Forest Whitaker is following in the footsteps of stars including Angelina Jolie and Shakira by taking up a post as a United Nations (U.N.) goodwill ambassador.
The Oscar-winning actor is to be affiliated with the organisation's educational, scientific and cultural body, Unesco, and will be officially inducted into his role as goodwill ambassador for peace and reconciliation at a ceremony on Tuesday (21Jun11).
Whitaker, who famously portrayed Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, has been offered the role in recognition of his "humanitarian and artistic commitment" with projects such as his Better Angels film, which highlighted the plight of Ugandan child soldiers.