WHO WE ARE
Healing & Justice: The Work of Dr. Denis Mukwege
Dr. Denis Mukwege is a world-renowned gynecological surgeon who is the president and founder of Panzi Hospital and Foundation in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
As a young child, Dr. Mukwege accompanied his father, a Pentecostal pastor, while visiting sick members of the community. This later inspired him to become a doctor, as he realized that prayer was not enough to help heal those who are suffering. He decided to specialize in gynecology and obstetrics after observing that female patients at Lemera Hospital suffered from insufficient medical care, which caused life-altering complications during their deliveries, such as fistulas and prolapse.
He founded the hospital in 1999 with the intention that it would be a center of excellence for maternal health care in a country that has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. however, the first patient that arrived at Panzi’s doors was not a pregnant woman coming to deliver her child, but instead a woman who had been raped with extreme brutality and as a weapon of war. Dr. Mukwege and his staff were forced to become experts in one of the worst specialities in medicine — the treatment of conflict-related sexual violence and the severe gynecological trauma that it results in.
Dr. Mukwege and his staff have helped to care for more than 83,000 survivors of sexual violence since the hospital’s inception.
The hospital not only treats survivors with physical wounds, but also provides legal, socio-economic reintegration, and psychosocial services to its patients. Dr. Mukwege has been fearless in his efforts to increase protections for women and to advocate that those responsible for sexual violence be brought to justice, including the Congolese government and militia groups laying siege to eastern DRC.
Dr. Mukwege was violently attacked and his family was held at gunpoint at his home in an assassination attempt, and his trusted bodyguard was killed.
The attack came several weeks after Dr. Mukwege denounced the country’s 16-year-long conflict and called for those responsible to be brought to justice during a speech at the United Nations. After this attack, Dr. Mukwege and his family fled the country for his safety, but his many Congolese patients and survivors urged him to resume his life-saving work at Panzi Hospital, and even began selling fruits and vegetables at local markets to raise funds for his return ticket. Vowing to continue to serve survivors despite the risk to his safety, he returned to the hospital in January 2013, and was celebrated by crowds of people ecstatic to have him home.
We all have the power to change the course of history when the beliefs we are fighting for are right.
Dr. Denis Mukwege
A PROUD RECIPIENT OF many awards, including:
Dr. Mukwege has been recognized around the world for his fight for Congolese survivors of sexual violence.
He has been the recipient of numerous awards worldwide, including the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, for his advocacy against sexual violence as a weapon of war and for his outstanding services to survivors of rape. been honored with receiving the UN Human Rights Prize (2008), the Right Livelihood Award (2013) and the Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament (2014). TIME magazine listed him among the world’s 100 most influential persons in 2016 and the Carter Foundation named him a ‘citizen of the world.’
Now, with the recognition of world leaders and the honor from global organizations, Dr. Mukwege is more committed than ever to achieving lasting peace in the Congo. He envisions a future where the root causes of conflict are addressed, reducing the need for his medical interventions. “You can’t operate against violence,” he says. “You can only abolish it.” His next steps focus on advocating for justice, supporting survivors, and building a movement that pressures policymakers to dismantle the systems enabling violence in the DRC.
Dr. Denis Mukwege's work is a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to protect human rights. His dedication to ending sexual violence and supporting survivors is an inspiration to all who seek justice and equality.
Barack Obama,
44th U.S. President
Dr. Denis Mukwege is widely regarded as one of the world’s top gynecological surgeons, specializing in the treatment of wartime sexual violence.
His extensive body of work, which includes dozens of articles, has made him the leading specialist globally.
Dr Mukwege has been awarded honorary degrees from universities all over the world: from Harvard University in 2015, to Ritsumeikan University, Japan in 2019.
Dr. Mukwege’s profound contributions to medical literature and his active engagement in global advocacy highlight his expertise and dedication to eradicating sexual violence as a weapon of war. His approach not only heals but also empowers survivors, setting a high standard in both medical practice and human rights advocacy.
Featured publications by Dr. Mukwege
Dr. Mukwege is a true hero, whose commitment to peace and human dignity has not only healed countless lives but has also inspired the world to fight against the atrocities of sexual violence in conflict.
Ban Ki-moon,
Secretary-General of the United Nations (2007–2016)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH MORE ABOUT Dr. Denis MUKWEGE, CHECK OUT these featured films and documentaries:
BOOKS BY and about Dr. MUKWEGE:
Emma Watson,
actor & activist
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