Helen Pankhurst, the new Ambassador for CARE's Voices against Violence campaign.CARE are delighted to announce that Dr Helen Pankhurst has been named Voices Against Violence Campaign Ambassador for CARE International UK. Helen Pankhurst is the great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst, leaders in the British suffragette movement.

Voices Against Violence calls for an end to violence against women living in countries affected by conflict, and for women’s inclusion in building peace.

Rape and sexual intimidation is often used as a weapon of war, to terrorise women and destabilise communities. In the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo for instance, the UN estimates that 160 women a day are raped by armed men. Hundreds more are threatened and humiliated.

Helen Pankhurst said: “I’m honored to join the Voices Against Violence campaign as Ambassador. Building links between women activists is vital. Sometimes this starts small, within a family then within a village or town.  But when women stand together and hold hands across divided communities, countries, and right up to the global level, then they can have greater impact, ensuring that laws are changed and perpetrators of violence brought to account.

“Women living in conflict need women in the UK to stand with them - we are all linked, we help ourselves most when we tune in and take care of others – we need to speak up for each other.”

Lee Webster, Voices Against Violence Campaign Manager added “With Helen's help we can go forward to achieving our goal of creating a society where women in countries affected by conflict are valued and able to fulfill their potential."