Angelina Jolie, Amal Clooney Voice Support For UN Resolution On Sex Crimes US Threatened To Veto

Actor Angelina Jolie and activist Amal Clooney threw their support behind a United Nations resolution to recognize and investigate sexual violence as a weapon of war.

The German-drafted resolution was first introduced to recognize the use of sexual violence during war against civilian populations. It would provide better treatment to victims of sex crimes in war-torn regions, offering sexual and reproductive health care.

The U.S., along with China and Russia, have not backed the resolution because of its language. The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance against any measure or organization that provides abortion and similar services to women. The belief is that the resolution’s language is a veiled cover for such services.

The resolution has also faced pushback from the U.S. delegation because of "gender." The Trump administration appears to believe that this is a means to cover the promotion of transgender rights.

The resolution did pass, but not before being rewritten with softer language to appease the U.S. delegation. (China and Russia abstained.)

Jolie and Clooney have both called for stronger language to protect women and gender rights around the world.

Jolie and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas issued their stance in an editorial piece.

"As voices of bigotry rise, the wait for gender equality is growing. Women’s rights are again being called into question, and demands for sexual and reproductive health and rights are met in some quarters with open hostility," it read.

The piece also stated that the resolution "would also send an important message to those who attempt to roll back human rights: We don’t take progress for granted. And we will fight to keep it alive."

Clooney offered harsher words for the U.N. regarding the resolution Tuesday, telling the Security Council that this is "your Nuremberg moment."

It is "your chance to stand on the right side of history. Although this draft resolution is a welcome step forward, especially insofar as it strengthens the sanctions regime for those who commit sexual violence, we must go further because if this august body cannot prevent sexual violence in war, then it must at least punish it."