Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Denis Mukwege warned Wednesday that the scourge of sexual violence and rape in all conflicts is now "a real pandemic" and without sanctions and justice for the victims, these horrific acts won't stop.

The Congolese doctor told the U.N. Security Council in a video briefing that "we are still far away from being able to draw a red line against the use of rape and sexual violence as a strategy of war domination and terror."

Mukwege appealed to the international community "to draw a red line against the use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war." And he stressed that the "red line" must mean "blacklists with economic, financial and political sanctions as well as judicial prosecutions against the perpetrators and instigators of these egregious crimes."

Mukwege founded the Panzi Hospital in the eastern Congo city of Bukavu, and for more than 20 years has treated countless women who were raped amid fighting between armed groups seeking control of some of the central African nation's vast mineral wealth. He lamented that sexual violence and impunity continue.

He shared the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize with activist Nadia Murad, who was kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery by Islamic State militants in 2014 along with an estimated 3,000 Yazidi girls and women.

Mukwege said there has been progressed in international law, and the greatest challenge today is to transform commitments into obligations, and Security Council resolutions into results. Accountability and justice "are the best tools of prevention," he said, and without punishment and sanctions, rapes and sexual violence in conflicts will continue.

Mukwege spoke at a council meeting on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' latest report on sexual violence in conflict that said the COVID-19 pandemic led to a spike in gender-based violence last year. It focused on 18 countries where the U.N. said it has verified information that 52 warring parties are "credibly suspected" of patterns of "rape and other forms of sexual violence" in conflicts on the council agenda. The majority of the parties are the opposition, rebel and terrorist groups -- so-called "non-state actors" -- and over 70% "are persistent perpetrators."

In the latest example, Pramila Patten, the U.N. special representative on conflict-related sexual violence, told the council that right now in Ethiopia's remote, mountainous regions of the north and central Tigray, where fighting continues between the government and the region's fugitive leaders, "women and girls are being subjected to sexual violence with a level of cruelty beyond comprehension."

"Health care workers are documenting new cases of rape and gang-rape daily, despite their fear of reprisals and attacks on the limited shelters and clinics in operation," Patten said, noting that the report records allegations of over 100 rape cases since fighting began in November but it may take months to determine the full scale and magnitude of the atrocities.

She said the report documents "over 2,500 U.N.-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence committed in 2020," including in Congo, Central African Republic, Libya and South Sudan's western Darfur region.

"Each of these cases cries out for justice," Patten said. "It is time to write a new social contract in which no military or political leader is above the law, and no woman or girl is beneath the scope of its protection."

Caroline Atim, director of the South Sudan Women with Disabilities Network who represented non-governmental organizations focused on women, peace and security, became the first deaf person to brief the Security Council. She used sign language for her remarks, which were voiced by an interpreter.

Despite a 2018 peace deal, Atim said, "South Sudan remains engulfed by intercommunal, ethnic, political and armed conflicts where gender-based violence is deliberately used as a tool of humiliation against women and girls."

"More than 65% of South Sudanese women have experienced sexual or physical violence, a figure that is double the global average and among the highest in the world," she said, echoing calls for a halt to sexual violence, a survivor-centred approach for victims, and accountability for perpetrators.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Denis Mukwege warned Wednesday that the scourge of sexual violence and rape in all conflicts is now "a real pandemic" and without sanctions and justice for the victims, these horrific acts won't stop.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Denis Mukwege warned Wednesday that the scourge of sexual violence and rape in all conflicts is now "a real pandemic" and without sanctions and justice for the victims, these horrific acts won't stop. The Congolese doctor told the U.N. Security Council in a video briefing that "we are still far away from being able to draw a red line against the use of rape and sexual violence as a strategy of war domination and terror." Mukwege appealed to the international community "to draw a red line against the use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war." And he stressed that the "red line" must mean "blacklists with economic, financial and political sanctions as well as judicial prosecutions against the perpetrators and instigators of these egregious crimes." Mukwege founded the Panzi Hospital in the eastern Congo city of Bukavu, and for more than 20 years has treated countless women who were raped amid fighting between armed groups seeking control of some of the central African nation's vast mineral wealth. He lamented that sexual violence and impunity continue. He shared the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize with activist Nadia Murad, who was kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery by Islamic State militants in 2014 along with an estimated 3,000 Yazidi girls and women. Mukwege said there has been progressed in international law, and the greatest challenge today is to transform commitments into obligations, and Security Council resolutions into results. Accountability and justice "are the best tools of prevention," he said, and without punishment and sanctions, rapes and sexual violence in conflicts will continue. Mukwege spoke at a council meeting on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' latest report on sexual violence in conflict that said the COVID-19 pandemic led to a spike in gender-based violence last year. It focused on 18 countries where the U.N. said it has verified information that 52 warring parties are "credibly suspected" of patterns of "rape and other forms of sexual violence" in conflicts on the council agenda. The majority of the parties are the opposition, rebel and terrorist groups -- so-called "non-state actors" -- and over 70% "are persistent perpetrators." In the latest example, Pramila Patten, the U.N. special representative on conflict-related sexual violence, told the council that right now in Ethiopia's remote, mountainous regions of the north and central Tigray, where fighting continues between the government and the region's fugitive leaders, "women and girls are being subjected to sexual violence with a level of cruelty beyond comprehension." "Health care workers are documenting new cases of rape and gang-rape daily, despite their fear of reprisals and attacks on the limited shelters and clinics in operation," Patten said, noting that the report records allegations of over 100 rape cases since fighting began in November but it may take months to determine the full scale and magnitude of the atrocities. She said the report documents "over 2,500 U.N.-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence committed in 2020," including in Congo, Central African Republic, Libya and South Sudan's western Darfur region. "Each of these cases cries out for justice," Patten said. "It is time to write a new social contract in which no military or political leader is above the law, and no woman or girl is beneath the scope of its protection." Caroline Atim, director of the South Sudan Women with Disabilities Network who represented non-governmental organizations focused on women, peace and security, became the first deaf person to brief the Security Council. She used sign language for her remarks, which were voiced by an interpreter. Despite a 2018 peace deal, Atim said, "South Sudan remains engulfed by intercommunal, ethnic, political and armed conflicts where gender-based violence is deliberately used as a tool of humiliation against women and girls." "More than 65% of South Sudanese women have experienced sexual or physical violence, a figure that is double the global average and among the highest in the world," she said, echoing calls for a halt to sexual violence, a survivor-centred approach for victims, and accountability for perpetrators.

