Occupation Gynecologist Name Denis Mukwege | Books Panzi | |
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Full Name Denis Mukengere Mukwege Born 1 March 1955 (age 69) ( 1955-03-01 ) Similar People Thierry Michel, Colette Braeckman, Andrei Sakharov, Joseph Kabila, Vital Kamerhe Profiles |
Denis mukwege interview part 1 skavlan
Denis Mukwege (born 1 March 1955) is a Congolese gynecologist. He founded and works in Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, where he specializes in the treatment of women who have been gang-raped by rebel forces. Mukwege has become the world's leading expert on how to repair the internal physical damage caused by gang rape.
Contents
- Denis mukwege interview part 1 skavlan
- Dr denis mukwege fighting sexual violence in the democratic republic of congo
- Early life
- United Nations speech
- Assassination attempt and return
- Awards
- Publication
- References

Mukwege has treated thousands of women who were victims of gang wartime rape since the Second Congo War, some of them more than once, performing up to 10 surgeries a day during his 18-hour working days. He has described how his patients arrive at the hospital sometimes naked, usually in horrific condition. In 2014, Mukwege was awarded the European Union's Sakharov Prize and in 2013, he received his first of three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. On May 28, 2015, Dr. Mukwege was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by Harvard University.

Dr denis mukwege fighting sexual violence in the democratic republic of congo
Early life

Denis Mukwege was the third of nine children born to a Pentecostal minister and his wife. He studied medicine because he wanted to heal the sick people for whom his father prayed, working at first in a rural hospital, then traveling to France to study gynecology at the University of Angers, after seeing the complications of childbirth experienced by women in the Congo who had no access to specialist healthcare.
United Nations speech

In September 2012, Mukwege gave a speech at the United Nations where he condemned impunity for mass rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and criticized the Congolese government and other countries "for not doing enough to stop what he called 'an unjust war that has used violence against women and rape as a strategy of war.'"
Assassination attempt and return

On October 25, 2012, four armed men attacked his residence while he was not home, held his daughters hostage, and waited for his return to assassinate him. Upon his return, his guard intervened and was shot dead by the assassins. They missed Mukwege as he dropped to the ground during the shooting. After the assassination attempt, Mukwege went into exile in Europe and the Panzi Hospital reported that his absence has had a “devastating effect” on its daily operations.
He returned to Bukavu on January 14, 2013, where the population reserved him a warm welcome over the 20 miles from Kavumu Airport to the city, especially from his patients, who had raised funds to pay for his return ticket by selling pineapples and onions.