https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlize_Theron#Activism
Activism
The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) was created in 2007 by Theron, a UN Messenger of Peace, in an effort to support African youth in the fight against HIV/AIDS. CTAOP's mission is to help keep African youth safe from HIV/AIDS. The project is committed to supporting community-engaged organizations that address the key drivers of the disease. Although the geographic scope of CTAOP is Sub-Saharan Africa, the primary concentration has mostly been Charlize's home country of South Africa. CTAOP's approach is based on the belief that community-based organizations on the ground understand the social and structural relationships of their communities better than anyone. By supporting these organizations through grant giving, networking, and spotlighting their work, CTAOP enables communities to mobilize and empower themselves to prevent HIV.[53]
In 2008, Theron was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace.[54] In his citation, Ban Ki-Moon said of Theron "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."[55] She recorded a public service announcement in 2014 as part of their Stop Rape Now program.[56]
In December 2009, CTAOP and TOMS Shoes partnered to create a limited edition unisex shoe. The shoe was made from vegan materials and inspired by the African baobab tree, the silhouette of which was embroidered on blue and orange canvas. Ten-thousand pairs were given to destitute children, and a portion of the proceeds went to CTAOP.[57]
Theron is involved in
women's rights organizations and has marched in
pro-choice rallies.
[58] Theron also is a supporter of
animal rights and active member of
PETA. She appeared in a PETA ad for its anti-fur campaign.
[59]
Theron is a supporter of
same-sex marriage and attended a march and rally to support that in
Fresno, California, on 30 May 2009.
[60] She has publicly stated that she refuses to get married until same sex marriage is legal in the United States. Theron commented on the subject matter, saying: "I don't want to get married because right now the institution of marriage feels very one-sided, and I want to live in a country where we all have equal rights. I think it would be exactly the same if we were married, but for me to go through that kind of ceremony, because I have so many friends who are gays and lesbians who would so badly want to get married, that I wouldn't be able to sleep with myself."
[61] Theron further elaborated on her stance in a June 2011 interview on
Piers Morgan Tonight. She stated: "I do have a problem with the fact that our government hasn't stepped up enough to make this federal, to make [gay marriage] legal. I think everybody has that right."
[62]
In March 2014, CTAOP was among the charities that benefited from the annual
Fame and Philanthropy fundraising event on the night of the
86th Academy Awards. Theron was an honored guest along with
Halle Berry and keynote speaker
James Cameron.
[63]
In 2015, Theron signed an open letter which the
ONE Campaign had been collecting signatures for; the letter was addressed to
Angela Merkel and
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, urging them to focus on women as they serve as the head of the G7 in Germany and the AU in South Africa respectively, which will start to set the priorities in development funding before a main UN summit in September 2015 that will establish new development goals for the generation.
[64]