Sister Lorraine Garasu geehrt

19.03.2009: Amerikanischer "Women of Courage"- Preis verliehen

Sister Loraine Garasu, the founder of the Nazarene Rehabilitation Centre on Bougainville, was honoured on Friday as the Papua New Guinea winner of the US State Department's international women of courage award.

The award was presented to Sr Garasu in Buka by the US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Ms Leslie Rowe. The announcement also marked this year’s International Women’s Day.

The award was established to pay tribute to women around the world who courageously champion human rights in their communities, and whose personal sacrifice is an inspiration to all people who seek peaceful change.

Ms Rowe told the gathering that International Women’s Day reminds us that, when women are excluded, the advancement of countries is inhibited. She said it is unacceptable that many women around the world continue to be deprived of the opportunity to reach their full potential.


The US Ambassador said Hilary Clinton, the new US Secretary of State, established the award to honour women around the world who are blazing trails and surmounting obstacles in pursuit of equality and opportunity.


Ms Rowe said that although they may not be well known, these women advocates are hard at work in every country seeking to fulfil their right to participate fully in political, economic and cultural lives of their societies.

They often work against great odds and with great personal sacrifice, and are a key to global progress deserving our admiration and support.

Last week the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Duncan Kerr, announced Australian support to build the rehabilitation centre with funds totalling one million kina.

Story and pictures by Aloysius Laukai

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