Congolese Denis Mukwege wins 2018 Nobel Peace Prize

October 7, 2018 Gova-Media 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, Congo DRC, Denis Mukwege

Congolese Doctor and gynaecologist Denis Mukwege, has been awarded The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, alongside Iraqi Nadia Murad, for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.

Denis Mukwege

Mukwege, a gynecologist and surgeon, has devoted his life, to treat thousands of women and girls affected by rape and sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Denis has helped to give greater visibility to wartime sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions.

He is the founder of Panzi Hospital, a clinic in the eastern DRC city of Bukavu, built 20 years ago.

His basic principle is that ‘justice is everyone’s business,'” said Reiss-Andersen, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, last Friday.

2018 Nobel Peace Price

This year’s award was given last Friday at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo. Doctor Denis Mukwege received his award alongside human rights activist Nadia Murad. She becomes the 17th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and second-youngest recipient after Malala Yousafzai.

Nadia’s mother and six of her brothers and stepbrothers were executed. Murad, along with other unmarried women, was taken as a sex slave and passed around various ISIS militants. Murad has “shown uncommon courage in recounting her own sufferings and speaking up on behalf of other victims.” (Reiss-Andersen).

Both winners have “put their personal security at risk by courageously combating war crimes and seeking justice for the victims,” Reiss-Andersen said.

“There were 331 candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2018 — the second-highest number ever. Of those, 216 were individuals and 115 were organizations, according to Nobel organizers. The names of the nominees cannot be revealed until 50 years have passed.”