Mrs. Vera Lesko, Executive Director of Vatra center, was honored by the United States of America with the award "Woman of Courage" of the Secretary of the American State.
Vera Lesko is the founder and director of Vatra, a partner of Norwegian Church Aid. Vatra is working on preventing slave trade. The organization runs a crisis centre as well as being engaged in the fight against the phenomenon of human trafficking and that of domestic violence. She is awarded the price in honor of her courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights.
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| Woman of Courage: Vera Lesko. (Photo: Bente Bjercke/Norwegian Church Aid) | |
Norwegian Church Aid is proud
- Norwegian Church Aid is proud to be a partner with Vatra and Vera Lesko, says program coordinator for West Balkan, Ingvild Langhus. The award as "Woman of Courage" is well deserved. Vera Lesko is a sharp critic of the Albania government’s lack of will to live up to international treaties. She has been very important for a great number of girls and women who have been victims of human trafficking, and she has taken many risks while fighting against organized human trafficking in Albania. She has earned great respect for her professional skills, says Langhus.
Vera Lesko is also one of the finalists for the 2009 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award
For more information, contact:
- Ingvild Langhus, program coordinator West Balkan, phone: +47 982 02 491
- Bjarte Lien, communication officer, phone: +47 958 03 734