Nobel Peace Prize for anti-rape activists Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege – Image copyright EPA
You do not have it hear it through me as most mainstream media carry the news (here the BBC with elaborate information) that the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize has gone to campaigners against rape in warfare, Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege. After the controversy created around some of the recent laureates, these two are safe bets as both have been recognized widely:
Ms Murad is an Iraqi Yazidi who was tortured and raped by Islamic State militants and later became the face of a campaign to free the Yazidi people. She found recognition from at least two earlier awards:
- 2016 Vaclav Havel Prize for Human Rights (PACE) (https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2016/10/18/yazidi-survivor-nadia-murad-wins-vaclav-havel-human-rights-prize-2016/)
- 2016 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought
Dr Mukwege is a Congolese gynaecologist who, along with his colleagues, has treated tens of thousands of victims. He received wide recognition with 8 international human rights awards:
- 2008 United Nations Prizes in the Field of Human Rights
- 2009 Olof Palme Prize
- 2010 Wallenberg Medal (University of Michigan)
- 2011 King Baudouin International Development Prize
- 2013 Civil Courage Prize
- 2013 Human Rights First Award
- 2013 Right Livelihood Award
- 2014 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought
Ms Murad, 25, dedicated the award to her mother, who was killed by the Islamic State (IS) militants who overran their home in 2014. Ms Murad described her escape in a BBC interview in 2016, detailing how the women who were held captive were treated by IS.
Dr Mukwege was operating at his hospital when he heard he had won the prize. He dedicated his award to all women affected by sexual violence. He lives under the permanent protection of UN peacekeepers at his hospital and has also previously called for a tougher line on rape as a weapon of war.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45759221
see also: https://dansmithsblog.com/2018/10/08/the-nobel-peace-prize-and-sexual-violence-in-war/
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
October 21, 2018 at 13:14
[…] Nadia Murad, a 23-year-old Yazidi, survived genocide and sexual slavery committed by ISIS. Repeating her story to the world, this ordinary girl finds herself thrust onto the international stage as the voice of her people. The film “On Her Shoulders” tells the story of Nadia Murad, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner, human rights activist, and Yazidi survivor of genocide and human trafficking. [see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2018/10/05/breaking-news-see-which-other-awards-the-2018-nobel-pea… […]
December 10, 2018 at 17:56
[…] CNN and many others of course drew attention to the Nobel Peace Prize winners (Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege) who got their medal today. The article focuses on the feature that survivor stories matter. “These two indefatigable campaigners on a quest for justice have never stopped reminding the world that sexual violence is still an ongoing issue.” [see also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2018/10/05/breaking-news-see-which-other-awards-the-2018-nobel-pea…] […]
March 12, 2019 at 11:34
[…] since the beginning of the civil war in the early 90s. He received many human rights awards [see: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2018/10/05/breaking-news-see-which-other-awards-the-2018-nobel-pea…]. He founded the Panzi Hospital in the South Kivu province in 1999 to provide free and […]
August 5, 2020 at 11:26
[…] Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr Denis Mukwege, says his family has been intimidated and threatened since he denounced the recent massacre in Kipupu in Mwenga territory in South Kivu of Congo. Mukwege, who is the founder and Medical Director of Panzi Hospital and Foundations, said in a statement on Monday 3 August 2020 that since 2012 and even after two assassination attempts, he had continued to receive death threats [see also; https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2018/10/05/breaking-news-see-which-other-awards-the-2018-nobel-pea…%5D. […]