20 Jun 2018

Vanuatu woman given award for courage

4:21 pm on 20 June 2018

A Vanuatu woman has been given an International Woman of Courage Award after she publicly criticised the group of men who assaulted her.

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Photo: supplied

In 2016, Florence Lengkon was abducted by taxi and bus drivers and assaulted.

She later posted criticism of them on social media and they were eventually convicted of kidnapping and assault.

Despite the assault, which left her with severe facial injuries, Miss Lengkon led a march on parliament and gave politicians a petition calling for MPs to act urgently to stop all forms of violence against women and girls.

The American award was delivered by the US ambassador to Vanuatu, Catherine Ebert-Gray, who congratulated Miss Lengkon and assured her Vanuatu and the US stood with her in saying 'enough is enough'.

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