Forest Whitaker-UN

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Recognized for roles as "The Crying Game," "Ghost Dog:The Way of the Samurai," and portraying Uganda's brutal dictator Idi Amin in his Academy Award performance as "The Last King of Scotaland," Forest Whitaker has been appointed by UNESCO as its Goodwill Ambassador.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) designated award-winning Hollywood actor Forest Whitaker today (21 June) as Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Reconciliation in recognition of his commitment to using cinema to promote humanitarian ideals.

Born in the United States in 1961, Whitaker’s screen work includes the film Better Angels, about Ugandan child soldiers, and Common Destiny, a documentary about achieving peace and mutual understanding and the power of education in promoting peace and reconciliation.

As a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNESCO, Whitaker will champion the agency’s priorities, including mobilising decision-makers globally to support youth programmes on education for peace, human rights and global citizenship.

Whitaker will be the keynote speaker at a Youth Forum during UNESCO’s 36th General Conference in October. He will also introduce documentary and other advocacy films on the theme of peace and reconciliation.

The actor has also been associated with organizations supporting abused teenagers and animal rights.

UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassadors are an outstanding group of celebrity advocates who spread the ideals of UNESCO through their name and fame. They extend and amplify UNESCO's work and mission and have generously accepted to use their talent and status to help focus the world's attention on the work of UNESCO.

Directors:

• Muhamed Sacirbey UNTV-UNESCO

Producers:

• Susan Sacirbey UNTV-UNESCO