Denis Mukwege: Rape As A Weapon Of War In The Democratic Republic of Congo

Dr. Denis Mukwege, awarded the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’ in 2013 for his work as a gynaecologist, surgeon, and women’s rights advocate, visited Geneva in March 2016 to take part in the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH). While in Switzerland, Dr. Mukwege presented the film “The Man Who Mends Women,” together with its director, Michel Thierry. The film documents his activities at the Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dr. Mukwege was also invited to present his testimony at the 31st meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, where he bore witness to the use of rape as a weapon of war.

Dr. Mukwege has operated on more than 44,000 victims of wartime rape and has put his own life at risk for his courage to raise his voice in defence of their rights. He also advocates addressing the root causes of social discord, such as the exploitation of valuable local minerals, as a means of preventing rape as a tool of terror and population control.

This podcast is being launched today on the occasion of the participation of Dr. Denis Mukwege at the Geneva Health Forum (GHF). The recorded speech was presented at the Swiss Press Club on 7 March 2016. The Right Livelihood Award Foundation would like to thank the Dynasty M. band for kindly providing the background music for the podcast: “Levons-nous (pour le Congo)” (for more on their work please visit their Facebook page).

Click here to listen to the podcast!