Sexual violence in conflict a 'pandemic': Nobel peace prize laureate Dr Denis Mukwege

Nobel laureates Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad called on the world to protect victims of wartime sexual violence in their Peace Prize acceptance speeches on Monday, slamming indifference to the plight of women and children in conflict.

Congolese gynaecologist Mukwege, whose work has made him a global expert on rape in conflict, and Yazidi activist Murad, a survivor of IS sexual slavery, both said victims were sometimes valued less than commercial interests.

In an emotional ceremony in Oslo, which saw the laureates cheered and given standing ovations, Mukwege and Murad called on the world to do more.

"If there is a war to be waged, it is the war against the indifference which is eating away at our societies," Mukwege said.

His Panzi hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo's war-torn east has treated the wounds of tens of thousands of women and children after sexual assaults that have become a "new reality" in the country.

The 63-year-old said the violence "shames our common humanity".

In her speech, Murad, 25, implored the global community to help free hundreds of women and girls still held by jihadists, saying the world must protect her people and other vulnerable communities.

"It is my view that all victims deserve a safe haven until justice is done for them," she said.

Nobel committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen said the pair had received the Peace Prize "for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict".

She described them as "two of the strongest voices in the world today".

They received the Peace Prize gold medals, diplomas and nine million Swedish Krona (880,000 euros, a million dollars), which they will share.

Women, children and babies 
Mukwege lay much of the blame for the horrific violence unleashed on civilians on those in power in his troubled country.

"For twenty years now, day after day, at Panzi hospital, I have seen the harrowing consequences of the country's gross mismanagement," said the doctor, a critic of DR Congo President Joseph Kabila, who is set to be replaced in elections this month.

"Babies, girls, young women, mothers, grandmothers, and also men and boys, cruelly raped, often publicly and collectively, by inserting burning plastic or sharp objects in their genitals."

Mukwege said the trade in the country's abundant natural resources helped fuel the violence while profits "end up in the pockets of a predatory oligarchy".

"We love nice cars, jewellery and gadgets. I have a smartphone myself. These items contain minerals found in our country. Often mined in inhuman conditions by young children, victims of intimidation and sexual violence," he said.

"It's not just perpetrators of violence who are responsible for their crimes, it is also those who choose to look the other way," Mukwege added, calling for a global fund to provide reparation for victims and economic and political sanctions for those behind the violence.

'Inconceivable' not to act 
Murad survived the horrors of captivity under the Islamic State group, which targeted her Kurdish-speaking community as it seized parts of Iraq and Syria.

Older women and men faced summary execution during the IS assault, which the United Nations has described as a possible genocide.

Captured in 2014, Murad suffered beatings and gang-rape before she was able to escape.

In her Nobel acceptance address Monday, Murad said more than 6,500 women and girls from her community had been kidnapped, raped and traded "in the 21st century, in the age of globalisation and human rights".

The fate of some 3,000 women and girls is still unknown.

"Young girls at the prime of life are sold, bought, held captive and raped every day. It is inconceivable that the conscience of the leaders of 195 countries around the world is not mobilised to liberate these girls," she said. &nbsp;

"What if they were a commercial deal, an oil field or a shipment of weapons? Most certainly, no efforts would be spared to liberate them."

Murad, whose mother and six of her brothers were killed, said on Sunday that "steps towards justice" had given her some hope.

A UN team authorised to investigate the massacre of the Yazidi minority is due to finally start fieldwork in Iraq next year.

Murad has been supported in her campaign for justice for Yazidis by Lebanese-British lawyer and rights activist Amal Clooney, who was in the audience in Oslo.

No jihadist has yet faced trial over the atrocities against the Yazidis.

