Child Sexual Abuse in Conflict: 'For every Child Helped, Ten more are Held Captive'

War Child, a charity that protects children living in the world's most dangerous war zones, has held a talk during the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

The summit, held in London, is co-hosted by Hollywood actress and UN ambassador Angelina Jolie and British Foreign Minister William Hague.

During the War Child conference, The Voices of Children in Conflict, a Ugandan woman known only as Paulina, spoke about the sexual violence she was victim of when she was a child.

Pauline was raped by militiamen in Uganda in 2002.

"I was abducted and I was taken to the bush," Pauline said. "I saw people being raped and killed. I was raped too.

"I became pregnant and I lost my baby while I was in the bush. I had no food, nowhere to sleep, no hospitals to go to. I was beaten several times.

"I knew that was the end of my life.

"These things happen everywhere in the conflicts, not just in Uganda," Pauline continued. "As we are speaking here now, abuses are happening in the world."

Pauline is now an activist and goes around the world to raise awareness about abuses carried out during conflicts.

"Being a war child made me what I am today: an activist who chose to speak for all those who are victims of sexual violence.

"My message to you is: this is a serious issue, we need to address it."

For every child who is helped, ten more are held captive

Conservative MP Mark Simmonds, who is Minister for Africa at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, spoke at the War Child conference.

Simmonds highlighted the necessity of a global commitment to tackle rape in war zones.

"The recent abduction of more than 200 girls in Nigeria by terror group Boko Haram shocked the world and highlighted the violence women face in conflicts.

Not only women but also children who are recruited as soldiers during conflicts are victims of abuses, Simmons said.

"There are an estimated 250,000 child soldiers in the war. They are exploited because they are vulnerable.

"They are forced to fight, used as suicide bombers and they are all at risk of sexual abuse.

"This should not and must not tolerated anywhere in the world," the minister continued.

"What War Child does is admirable, but more has to be done: For every child who is helped, there are at least ten more who are held captive.

"We must do more, we must commit to doing everything we can to protect children."