Dr. Denis Mukwege is a world-renowned Congolese gynecologist and advocate for the rights of survivors of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Since founding Panzi Hospital in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1999, Dr. Mukwege and his staff have treated more than 82,000 women with severe gynecological problems and trauma.
Dr. Mukwege also pioneered a holistic, survivor-based approach to address the psychological, social and economic effects of sexual violence. In 2024, his charitable foundation provided services to more than 1,400 survivors and trained more than 900 professionals in the approach. The foundation has established advocacy and holistic care programs in the Central African Republic, Ukraine, Burundi and Colombia, among other countries.
In 2012, Dr. Mukwege and his family survived an assassination attempt. Despite continued threats against him, he continues to operate his clinic, speak out internationally against gender-based violence in conflict and advocate for justice and accountability.
Dr. Mukwege was eight years old when he set his mind on becoming a doctor after his father, a pastor, was unable to save a terminally ill boy with prayer. He went on to study medicine and specialize in obstetrics and gynecology in France. He holds a PhD in medical sciences from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, where he is a professor.
In 2018, Dr. Mukwege was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (with Nadia Murad). In addition, his actions and dedication have been recognized worldwide through various awards, including the United Nations Human Rights Prize (2008), the Sakharov Prize (2014), the Seoul Peace Prize (2016), and honorary degrees from universities worldwide.