15 Celebrity Human Rights Activists Who Used Their Star Power To Provide Better Life To Others

These celebrities have used their money, power and fame for the betterment of society. Thus, making a difference to the world.

Like they say, it only takes one person to make a difference, these celebrities used the star power in the right way. From fighting poverty or ensuring right to education, these celebrities have used their star power for the good.

1. Angelina Jolie

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Apart from being known for her acting skills, Jolie has utilized her time in life for humanitarian work as well. When she became the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2001, she stood up for causes like standing up for violence against kids and women in conflict zones. She was then promoted to the position of a Special Envoy.

2. Reese Witherspoon

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Witherspoon, who participated in the Times Up movement, has her own company called Hello Sunshine which promotes better and greater representation of LGBTQ+ community, women and people of colour in Hollywood.

"I was sick of making movies where I was the only female lead on the set. I was sick of seeing scripts where there was one female role, badly written, and yet every actress in town wanted the part because there was nothing else," she had told Vogue.

3. Ayushmann Khurrana

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The Article 15 actor who is also the Celebrity Advocate for UNICEF will be reaching out to kids and families to promote awareness on this mission. On World Human Rights Day, he spoke up on the importance of children's rights and how parents and teachers have a critical role to play in this. "Violence can and should be prevented. As parents, teachers, members of the community, and duty bearers we all have a role to play," he said.

4. Shakira

Twitter

The Colombian singer founded Pies Descalzos Foundation to give poor children right to education. Instead of baby shower registry, she urged her fans to donate to UNICEF when she was pregnant with her first child in 2012. At that time, she was the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

5. Bono

Twitter

Bono and philanthropy have almost become synonymous. Be it campaigning for third-world debt relief or raising awareness about AIDS pandemic in Africa, he has stood up for people always. So much so, he was awarded the man of Peace prize.

6. Sonu Sood

Twitter

Before helping so many migrant workers during the lockdown, Sood had also been raising money to give scholarship to students in the past. He also opened a cricket academy for underprivileged children in order to make their dreams come true. He also lent his voice to the podcasts United for Human Rights.

7. Beyonc¨¦

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After the devastation that hurricane Katrina caused in 2005, Beyonce founded the Survivor Foundation to provide shelter and housing to the victims of her hometown Houston, Texas. She also promotes women empowerment through various mediums including her songs.

8. George Clooney

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The Oscar winner works with Not On Our Watch Project, which focuses on preventing mass genocides. For earthquake victims in 2010, he organised Hope For Haiti Now telethon. He was arrested in 2012 for protesting against the conditions in Sudan, which he had called as the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world."

9. Richard Gere

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Richard Gere has been outspoken about humanitarian work since the 80s. In 1986, Gere went on a fact-finding mission in Nicaragua as well as Honduras because thousands of people there were getting killed in armed conflicts. He also founded The Gere Foundation, which provides relief assistance to Tibetans who have been suffering from the repression. Because of his outspoken support of the Free Tibet Movement, Gere is said to be banned from entering mainland China.

10. Celina Jaitly

TOI

Celina Jaitly is an active human rights activist devoted to advocating for the rights of the members of LGBT communities in India. She not only supports gay rights, but also raises voice for women and children's health, and rehabilitation of sex workers in India.

11. Rihanna

AFP

Apart from supporting farmers' protests and showing solidarity with the people of Myanmar, she has also been vocal about LGBTQIA+ rights, children education and racism since her teen years. In 2012, she founded Clara Lionel Foundation, which funds the education as well as supports health programmes across the world.

12. Shabana Azmi

Twitter

Azmi has been associated with an NGO called Mijwan, named after a UP village, which helps in empowering people by setting up schools, colleges, computer centres, sewing and chikankari center.

13. Vidya Balan

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After supporting drinking water and sanitation campaigns, Balan also campaigned for World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour campaign and Child In Need institute.

14. Priyanka Chopra

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Priyanka Chopra Chopra is part of various campaigns and charities. She was made a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Dec 2016. Apart from promoting education for the girl child, she often spends time with children and encourages them to study and accomplish their dreams. She has been backing for the children¡¯s charity for a long time now.

15. Kareena Kapoor

Twitter

In 2010, Kareena had adopted a village of Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh as part of Greenathon Campaign to provide electricity to the people there. She was also the ambassador of Shakti Campaign.

Keep doing the good work!