Angelina Jolie defends UN, decries ‘tide of nationalism’

Angelina Jolie has made a strong defence of the United Nations (UN), saying the world body, as “imperfect” as it is, needs reform but also support.

The American actress and special envoy for the UN refugee agency decried a “rising tide of nationalism masquerading as populism, and the re-emergence of policies encouraging fear and hatred of others” during a speech at the UN in Geneva on Wednesday.

Saying she was speaking as a “proud American” and “an internationalist”, Jolie said some politicians were elected “partly on the basis of dismissing international institutions and agreements.”

She didn’t mention US President Donald Trump.

Jolie addressed a ceremony honouring Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN envoy to Iraq who died in a 2003 bombing attack in Baghdad.