NEW YORK CITY (Reuters) - Irish rock star Bono is getting a new accolade, as Glamour magazine's first Man of the Year.

The US women's magazine announced the U2 frontman and humanitarian will be the first man in its 36-year history to be honoured on its annual Women of the Year list.

The magazine says for years it had avoided including any men in the honours "on the grounds that men aren't exactly hurting for awards in this world, and that here at Glamour, the tribe we're into celebrating is female".

However, "when a major male rock star who could do anything at all with his life decides to focus on the rights of women and girls worldwide - well, all that's worth celebrating".

In 2015, Bono created the "Poverty is Sexist" campaign that is aimed at helping the world's poorest women through better access to education, health services and business opportunities.

Bono thanked Glamour for the award, adding in a statement that the "battle for gender equality can't be won unless men lead it along with women. We're largely responsible for the problem, so we have to be involved in the solutions".

Some of the other Women of the Year include singer Gwen Stefani, American Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and plus size model Ashley Graham.

They will be celebrated at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Nov 14.