George Clooney appointed UN Messenger of Peace

Washington, Jan 19 : Hollywood actor George Clooney has been appointed a Messenger of Peace for the United Nations.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the 46-year-old actor's designation on Jan 18.

"You have seen first-hand the pain experienced by the victims of war and made it your personal mission to help end violence and human suffering," E! Online quoted Moon, as lauding Clooney's humanitarian work.

Clooney will primarily focus his efforts on raising awareness and support for the UN's international peacekeeping missions.

"Recognized for focusing public attention on crucial international political and social issues, Mr. Clooney joins eight other United Nations Messengers of Peace who advocate on behalf of the organization," U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said.

The actor has been a human rights activist for a number of years and recently took part in a campaign to draw attention to the atrocities being committed in the Sudanese region of Darfur.

"I am deeply honoured to receive this appointment. I look forward to working with the United Nations in order to build public support for its critically important work in some of the most difficult, dangerous and dire places in the world," Clooney said in a statement.

The three-year appointment is regarded as the United Nations' highest honour.

Other UN Messengers of Peace include Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, US Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel, Princess Haya of Jordan and actor Michael Douglas.

ANI