Murad is the first Iraqi to win the Nobel Peace Prize.&nbsp;

She said she was thankful for the honour, but added: "The fact remains that the only prize in the world that can restore our dignity is justice and the prosecution of criminals."

Nobel laureates Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad called on the world to protect victims of wartime sexual violence in their Peace Prize acceptance speeches on Monday, slamming indifference to the plight of women and children in conflict.

Nobel laureates Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad called on the world to protect victims of wartime sexual violence in their Peace Prize acceptance speeches on Monday, slamming indifference to the plight of women and children in conflict. Congolese gynaecologist Mukwege, whose work has made him a global expert on rape in conflict, and Yazidi activist Murad, a survivor of IS sexual slavery, both said victims were sometimes valued less than commercial interests. In an emotional ceremony in Oslo, which saw the laureates cheered and given standing ovations, Mukwege and Murad called on the world to do more. "If there is a war to be waged, it is the war against the indifference which is eating away at our societies," Mukwege said. His Panzi hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo's war-torn east has treated the wounds of tens of thousands of women and children after sexual assaults that have become a "new reality" in the country. The 63-year-old said the violence "shames our common humanity". In her speech, Murad, 25, implored the global community to help free hundreds of women and girls still held by jihadists, saying the world must protect her people and other vulnerable communities. "It is my view that all victims deserve a safe haven until justice is done for them," she said. Nobel committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen said the pair had received the Peace Prize "for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict". She described them as "two of the strongest voices in the world today". They received the Peace Prize gold medals, diplomas and nine million Swedish Krona (880,000 euros, a million dollars), which they will share. Women, children and babies Mukwege lay much of the blame for the horrific violence unleashed on civilians on those in power in his troubled country. "For twenty years now, day after day, at Panzi hospital, I have seen the harrowing consequences of the country's gross mismanagement," said the doctor, a critic of DR Congo President Joseph Kabila, who is set to be replaced in elections this month. "Babies, girls, young women, mothers, grandmothers, and also men and boys, cruelly raped, often publicly and collectively, by inserting burning plastic or sharp objects in their genitals." Mukwege said the trade in the country's abundant natural resources helped fuel the violence while profits "end up in the pockets of a predatory oligarchy". "We love nice cars, jewellery and gadgets. I have a smartphone myself. These items contain minerals found in our country. Often mined in inhuman conditions by young children, victims of intimidation and sexual violence," he said. "It's not just perpetrators of violence who are responsible for their crimes, it is also those who choose to look the other way," Mukwege added, calling for a global fund to provide reparation for victims and economic and political sanctions for those behind the violence. 'Inconceivable' not to act Murad survived the horrors of captivity under the Islamic State group, which targeted her Kurdish-speaking community as it seized parts of Iraq and Syria. Older women and men faced summary execution during the IS assault, which the United Nations has described as a possible genocide. Captured in 2014, Murad suffered beatings and gang-rape before she was able to escape. In her Nobel acceptance address Monday, Murad said more than 6,500 women and girls from her community had been kidnapped, raped and traded "in the 21st century, in the age of globalisation and human rights". The fate of some 3,000 women and girls is still unknown. "Young girls at the prime of life are sold, bought, held captive and raped every day. It is inconceivable that the conscience of the leaders of 195 countries around the world is not mobilised to liberate these girls," she said. "What if they were a commercial deal, an oil field or a shipment of weapons? Most certainly, no efforts would be spared to liberate them." Murad, whose mother and six of her brothers were killed, said on Sunday that "steps towards justice" had given her some hope. A UN team authorised to investigate the massacre of the Yazidi minority is due to finally start fieldwork in Iraq next year. Murad has been supported in her campaign for justice for Yazidis by Lebanese-British lawyer and rights activist Amal Clooney, who was in the audience in Oslo. No jihadist has yet faced trial over the atrocities against the Yazidis. Murad is the first Iraqi to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She said she was thankful for the honour, but added: "The fact remains that the only prize in the world that can restore our dignity is justice and the prosecution of criminals."

In acceptance speeches, Nobel Peace Prize winners urge world to help victims of rape in conflict

Nobel peace laureates Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege said Sunday they hoped their award would help them push the international community to act to end rape in conflict and deliver justice for victims. &nbsp;

Yazidi activist Murad and Congolese doctor Mukwege will be jointly presented with the prize in Oslo on Monday for "their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict". &nbsp;&nbsp;

Murad, 25, who was taken hostage in Iraq by the Islamic State group (IS) in 2014 but escaped, said the prize was an honour for all of her Yazidi community, and "a sign" for the thousands of women still held by jihadists. &nbsp;

"This prize, one prize cannot remove all the violence and all the attacks on pregnant women, on children, on women and give them justice," she told a press conference in Oslo. &nbsp;

But she said she hoped it would "open doors so that we can approach more governments", to bring the perpetrators to court and "so that we can find a solution and actually stop what is happening".

Fellow laureate Mukwege, who has spent two decades treating rape victims at his hospital in conflict-torn eastern DR Congo, said the Nobel spotlight made it harder for the world to ignore sexual violence.&nbsp;

"We cannot say that we didn't act because we didn't know. Now everyone knows. And I think now the international community has a responsibility to act," he said.

