The Duchess of Edinburgh told how she speaks up for women to give them a voice as they try to build peace in war zones.
I joined Sophie, who is in on a three-day tour of Portugal with her husband the Duke, as she delivered a powerful speech to students in Lisbon. She explained how she has witnessed women being threatened with rape as they try to bring peace to their communities and tackle the worldwide issue of sexual violence in conflict – something she admitted she "sees no end" to.
"Sexual violence in conflict is really a scourge on the world," she said. "There are many countries in conflict now where the violence is endemic, and also the reality is sexual violence - violence against women and girls - is something that even after conflict, it's changing societies.
"It is something that, unfortunately, I see no end of .. even countries that are post-conflict, the violence that is carrying on. It is not acceptable."
© Alamy Stock PhotoThe Duchess, who is a longtime supporter of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, a United Nations Initiative which aims to put more women at the centre of conflict resolution, was addressing the Model NATO conference in Lisbon, which simulates proceedings at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Among the delegates of students studying subjects like International Relations was a group from Birmingham University.
She explained how, at a conference in New York, women she met from the Democratic Republic of Congo were receiving threats of rape on their phones.
"They were there in the name of peace .. but they were receiving direct threats straight onto their phone," she said. "Women peace builders have different perspectives and priorities," she continued.
"They know how their communities work and what is important to them. These women, who it is my privilege to serve, do it not out of wanting recognition of any sort, in fact, quite the opposite. They do it in the name of peace, but in putting themselves forward, can end up placing themselves in harm's way. Frequently, they are subjected to threats of rape and other forms of harm, intimidation towards their families, deportation, and incarceration."
Asked by one student how the women’s voices can be amplified, she replied: "I use my voice.. . I can be their voice in various different forums, in various different settings. That is one way. You can use your voices and immediately play a part as well."
© Alamy Stock PhotoThe second day of Prince Edward and Sophie’s visit also saw them helping to assemble a drone and operate the drone’s camera with an Xbox console at aerospace company Tekeva, which makes drones for surveillance, reconnaissance and search and rescue in the Channel and Ukraine. The couple are in Portugal to celebrate the country’s relationship with the UK, which stretches back 640 years to the signing of the Treaty of Windsor, the world’s oldest diplomatic alliance.
Last night, the couple attended a garden party at the Lisbon residence of the British ambassador, where they met members of the British expat community who run charities in Portugal. From Lisbon, they will continue their programme in the city of Porto.
