Charlize UNites to End Violence against Women

Charlize Theron is the newest UN Messenger of Peace, turning her Oscar-winning fame to ending violence against women and girls around the globe.

Yesterday she was inducted into her new role by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who said that she was taking on her new responsibilities “very humbly, with a very excited heart.”

Charlize Theron receives the proclamation naming her as a United Nations Messenger of Peace from U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Asha Rose Migiro at U.N. headquarters.

Charlize, who is South African native sends a strong message that violence against women and girls was not acceptable in her upcoming travels to assist Ban’s campaign dubbed “UNite to End Violence against Women”.

According to U.N. report one of every five women worldwide will be a victim of rape or attempted rape at some point in their lifetime, and at least one of every three women is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or abused in some other way.

The reason why this cause is so important for Charlize Theron is that she witnessed her mother shoot her alcoholic father to death, at age 15, as he was threatening the family.

In 2004 Charlize won an Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of a domestic violence victim turned serial killer in Monster:

This is something that has been very dear to me, and disturbing to me for a long time.”

In 2005 she was nominated for an Oscar for playing a character in North Country, which deals with domestic abuse and sexual harassment.

She has been a dedicated activist since 1999, when she joined South Africa Rape Crisis. Then founded the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project to promote HIV/AIDS education for poor children and their families.

Theron is not the only celebrity who became a messenger for the UN.

Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Michael Douglas, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan, Paulo Coelho, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel and many others.

What have you done to stop violence?

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