Duchess Sophie made women cry with pride as she reminded them of their strength and dignity in an emotional speech, showing zero tolerance for violence against the most respectable segment of society.
King Charles’ trusted ally healed hearts when she gave a powerful speech to the students of Lisbon, leaving them inspired and untouched by her words.
On the second day of her tour of Portugal with Prince Edward, the Duchess of Edinburgh shared her experience of spending time with women from war zones.
She revealed the heartbreaking truth and said that women are threatened with rape while bringing peace to their communities. She represents a strength for those fighting sexual violence in conflicts around the world.
“Sexual violence in conflict is truly a scourge for the world,” he said.
“There are many countries in conflict now where violence is endemic, and also the reality is that sexual violence – violence against women and girls – is something that, even after conflict, is changing societies.
“It’s something that, unfortunately, I see no end to… even in post-conflict countries, the violence that continues. It’s not acceptable.”
The Duchess has long supported the Women, Peace and Security agenda, a United Nations initiative that aims to put more women at the center of conflict resolution.
He addressed the NATO Model conference in Lisbon, which simulates procedures at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Among the student delegates from subjects such as International Relations was a group from the University of Birmingham.
She explained how, at a conference in New York, women she met in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were receiving rape threats on their phones.
“They were there in the name of peace… but they were receiving direct threats right on their phones,” he said.
“Women peacebuilders have different perspectives and priorities,” she continued.
To a question from a student about how women’s voices can be amplified, she responded: “I use my voice… I can be their voice in several different forums, in several different environments. That’s one way. You can use your voices and immediately play a role as well.”
“They know how their communities work and what is important to them. These women, whom I am privileged to serve, do not do so because they want recognition of any kind, in fact, quite the opposite. They do so in the name of peace, but by coming forward, they can end up putting themselves in danger. They are often subject to threats of rape and other forms of harm, intimidation of their families, deportation and imprisonment.”
The second day of Prince Edward and Sophie’s visit also saw them help assemble a drone and operate the drone’s camera with an Xbox console at an aerospace company.
