A Christian medical doctor who has devoted much of his life to treating victims of rape has received the Nobel Peace Prize, along with ISIS sexual violence survivor, Nadia Murad. Dr. Denis Mukwege is the founder of the Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, at which thousands of women have been treated after being gang-raped by militants during the fierce and ongoing civil war that has engulfed the nation for decades.
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The Nobel committee noted that both recipients represented determined “efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war,” as reported by the BBC.
Mukwege is committed follower of Jesus, and his faith impacts every area of his vital healing work. In an interview with NPR, he said that his central mission is “not only to treat women—their body, [but] also to fight for their own right, to bring them to be autonomous, and, of course, to support them psychologically. And all of this is a process of healing so women can regain their dignity.”
Panzi Hospital, which was founded in 1999, is managed by the Pentecostal Churches in Central Africa (CEPAC), and Mukwege’s own father was a traveling Pentecostal minister. Speaking at the Lutheran World Federation last year, Mukwege said that the core mission of Christians is to “through God’s Word,” ensure the exorcism of “all the macho demons possessing the world so that women who are victims of male barbarity can experience the reign of God in their lives.”
“Dr. Mukwege is truly honored and humbled to be named a recipient of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. He gratefully accepts this honor on behalf of survivors of sexual violence — both within the Democratic Republic of Congo and around the world, and is honored to be named alongside Nadia Murad,” a spokeswoman told Faithwire. “He has devoted his life to promoting holistic healing and advocating for justice and an end to sexual violence in conflict across the globe.”
I am humbled and honored by the news that I was named a recipient of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize with my colleague in the…
Posted by Dr. Denis Mukwege on Sunday, October 7, 2018
Mukwege said that he was in the middle of performing surgery when he learned of the exciting news. “At this time, my thoughts turn immediately to all survivors of rape and sexual violence in conflict zones around the world,” he said in a statement after receiving the prestigious award.
“This honor is an inspiration because it shows that the world is actually paying attention to the tragedy of rape and sexual violence and that the women and children who have suffered for too long are not being ignored,” he continued.
“This Nobel Prize reflects this recognition of suffering and the need for just reparations for female victims of rape and sexual violence in countries across the world and on all continents. This is an important step towards the long-awaited reparations that we all owe to these women.”