Josephine Durua fights for the rights of survivors of sorcery accusation

Each year, hundreds of people in Papua New Guinea are falsely accused of practicing sorcery. The consequences of an accusation can be devastating, with the accused often facing death, torture or ostracization from their communities.

Twenty years ago, Josephine Durua was falsely accused of sorcery in her community in Port Moresby. After defeating her accusers in courts, Josephine has dedicated her life to ending sorcery accusation related violence.

Today, she runs Port Moresby's only safe house dedicated to survivors of sorcery accusation and works as a village magistrate to deliver justice for fellow survivors.

With the support of UNDP's 'Strongpla Meri, Strongpla Nesen' project, which is generously funded by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Josephine is undergoing trainings to improve her safe house's counseling services.