actually do.

They piss and put their pants on one leg at a time. They are overpaid ACTORS who are rolling in the money and yes, it is so wonderful that they do all that they do blahblahblah... and somehow their donations get more press than the Gates/Clinton initiatives which do 500 times more.

Post Script: the photos that Pitt took were horrible. No magazine in the world would have given that many pages to any photographer who dared submit those photos. Pitt should keep his "private" photos to himself and let other people, who have studied photography, get a break in their field... unless Pitt needs to belive he is more than pretty boy actor.

[jimpwhite]

Thank you CFR.org for getting on board with this issue. Your network can make this work faster ...Everyone reading the comments lets not forget that the kids are the main reason. We must Feed them, House Them, . Educate Them... CFR.org, spare no international contact or source to protect them!!!

Aloha

[Posterella]

I would rather hear the words Jolie speaks from the person who wrote them. I could not be less inclined to support someone than Jolie. Besides, who is not in favor of aiding refugees? She just comes off as disingenuous, trying to whitewash her seedy past by acting like a Mother Theresa wannabe. Enough of her! Every time I turn on my computer, t.v., or go to the store, I have to see her giant collagened lips and smug face. It's a nightmare!

[Hechizera]

LOL! You poor trolls have been having a nightmarish week. Try turning off your TV, stay home and read a good self-help book.

[Posterella]

I'll just do what the rest of the movie-going public does, stay away from her movies!!!

[iambusto]

Ya !! Bring all the losers from the world across over to the US. but when companies want to bring H1b workers (at least more educated than the average citizen here), OH NO !! cant have that....

[thewhitewitch]

She HAS endorsed Obama... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/10/angelina-jolie-obama-woul_n_133705.html

[marymansour]

That was not an endorsement as GrandyK so proudly pointed out.

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

I adore Jolie, but I can't see why should won't vote for Obama? Nani?

[ligaya]

Obama tacked to the left to win the Democratic primary; since then, he tacked rightwards to move to the center to win the Presidency. Obama has backtracked on a number of things. He pledged to accept public funding with limits, then changed his mind. He vowed he"d vote no on FISA (government spying on its citizens without their knowledge and without warrants, among other things) even if he had to filibuster - he voted yes. He was against any form of offshore oil-drilling, now he"s for it under certain conditions. He is for war with Afghanistan.

5. Obama had a firm timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, he modified it. (6000 Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans Against the War demonstrated at the Democratic National Convention asking to meet with him, he didn"t even bother sending an aide to acknowledge them.

This is not to say I won"t vote for Obama " only that I have a realistic view of him, not the Jesus Christ Superstar some have made him out to be.

6. Obviously, the election of McCain/Palin is too horrendous to contemplate. Yet, it might turn out that way. Tom Bradley, extremely popular and first Black mayor of Los Angeles who served 5 terms, ran for Governor. Everyone projected a landslide win " he lost to the white candidate. This became known as the "Bradley effect" " voters concealing their racism from pollsters, and voting against the Black candidate in the privacy of the voting booth.

[andvoodoo2]

Thank you Ms. Jolie for all of the work you do to try to make this world a better place for all of us - especially for our weakest members, our children.


That said, allow me to save the Angelina haters some time:
Kids, "Jen", skinny, Republican father, lips, "Jen", adoption, blood vials, tattoos, "Jen", Pitt, breastfeeding and "Jen".
Did I forget anything?

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

LOL Jen who?

[strangerinthenight]

The one who played Rachel Greene, and keep reprising that role. Her next movie is Marley and Me. You can catch Marley on DVD. Marley is a much better actor !

Marley will be remembered. Jen - the one Mayer insulted on TV - that one.

LOL !

[CKieffer]

Why do you feel the need to attack a person who isn't even part of this story?

[lioness39]

"That said, allow me to save the Angelina haters some time:
Kids, "Jen", skinny, Republican father, lips, "Jen", adoption, blood vials, tattoos, "Jen", Pitt, breastfeeding and "Jen".


Okay, you got it: Kids, "Jen", skinny, Republican father, lips, "Jen", adoption, blood vials, tattoos, "Jen", Pitt, breastfeeding and "Jen".

Happy now?

[andvoodoo2]

LOL! I've BEEN happy! And, hate to break it to you, but so is Jolie!

[marymansour]

Angelina Jolie should not hesitate in endorsing and getting behind Barack Obama. He has spoken constantly of aiding those caught up in the Darfur conflict. His major speeches have all included Darfur and the need for intervention.