He said the prize was not a "victory", but could be seen "as the start of a new struggle, a new struggle against this type of evil".

Murad has spent the years since her escape campaigning for the Yazidis, a Kurdish-speaking community that follows an ancient religion and was targeted by IS as it swept through her homeland.

More than 6,800 Yazidis were kidnapped, of whom 4,300 either escaped or were bought as slaves, while 2,500 remain missing, according to a recent report from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

The United Nations is due to send a team into Iraq next year to investigate atrocities, following a Security Council resolution in September 2017 to bring those responsible for IS war crimes to justice.&nbsp;

The UN has described the massacre of the Yazidis by IS jihadists as possible genocide.

Murad, now a UN ambassador for victims of human trafficking living in Germany, said the "steps towards justice" had given her hope. &nbsp;

But she stressed that "not a single ISIS terrorist" has appeared in court, adding "this injustice will continue in this world if it is not dealt with now".

Nobel peace laureates Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege said Sunday they hoped their award would help them push the international community to act to end rape in conflict and deliver justice for victims.

Nobel peace laureates Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege said Sunday they hoped their award would help them push the international community to act to end rape in conflict and deliver justice for victims. Yazidi activist Murad and Congolese doctor Mukwege will be jointly presented with the prize in Oslo on Monday for "their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict". Murad, 25, who was taken hostage in Iraq by the Islamic State group (IS) in 2014 but escaped, said the prize was an honour for all of her Yazidi community, and "a sign" for the thousands of women still held by jihadists. "This prize, one prize cannot remove all the violence and all the attacks on pregnant women, on children, on women and give them justice," she told a press conference in Oslo. But she said she hoped it would "open doors so that we can approach more governments", to bring the perpetrators to court and "so that we can find a solution and actually stop what is happening". Fellow laureate Mukwege, who has spent two decades treating rape victims at his hospital in conflict-torn eastern DR Congo, said the Nobel spotlight made it harder for the world to ignore sexual violence. "We cannot say that we didn't act because we didn't know. Now everyone knows. And I think now the international community has a responsibility to act," he said. He said the prize was not a "victory", but could be seen "as the start of a new struggle, a new struggle against this type of evil". Murad has spent the years since her escape campaigning for the Yazidis, a Kurdish-speaking community that follows an ancient religion and was targeted by IS as it swept through her homeland. More than 6,800 Yazidis were kidnapped, of whom 4,300 either escaped or were bought as slaves, while 2,500 remain missing, according to a recent report from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). The United Nations is due to send a team into Iraq next year to investigate atrocities, following a Security Council resolution in September 2017 to bring those responsible for IS war crimes to justice. The UN has described the massacre of the Yazidis by IS jihadists as possible genocide. Murad, now a UN ambassador for victims of human trafficking living in Germany, said the "steps towards justice" had given her hope. But she stressed that "not a single ISIS terrorist" has appeared in court, adding "this injustice will continue in this world if it is not dealt with now".

Nobel laureates challenge world to end sexual violence

Champions of the fight against sexual violence, Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, a former captive of jihadists, will on Monday receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which this year highlights rape as a weapon of war.

Murad, 25, and Mukwege, 63, will be jointly presented with the prize in Oslo, after they were announced as winners by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in October for "for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict". &nbsp;

Mukwege, called "Doctor Miracle" for his surgical skills, has spent twenty years treating the horrendous wounds and intense emotional trauma inflicted on women in DR Congo's war-torn east.&nbsp;

He has been scathing about the world's lacklustre response to sexual violence in conflict. &nbsp; &nbsp;

"We have been able to draw a red line against chemical weapons, biological weapons and nuclear arms," he told AFP in 2016.&nbsp;

"Today we must also draw a red line against rape as a weapon of war."

Fellow laureate Murad has become a tireless campaigner for the rights of Yazidis since surviving the horrors of captivity under the Islamic State group, who stormed across swathes of Iraq and Syria targeting her Kurdish-speaking community.

Captured in 2014, she suffered forced marriage, beatings and gang-rape before she was able to escape.

The pair have dedicated their prize to the hundreds of thousands of women around the world who have endured sexual violence.

"Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others," said Nobel committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen, when the award was announced on October 5.

"Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions."

Quest for justice

The co-laureates have come to represent the struggle against a global scourge that goes well beyond any single conflict, as the #MeToo movement has shown.

Mukwege has treated tens of thousands of victims -- women, children and even babies just a few months old &nbsp;-- at Panzi hospital which he founded in 1999 in DR Congo's South Kivu.

Murad was among thousands of Yazidi women and girls who were abducted, raped and brutalised by jihadists during their assault in 2014.&nbsp;

Older women and men faced summary execution during the IS assault, which the United Nations has described as a possible genocide. Her mother and six of her brothers were killed.

Murad is now UN ambassador for victims of human trafficking and is at the forefront of efforts to protect the Yazidi community -- and find justice for the victims of the jihadists, a mission she has embarked on with international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney.

