Angelina Jolie drops in on war crimes trial on way to Cannes
Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie made a stopover on her way to Cannes to attend a war crimes trial in The Hague.
Jolie – a goodwill ambassador for the UN refugee agency – sat courtside at the International Criminal Court trial of warlord Thomas Lubanga, who is accused of recruiting and using child soldiers in his Congolese militia.
Jolie said: “Children deserve special protection. Using children in conflict is a heinous crime and destroys the very fabric of a society.
“After watching the proceedings from the viewing booth, I stood up and found Thomas Lubanga Dyilo looking at me.
“I imagined how difficult it must be for all the brave young children who have come to testify against him.”
The actress is scheduled to attend the Cannes Film Festival tomorrow in France for the debut of Brad Pitt’s film Inglourious Basterds.
Tags: Angelina Jolie, Jolie, The Hague, UN, war crimes