Sakharov Prize to Congolese Mukwege
(B2) Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege was named the winner of the 2014 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament. A decision taken unanimously by the conference of presidents of the assembly on Tuesday (October 21). A tribute paid “for his fight for the protection of women” according to President Schulz. Now 59 years old, this gynecologist founded the Panzi hospital in Bukavu in 1998, in the middle of the civil war. There he treats victims of sexual violence. A way of drawing attention to a latent conflict but somewhat forgotten by most of the media. Because even if the civil war is officially over in the DRC, the fighting continues, particularly in the East. And there are few weeks when we do not learn of raids against a village, committed by ex-rebel groups, punctuated by killings and rapes. Denis Mukwege will be invited to Strasbourg on November 26 to receive his prize during the plenary session.