In early December a UN team authorized to investigate the massacre of the Yazidi minority said it would finally start fieldwork next year. &nbsp; &nbsp;

More than 6,800 Yazidis were kidnapped, of which 4,300 either escaped or were bought as slaves, while 2,500 remain missing, according to a recent report from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

"For me, justice doesn't mean killing all of the Daesh members who committed these crimes against us," Murad said in October in Washington, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

"Justice for me is taking Daesh members to a court of law and seeing them in court admitting to the crimes they committed against Yazidis and being punished for those crimes specifically."

Nobel scandal

The choice to highlight campaigns against sexual violence comes as a rape scandal has shredded the reputation of the Swedish Academy and led to the postponement of this year's Nobel Literature Prize.

A Stockholm court on December 3 found the 72-year-old husband of a Swedish Academy member guilty on appeal of two counts of rape, jailing him for two-and-a-half years.

The Nobel Peace Prize -- a gold medal, diploma and nine million Swedish Krona (880,000 euros, a million dollars) -- will be officially presented in a ceremony in Oslo City Hall at 1200 GMT on Monday.

Other Nobel prizes are set to be handed out on the same day in Stockholm, except the literature prize, which is postponed until 2019. &nbsp;

Champions of the fight against sexual violence, Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, a former captive of jihadists, will on Monday receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which this year highlights rape as a weapon of war.

Champions of the fight against sexual violence, Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, a former captive of jihadists, will on Monday receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which this year highlights rape as a weapon of war. Murad, 25, and Mukwege, 63, will be jointly presented with the prize in Oslo, after they were announced as winners by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in October for "for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict". Mukwege, called "Doctor Miracle" for his surgical skills, has spent twenty years treating the horrendous wounds and intense emotional trauma inflicted on women in DR Congo's war-torn east. He has been scathing about the world's lacklustre response to sexual violence in conflict. "We have been able to draw a red line against chemical weapons, biological weapons and nuclear arms," he told AFP in 2016. "Today we must also draw a red line against rape as a weapon of war." Fellow laureate Murad has become a tireless campaigner for the rights of Yazidis since surviving the horrors of captivity under the Islamic State group, who stormed across swathes of Iraq and Syria targeting her Kurdish-speaking community. Captured in 2014, she suffered forced marriage, beatings and gang-rape before she was able to escape. The pair have dedicated their prize to the hundreds of thousands of women around the world who have endured sexual violence. "Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others," said Nobel committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen, when the award was announced on October 5. "Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions." Quest for justice The co-laureates have come to represent the struggle against a global scourge that goes well beyond any single conflict, as the #MeToo movement has shown. Mukwege has treated tens of thousands of victims -- women, children and even babies just a few months old -- at Panzi hospital which he founded in 1999 in DR Congo's South Kivu. Murad was among thousands of Yazidi women and girls who were abducted, raped and brutalised by jihadists during their assault in 2014. Older women and men faced summary execution during the IS assault, which the United Nations has described as a possible genocide. Her mother and six of her brothers were killed. Murad is now UN ambassador for victims of human trafficking and is at the forefront of efforts to protect the Yazidi community -- and find justice for the victims of the jihadists, a mission she has embarked on with international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. In early December a UN team authorized to investigate the massacre of the Yazidi minority said it would finally start fieldwork next year. More than 6,800 Yazidis were kidnapped, of which 4,300 either escaped or were bought as slaves, while 2,500 remain missing, according to a recent report from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). "For me, justice doesn't mean killing all of the Daesh members who committed these crimes against us," Murad said in October in Washington, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "Justice for me is taking Daesh members to a court of law and seeing them in court admitting to the crimes they committed against Yazidis and being punished for those crimes specifically." Nobel scandal The choice to highlight campaigns against sexual violence comes as a rape scandal has shredded the reputation of the Swedish Academy and led to the postponement of this year's Nobel Literature Prize. A Stockholm court on December 3 found the 72-year-old husband of a Swedish Academy member guilty on appeal of two counts of rape, jailing him for two-and-a-half years. The Nobel Peace Prize -- a gold medal, diploma and nine million Swedish Krona (880,000 euros, a million dollars) -- will be officially presented in a ceremony in Oslo City Hall at 1200 GMT on Monday. Other Nobel prizes are set to be handed out on the same day in Stockholm, except the literature prize, which is postponed until 2019.

Nobel Peace Prize to honour champions of struggle against sexual violence

Nadia Murad, the Iraqi Yazidi woman held as a sex slave by Islamic State militants who was awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize told reporters in Washington on Monday that humanity should be the basis of politics and national interest.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nadia-murad-from-jihadist-slave-to-nobel-laureate-169618">Also Read:&nbsp;Nadia Murad, from jihadist slave to Nobel laureate</a>

"We should work together for towards building a world that is fair, that is prosperous, and every human is given the opportunity to live in dignity," Murad said.

Nadia Murad, who became the face of a global campaign to free the Yazidi, was on Friday named as a winner of the 2018 prize alongside Denis Mukwege, a doctor who helps victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Murad was one of about 7,000 women and girls captured in northwest Iraq in August 2014 and held by Islamic State in Mosul where she was tortured and raped. She escaped after three months and reached Germany, from where she campaigns for her people.

