Sophie Turner visited Rwanda to meet genocide survivors
The actress became an ambassador for Women for Women International after witnessing how survivors are rebuilding their lives.
British actress Sophie Turner travelled to Rwanda in 2017 to meet women who survived the 1994 genocide, according to the Times of India. During her visit, she met survivors participating in programmes run by Women for Women International to see how they were rebuilding their lives.
The actress, known for her role as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, became an ambassador for the organisation on International Women's Day in 2017. Women for Women International stated that researching and filming scenes involving sexual violence in the television series inspired Turner to support survivors.
In a March 2017 interview reported by Arab News, Turner said she was shocked by the public reaction to a controversial storyline involving sexual violence in her show. She questioned why audiences found the depiction of rape on television unacceptable while such violence continued to affect women globally.
The 1994 genocide in Rwanda resulted in more than one million deaths during approximately 100 days of violence. The United Nations estimates up to 500,000 women were subjected to systematic rape, while Women for Women International estimates between 100,000 and 250,000 women were raped.
Women for Women International began working in Rwanda in 1997 to help women gain economic independence through programmes like Stronger Women, Stronger Nations. The organisation reported that its programme has reached more than 82,418 women since its office opened in 1997.