Nobel Peace Prize goes to campaigners against rape in warfare

Anca Alexe 05/10/2018 | 12:16

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, “for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict”.

According to the Nobel website, “Both laureates have made a crucial contribution to focusing attention on, and combating, war crimes. Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others. Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions.”

“Physician Denis Mukwege spent large parts of his adult life helping victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most of the abuses have been commited during a long-lasting civil war that has cost the lives of more than six million Congolese.

Nadia Murad is herself a victim of war crimes. She refused to accept the social codes that require women to remain silent and ashamed of the abuses to which they had been subjected. She has shown uncommon courage in recounting her own sufferings and speaking up on behalf of other victims,” the press release said.