Strasbourg 11.09.2025 Denis Mukwege – the Sakharov prize winner addressed the EU press in the premises of the European Parliament, Strasbourg. In his speech he reiterated the call of the United Nations Human Rights Council to withdrawal of the Rwandan troops and the M23 fighters from the occupied areas in North & South Kivu, and support the HR Council’s decision to establish a fact-finding mission, and an independent commission of inquiry into the serious violations of human rights committed in eastern DRC.
There can be no lasting peace in the African Great Lakes region without imposing an end to the cult of impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators, and sponsors of the most grave crimes.
At least 2,900 people were killed during the capture of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, by the M23 rebels and Rwandan soldiers, according to the United Nations on Wednesday. The gruesome tally is still incomplete, but reveals the violence of the fighting that has been taking place in the region.
Since 2008, Mukwege has been awarded dozens of prizes in recognition of his work, including the UN Human Rights Prize (2008), the Seoul Peace Prize (2016) and the Nobel Peace Prize (2018)
Mukwege is an internationally recognised expert in conversance from the pathological and psychosocial damage caused by sexual violence. The hospital he runs in Panzi offers psychological and physical care, and provides support to women so that they can develop new skills to earn a living, as many have been rejected by their communities. Girls are also given support to go back to school, and legal aid is offered to those seeking legal redress.
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In total, more than 7 million people are internally displaced in the DRC, in what is one of the largest displacement crises in the world, second to Sudan. Over 80% of the IDPs in the country reside in areas protected by the United Nations Integrated Peacekeeping Mission (MONUSCO), which has announced its withdrawal from South Kivu. This process could easily lead to a power vacuum and a subsequent upsurge in violence, human rights violations and further displacement.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#DRCongo #DenisMukwege adresses European Parliament during Strasbourg Plenary, calling to respect Human rights of Congoleses in North, and South Kivu. pic.twitter.com/MNKDylS58m
— Anna van Densky (@AnnaVanDensky) February 11, 2025
The address of Denis Mukwege took place online during the press-conference, organised by the Green group of the European Parliament. The participants included Mounir SATOURI, Saskia BRICMONT, David CORMAND, and Majdouline SBAI.
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