United Nations Radio

Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron on Monday became the latest UN messenger of Peace.

The 33 year old actress, who founded a project to promote AIDS education for children and their families in her native South Africa, will have a special focus on ending violence against women. A topic, she told journalists after her induction at the UN today, that has disturbed her for a long time.

"Being born and raised in a country like SA, living in a country where it was very evident to me that something like violence that violence against women and children, just gotten worse, so I really look forward to working to get strong message across, a message of no acceptance of this anymore."

Ms. Theron has portrayed several women who were victims of violence, including real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos, who came from a background of violence and abuse, and who was executed in Florida in 2002. Charlize Theron becomes the UN's 10th peace envoy. Others include George Clooney, Michael Douglas, British naturalist Jane Goodall and Brazilian author Paulo Coelho.

Diane Bailey, United Nations

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