"I commit today before you to be the voice for those who don't have a voice, to stand for those who seek justice and bring fairness to survivors wherever they might be," the Nobel Peace laureate said.

She has taken to the world stage to appeal for support for the Yazidi, in the United Nations Security Council in 2015 and to governments globally, earning her the appointment as a UN Goodwill Ambassador.

"As for the prize money, I commit one hundred per cent of the money, at least my share, to the goals and to the work that we are doing currently and that we will do in the future. But, as you know, half a million dollars will not be able to buy 3,000 Yazidis that are in captivity, for each person, usually its about 20,000-30,000 dollars to buy them back," Murad said.

"One prize money will not be able to bring back the property of 400,000 Yazidis, everything that they lost in Sinjar in one day," she added.&nbsp;

Murad said she was "honored and humbled" by the award which she would share with Yazidis, Iraqis, Kurds and other persecuted minorities as well as victims of sexual violence. She plans to spend the prize money, which she is spliting with Denis Mukwege, a doctor who helps victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, towards the work being done to help victims of violence, especially women.

She said the prize would make many Yazidis think about family members still unaccounted for as well as about 1,300 women and children who remain in captivity.

"The prize money will not be able to rebuild tents for villages for Yazidi villages that were destroyed by ISIS in 2014," she added.

The Yazidis, a religious sect whose beliefs combine elements of ancient Middle Eastern religions, are regarded by Islamic State as devil-worshippers.

Yazidi campaigners said the award would reinvigorate their quest for justice. 
&nbsp;

Nadia Murad, the Iraqi Yazidi woman held as a sex slave by Islamic State militants who was awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize told reporters in Washington on Monday that humanity should be the basis of politics and national interest.

Nadia Murad, the Iraqi Yazidi woman held as a sex slave by Islamic State militants who was awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize told reporters in Washington on Monday that humanity should be the basis of politics and national interest. Also Read: Nadia Murad, from jihadist slave to Nobel laureate "We should work together for towards building a world that is fair, that is prosperous, and every human is given the opportunity to live in dignity," Murad said. Nadia Murad, who became the face of a global campaign to free the Yazidi, was on Friday named as a winner of the 2018 prize alongside Denis Mukwege, a doctor who helps victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Murad was one of about 7,000 women and girls captured in northwest Iraq in August 2014 and held by Islamic State in Mosul where she was tortured and raped. She escaped after three months and reached Germany, from where she campaigns for her people. "I commit today before you to be the voice for those who don't have a voice, to stand for those who seek justice and bring fairness to survivors wherever they might be," the Nobel Peace laureate said. She has taken to the world stage to appeal for support for the Yazidi, in the United Nations Security Council in 2015 and to governments globally, earning her the appointment as a UN Goodwill Ambassador. "As for the prize money, I commit one hundred per cent of the money, at least my share, to the goals and to the work that we are doing currently and that we will do in the future. But, as you know, half a million dollars will not be able to buy 3,000 Yazidis that are in captivity, for each person, usually its about 20,000-30,000 dollars to buy them back," Murad said. "One prize money will not be able to bring back the property of 400,000 Yazidis, everything that they lost in Sinjar in one day," she added. Murad said she was "honored and humbled" by the award which she would share with Yazidis, Iraqis, Kurds and other persecuted minorities as well as victims of sexual violence. She plans to spend the prize money, which she is spliting with Denis Mukwege, a doctor who helps victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, towards the work being done to help victims of violence, especially women. She said the prize would make many Yazidis think about family members still unaccounted for as well as about 1,300 women and children who remain in captivity. "The prize money will not be able to rebuild tents for villages for Yazidi villages that were destroyed by ISIS in 2014," she added. The Yazidis, a religious sect whose beliefs combine elements of ancient Middle Eastern religions, are regarded by Islamic State as devil-worshippers. Yazidi campaigners said the award would reinvigorate their quest for justice.

Prize money will not be able to bring back property of 400,000 Yazidis, says Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad

Nobel Peace Prize winner <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/denis-mukwege-nadia-murad-win-nobel-peace-prize-for-fighting-against-sexual-violence-as-a-weapon-of-war-169605">Nadia Murad was in Cambridge</a>, Massachusetts in the US when&nbsp;she received the news about her winning the coveted peace award.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/dr-mukwege-was-informed-about-nobel-peace-prize-while-conducting-operation-169686">Also Read:&nbsp;Dr Mukwege was informed about Nobel Peace Prize while conducting </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/dr-mukwege-was-informed-about-nobel-peace-prize-while-conducting-operation-169686">operation</a>

Murad, 25, told the Nobel website that she hoped the recognition would act as a "voice for all women who are suffering from sexual violence in conflict in many other places."

Murad, an Iraqi was abducted in 2014 by Islamic State(IS) terrorists along with several thousand other Yazidi women and raped by the jihadists.

"It wasn't easy for me to go out and speak about what happened to me because it wasn't easy, and specifically for women in the Middle East to go and talk about (being) sex slaves," she said.

The Nobel committee in a statement said Nadia Murad was just one of an estimated 3,000 Yazidi girls and women who were victims of rape and other abuses by the IS.

