Inside Angelina Jolie's Advocacy for Domestic Violence Since Her Divorce
Since her separation from Brad Pitt in 2016, Angelina Jolie has dedicated herself to domestic violence advocacy, PEOPLE reported.
The actress filed for divorce from Pitt on September 19, 2016, shortly after an incident on a private plane where he allegedly exhibited drunkenly abusive behavior towards her and their children. Jolie chose not to press charges at that time, and Pitt later faced no criminal charges. He has consistently denied the allegations of abuse.
A close source to Jolie expressed that her focus shifted toward changing laws rather than public discussions about her personal experience. After two decades of service with the UN Refugee Agency, she stepped down as UNHCR’s Special Envoy in December 2022 to advance her humanitarian efforts.
Her advocacy work includes significant contributions to the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. This act aims to address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
In a March 2022 NBC News interview, Jolie emphasized the need for widespread recognition of domestic violence issues in the country. She stated, "This country doesn't recognize what a serious domestic violence and child abuse problem it really has."
One of Jolie's six children with Pitt, Zahara, became actively involved by joining her mother in Washington, D.C. at 17. They met with lawmakers, including during the reauthorization of VAWA in March 2022. This reauthorization included an initiative pushed by Jolie to fund technology that detects bruising on various skin tones, providing related training.
In a July 2023 op-ed published in the American Journal of Nursing, Jolie highlighted the existing disparities in medical treatment. She noted, "Medical research, imagery and training continue to center on white skin." This lack of inclusive study leads healthcare professionals to overlook injuries in children of color, potentially endangering their health. Jolie shared her personal experience with Zahara, who is Ethiopian, noting a past procedure requiring her to identify healing issues based solely on white skin imagery.
"Ultimately, as a mother of children of different races, I witnessed the risk of misdiagnosis," she emphasized.
In a September 2021 interview with The Guardian, Jolie reflected on her challenges of recognizing abuse in her home while advocating for broader social injustices. She remarked, "Often, you cannot recognize something in a personal way... everything else seems smaller."
Jolie acknowledged her feelings regarding the decisions she needed to make about her relationship with Pitt. "It took a lot for me to feel I had to separate from the father of my children," she explained, highlighting her difficult moments.
Details surrounding the alleged abuse during the plane incident later surfaced in documents related to Jolie and Pitt's ongoing winery lawsuit. Court filings detailed concerns over his behavior not just toward Jolie, but also toward their children on that occasion.
Amidst these legal battles, Pitt’s representatives have consistently denied the allegations. They stated that a comprehensive custody trial resulted in a judge granting shared custody despite the claims made by Jolie.
Brad Pitt has acknowledged past mistakes while maintaining boundaries regarding actions he denies. In a candid 2017 GQ interview, he expressed being in a sober state while beginning therapy, striving to confront personal weaknesses and take responsibility for his past choices.
Together, Jolie and Pitt have six children: Maddox (23), Pax (21), Zahara (19), Shiloh (18), and Knox and Vivienne (16). Current reports indicate a significant disconnect between Pitt and their adult children. However, he reportedly maintains some visitation rights with their younger kids per an agreement with Jolie. Sources indicate this separation from his children deeply impacts him.
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