Myanmar’s House Speaker Shwe Mann took some time out on Wednesday to welcome UN goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie to parliament in Nay Pyi Taw.
According to a press release issued by the British embassy in Yangon and reported on DVB on Wednesday, Jolie is visiting Myanmar for four days ''to learn more about the situation in the country and encourage efforts to build a peaceful and inclusive future for all its people".
“Angelina Jolie Pitt will carry out engagements in her capacity as Co-Founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, and as UNHCR special envoy will carry out field visits to displaced people in Burma’s conflict-affected states.''
"She will meet local people who are working on human rights and inter-faith relations, and groups carrying out projects to promote women’s rights, voter education and participation ahead of the forthcoming elections,'' it added.
Joile said in the press release that she will meet many groups of people in Myanmar “to learn firsthand from them about their concerns and hopes for the future of their country.''
"With elections on the horizon in November it is an important moment for people to exercise their democratic rights and help to address the fundamental issues critical to a peaceful future,” she added.
Myanmar will hold general elections on Nov 8.
Joile arrived in Myanmar from Cambodia, where she was visiting health, education and conservation projects funded by the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation since 2003, and beginning preparations to direct the film 'First They Killed My Father' based on a child’s experience of the years of turmoil in Cambodia.
This is her first visit to the country. Last year, she visited Karenni refugees at a Thai-Myanmar border camp in Mae Hong Son province in her capacity as a special envoy for UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres.