South African actress Charlize Theron arrives for the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival Aug. 29, 2008. Theron has been designated by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, with a special focus on ending violence against women. -Xinhua/Reuters

The Academy Award-winning actress and activist Charlize Theron has been designated by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, with a special focus on ending violence against women.

Theron will join fellow actors George Clooney and Michael Douglas, as well as seven other internationally renowned individuals, as messengers who advocate on behalf of the UN and focus global attention on its efforts to improve the lives of billions of people.

With her designation to be officially announced at the UN Headquarters on Monday next week, Theron has been recognized for her work focusing attention and mobilizing efforts on social issues, particularly in her native South Africa, where she has the Africa Outreach Project, which provides funding for a mobile health and computer clinic that visits high schools in rural communities affected by HIV/AIDS.

Thanks to Theron's efforts, approximately 5,000 students in those remote communities now have access to counseling and testing for HIV and other health issues, and receive computer training and health education, with a special focus on preventing HIV.

In selecting Theron, the secretary-general said, "You have used your voice, compassion and special relationship with the public to create a better world."

"I am convinced you would be a persuasive and powerful Messenger of Peace. You have consistently dedicated yourself to improving the lives of women and children in South Africa, and to preventing and stopping violence against women and girls," Ban said, adding he looked forward to working her to "end this terrible scourge."