WOMEN’S rights activist and founder of The Sista Code website, Melissa Histon, has been named 2017 Newcastle Woman of the Year.
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Now in their sixth year, the NSW-wide awards are run by a state government agency, Women NSW.
Newcastle state MP Tim Crakanthorp said Ms Histon, a professional photographer, was “an inspirational woman who fights to empower and celebrate women”.
“As the founder of the Got Your Back Sista charity and The Sista Code, Melissa tackles the tough issues of domestic violence and sex trafficking,” Mr Crakanthorp said. “She takes a stand and encourages others to join her.”
Ms Histon says she was inspired to start The Sista Code after a 2014 trip to Nepal to make a documentary about sex trafficking. Got Your Back Sista was aimed against domestic violence.
In 2010, Ms Histon became a public advocate for breast screening after being diagnosed with breast cancer – “an absolute shock” – at the age of 35.
