Project BRA takes off in Papua New Guinea

 

Campaigner for ending violence against women, Claire McFarlane, is in Papua New Guinea as part of her global awareness campaign. The campaign is called ProjectBRA.org - a Beach Run Awareness program including every coastal country.

 

The global campaign encourages peaceful action to give a voice to women who have been raped. The campaign also raises funds for healing programs for survivors. 

 

Claire, a South African born Australian, aims to run over three thousand kilometres across 184 countries. Papua New Guinea is one of the first countries she has visited to stage her 16 kilometres run.

 

The 16 kilometres represents the number of years Claire has been battling to find justice since she was raped in 1999.

 

Claire also spends up to four days in each country, speaking about her struggle as a victim of rape and meeting with local and non-profit organisations that are helping other survivors. Her fundraising efforts are aimed at improving the level of services for survivors of sexual assault around the world.

 

In Papua New Guinea, Claire attended a reception at the Australian High Commission, after conducting her awareness-raising beach run on Saturday 10 September. The run covered a stretch of 16 kilometres of Ela Beach in Port Moresby. Supporters of her campaign in Port Moresby ran alongside Claire, demonstrating their support for her cause.

 

Australian High Commission Counsellor (Gender and Sports) Susan Fergusson said: “Claire’s beach run awareness campaign is inspirational. Sexual violence is a global problem; and one that takes a terrible toll on those who have experienced it. We have been glad to host Claire and hope this contributes to ending violence against women.”

 

Claire’s beach run awareness campaign started in South Africa, her birth country on 18 July 2015, and finishes in 2019 in France.