"The abuses were systematic, and part of a military strategy. Thus they served as a weapon in the fight against Yazidis and other religious minorities," the Sweden-based Nobel committee said.

After a three-month nightmare, Nadia Murad managed to flee. Following her escape, she chose to speak openly about what she had suffered. In 2016, at the age of just 23, she was named the UN’s first Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking, the Nobel committee informed.

"It means a lot, not just for me, for all of these women in Iraq and all the world," an elated Muradi said after hearing the news about the peace award being given to her this year.

"For those small communities that are being persecuted, this prize tells me that their voices are being heard," she said in Kurdish translated by her fiance Abid Shamdeen.

"We hope (it) will be a voice for all the women that are suffering from sexual violence in conflict in many other places," the 2018 Nobel laureate added.

Murad shares the peace award with Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege who won the prize for his fight against sexual violence in war and armed conflicts.

"Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad have both put their personal security at risk by courageously combating war crimes and seeking justice for the victims. They have thereby promoted the fraternity of nations through the application of principles of international law," the Nobel committee said in a statement while annoucing this year's winners.

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Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad was in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the US when she received the news about her winning the coveted peace award. Also Read: Dr Mukwege was informed about Nobel Peace Prize while conducting operation Murad, 25, told the Nobel website that she hoped the recognition would act as a "voice for all women who are suffering from sexual violence in conflict in many other places.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad was in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the US when she received the news about her winning the coveted peace award. Also Read: Dr Mukwege was informed about Nobel Peace Prize while conducting operation Murad, 25, told the Nobel website that she hoped the recognition would act as a "voice for all women who are suffering from sexual violence in conflict in many other places." Murad, an Iraqi was abducted in 2014 by Islamic State(IS) terrorists along with several thousand other Yazidi women and raped by the jihadists. "It wasn't easy for me to go out and speak about what happened to me because it wasn't easy, and specifically for women in the Middle East to go and talk about (being) sex slaves," she said. The Nobel committee in a statement said Nadia Murad was just one of an estimated 3,000 Yazidi girls and women who were victims of rape and other abuses by the IS. "The abuses were systematic, and part of a military strategy. Thus they served as a weapon in the fight against Yazidis and other religious minorities," the Sweden-based Nobel committee said. After a three-month nightmare, Nadia Murad managed to flee. Following her escape, she chose to speak openly about what she had suffered. In 2016, at the age of just 23, she was named the UN’s first Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking, the Nobel committee informed. "It means a lot, not just for me, for all of these women in Iraq and all the world," an elated Muradi said after hearing the news about the peace award being given to her this year. "For those small communities that are being persecuted, this prize tells me that their voices are being heard," she said in Kurdish translated by her fiance Abid Shamdeen. "We hope (it) will be a voice for all the women that are suffering from sexual violence in conflict in many other places," the 2018 Nobel laureate added. Murad shares the peace award with Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege who won the prize for his fight against sexual violence in war and armed conflicts. "Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad have both put their personal security at risk by courageously combating war crimes and seeking justice for the victims. They have thereby promoted the fraternity of nations through the application of principles of international law," the Nobel committee said in a statement while annoucing this year's winners.

Wasn't easy for me to talk about being a sex slave, says Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad

Following is the statement by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege on receiving the award.

Ladies and gentlemen, members of the Nobel Prize Committee,

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends of peace, friends of humanity,

It is with great humility that I learned of this news while I was in the middle of performing surgery in my hospital.

At this time, my thoughts turn immediately to all survivors of rape and sexual violence in conflict zones around the world.

I am honoured to be named alongside Nadia Murad, with whom I have shared this fight for some time. Nadia Murad is a person for whom I have a great deal of respect because her courage and strength in denouncing this barbarity in conflicts, which goes well beyond anything that one can imagine.

Dear members of the Nobel Committee, you heard her voice, you have heard the voices of all survivors.

Indeed, this honour is an inspiration because it shows that the world is actually paying attention to the tragedy of rape and sexual violence and that the women and children who have suffered for too long are not being ignored.

This Nobel Prize reflects this recognition of suffering and the need for just reparations for female victims of rape and sexual violence in countries across the world and on all continents.

This is an important step towards the long-awaited reparations that we all owe to these women.

This award will have real meaning only if it helps mobilize people to change the situation of victims in areas of armed conflict.

I dedicate this Nobel Prize to women of all countries in the world, harmed by conflict and facing violence every day.

For almost 20 years I have witnessed war crimes committed against women, girls, and even baby girls not only in my country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, but also in many other countries.&nbsp;

To the survivors from all over the world, I would like to tell you that through this prize, the world is listening to you and refusing to remain indifferent. The world refuses to sit idly in the face of your suffering.

We hope that the world will not wait any longer to act with determination and strength to assist you because the survival of humanity depends on you.

Following is the statement by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege on receiving the award. Ladies and gentlemen, members of the Nobel Prize Committee, Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends of peace, friends of humanity, It is with great humility that I learned of this news while I was in the middle of performing surgery in my hospital.

