Denis Mukwege

Denis Mukwege
Mukwege in 2014
Born (1955-03-01) 1 March 1955 (age 69)
Bukavu, Belgian Congo
EducationUniversity of Burundi (MD)
University of Angers (MA)
Université libre de Bruxelles (PhD)
Years active1983–present
RelativesMushaga Bakenga (nephew)
AwardsNobel Peace Prize
Human Rights First
Civil Courage Prize
Wallenberg Medal
Right Livelihood Award
Four Freedoms Award
Time 100
Sakharov Prize
Seoul Peace Prize
UN Prize in Human Rights
Olof Palme Prize
Gulbenkian Prize
Legion of Honour

Denis Mukwege (/mʊkˈweɪɡi/;[1] born 1 March 1955)[2][3] is a Congolese gynecologist[4] and Pentecostal pastor.[5] He founded and works in Panzi Hospital in Bukavu,[5] where he specializes in the treatment of women who have been raped by armed rebels.[6] In 2018, Mukwege and Iraqi Yazidi human rights activist Nadia Murad were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for "their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict".[7][8]

Mukwege has treated thousands of women who were victims of rape as a weapon of war since the Second Congo War, some of them more than once, performing up to ten operations a day during his 17-hour working days.[6][9] According to The Globe and Mail, Mukwege is "likely the world's leading expert on repairing injuries of rape".[10] In 2013, he was awarded the Right Livelihood Award for "his courageous work healing women survivors of war-time sexual violence and speaking up about its root causes."[11]

Mukwege's continued demand for justice for the victims of the Congo conflicts has resulted in him receiving threats against his life and the Panzi hospital. He has received these death threats on social media platforms, which emerged from various sources including Mukwege's country of origin, the DRC, and neighboring Rwanda and Uganda.[12] Reportedly, the threats have emerged following Denis' increasing calls for perpetrators who were named in a decade-old UN report, to be brought before an international tribunal.[13] A previous assassination attempt was made on Mukwege's life in 2012, which resulted in him and his family leaving the country over concerns for their safety.[14]

On 2 October 2023, Mukwege announced his candidacy for president in the 2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election.[15] He ultimately came in sixth place in the official results, receiving 39,639 votes.[16][17]

  1. ^ "English pronunciation of Denis Mukwege", You tube, 29 October 2014.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference eu141021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference fondationchirac131010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Gynecologists: When to see one, what to expect, common procedures". www.medicalnewstoday.com. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Congolese Pentecostals see Denis Mukwege, Nobel Prize-winning doctor, as a 'blessing'". Religion News Service. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Doctor and Advocate: One Surgeon's Global Fight for the Rights of Rape Survivors". Pacific Standard. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Announcement" (PDF) (Press release). The Nobel Peace Prize. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  8. ^ Shellnutt, Kate (5 October 2018). "Nobel Peace Prize Goes to Christian Doctor Who Heals Rape Victims". News & Reporting. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Dr. Denis Mukwege". Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  10. ^ Nolen, Stephanie. "Where repairing rape damage is an expertise", The Globe and Mail, 22 October 2008.
  11. ^ "Denis Mukwege". The Right Livelihood Award. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  12. ^ October 7, Aryn Baker; Edt, 2020 12:53 Pm. "Two Years Ago He Won the Nobel Peace Prize. Now, He's Under Threat for Standing Up for Victims of Sexual Violence". Time. Retrieved 22 April 2022.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Two Years Ago He Won the Nobel Peace Prize. Now, He's Under Threat for Standing Up for Victims of Sexual Violence". Time. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  14. ^ "WCC urges protecting the life of Dr Denis Mukwege in Democratic Republic of the Congo". World Council of Churches. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  15. ^ "RDC: Le docteur Denis Mukwege, Prix Nobel de la paix 2018, candidat à la présidentielle". 2 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Résultats des élections combinées du 20 décembre 2023" [Results of the combined elections of 20 December 2023] (in French). CENI. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  17. ^ Audience publique du 09 janvier 2024 – Contentieux des résultats de la présidentielle [Public Hearing of January 09, 2024 - Litigation over the presidential election results] (video) (in French). Constitutional Court. 9 January 2024. Event occurs at 1:47:00. Retrieved 13 January 2024 – via Facebook.