Bougainville Women's Human Rights Defenders Forum

Siwai, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, November 2017

Collaboration project between IWDA, Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation, Pacific Women, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and Papua New Guinea - Australia Partnership.

I was both humbled and honoured when IWDA asked me to be the photographer for this Forum. Around 80% of women in Bougainville have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from their partners or other close people. The strength that they showed in organising to speak out and defend themselves and each other was incredible. It took us around eight hours of difficult travel to reach the venue, and many of the women had had longer and harder journeys than that. I will never forget the experience of being among them.