
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/