Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron was named a United Nations messenger of peace during a ceremony on Friday, VOA reports.
The South African actress has worked to improve the lives of impoverished women and children, especially those with HIV/AIDS, in her homeland through her foundation, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project. She has also spoken out against sexual violence against women.
“It starts with entering one rural community, one school at a time, and giving them the tools, the education, the understanding that raping a virgin does not cure HIV, that you cannot wash a condom and use it twice – these are things we take for granted in our everyday lives. When you are dealing with a country, especially in the rural parts of Africa, you cannot take anything for granted,” said Theron
Charlize Theron joins nine other U.N. Messengers of Peace, who advocate on different issues for the organization. Among them are actors George Clooney and Michael Douglas, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel.
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