Following is the statement by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege on receiving the award. Ladies and gentlemen, members of the Nobel Prize Committee, Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends of peace, friends of humanity, It is with great humility that I learned of this news while I was in the middle of performing surgery in my hospital. At this time, my thoughts turn immediately to all survivors of rape and sexual violence in conflict zones around the world. I am honoured to be named alongside Nadia Murad, with whom I have shared this fight for some time. Nadia Murad is a person for whom I have a great deal of respect because her courage and strength in denouncing this barbarity in conflicts, which goes well beyond anything that one can imagine. Dear members of the Nobel Committee, you heard her voice, you have heard the voices of all survivors. Indeed, this honour is an inspiration because it shows that the world is actually paying attention to the tragedy of rape and sexual violence and that the women and children who have suffered for too long are not being ignored. This Nobel Prize reflects this recognition of suffering and the need for just reparations for female victims of rape and sexual violence in countries across the world and on all continents. This is an important step towards the long-awaited reparations that we all owe to these women. This award will have real meaning only if it helps mobilize people to change the situation of victims in areas of armed conflict. I dedicate this Nobel Prize to women of all countries in the world, harmed by conflict and facing violence every day. For almost 20 years I have witnessed war crimes committed against women, girls, and even baby girls not only in my country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, but also in many other countries. To the survivors from all over the world, I would like to tell you that through this prize, the world is listening to you and refusing to remain indifferent. The world refuses to sit idly in the face of your suffering. We hope that the world will not wait any longer to act with determination and strength to assist you because the survival of humanity depends on you.

I dedicate this Nobel Prize to women of all countries: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-responds-to-indias-s-400-deal-with-russia-says-cant-prejudge-sanctions-decisions-169645">US responds to India's S-400 deal with Russia, says can't prejudge sanctions decisions</a>

Responding to the S-400 deal between India and Russia, the United States has said that it doesn't want to damage the capabilities of its allies.

"The intent of our implementation of CAATSA is to impose costs on Russia for its malign behaviour, including by stopping the flow of money to Russia's defence sector. CAATSA is not intended to impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies or partners," the US embassy said in a statement.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/denis-mukwege-nadia-murad-win-nobel-peace-prize-for-fighting-against-sexual-violence-as-a-weapon-of-war-169605">Denis Mukwege, Nadia Murad win Nobel Peace Prize for fighting against 'sexual violence as a weapon of war'</a>

The Nobel Committee today announced the names of this year's Peace Prize giving it to Democratic Republic of Congo's (Dr Congo) Denis Mukwege and Iraq's Nadia Murad for their contribution in fighting sex crimes.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-accountability-bureau-arrests-pmln-leader-shehbaz-sharif-169658">Pakistan's Accountability Bureau arrests PML(N) leader </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-accountability-bureau-arrests-pmln-leader-shehbaz-sharif-169658">Shehbaz</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-accountability-bureau-arrests-pmln-leader-shehbaz-sharif-169658"> Sharif</a>

Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau(NAB) today arrested former PM Nawaz Sharif's brother PML(N) leader Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore on Friday.

Shehbaz Sharif, 67, is the leader of the Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly and a key leader of PML(N).&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/probe-opens-in-france-after-interpol-chief-reported-missing-169661">Probe opens in France after Interpol chief reported missing in China</a>

French police have opened an investigation into the whereabouts of the president of international police cooperation agency Interpol, after his wife reported he had gone missing after travelling home to his native China last week.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/women-cops-to-be-posted-at-sabarimala-dgp-169662">Women cops to be posted at Sabarimala: DGP</a>

Women police personnel will be posted at Sabarimala this month to facilitate pilgrimage of women devotees in view of the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine, Kerala police chief Loknath Behera said Friday.

US responds to India's S-400 deal with Russia, says can't prejudge sanctions decisions Responding to the S-400 deal between India and Russia, the United States has said that it doesn't want to damage the capabilities of its allies.

US responds to India's S-400 deal with Russia, says can't prejudge sanctions decisions Responding to the S-400 deal between India and Russia, the United States has said that it doesn't want to damage the capabilities of its allies. "The intent of our implementation of CAATSA is to impose costs on Russia for its malign behaviour, including by stopping the flow of money to Russia's defence sector. CAATSA is not intended to impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies or partners," the US embassy said in a statement. Denis Mukwege, Nadia Murad win Nobel Peace Prize for fighting against 'sexual violence as a weapon of war' The Nobel Committee today announced the names of this year's Peace Prize giving it to Democratic Republic of Congo's (Dr Congo) Denis Mukwege and Iraq's Nadia Murad for their contribution in fighting sex crimes. Pakistan's Accountability Bureau arrests PML(N) leader Shehbaz Sharif Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau(NAB) today arrested former PM Nawaz Sharif's brother PML(N) leader Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore on Friday. Shehbaz Sharif, 67, is the leader of the Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly and a key leader of PML(N). Probe opens in France after Interpol chief reported missing in China French police have opened an investigation into the whereabouts of the president of international police cooperation agency Interpol, after his wife reported he had gone missing after travelling home to his native China last week. Women cops to be posted at Sabarimala: DGP Women police personnel will be posted at Sabarimala this month to facilitate pilgrimage of women devotees in view of the Supreme Court order permitting women of all age groups to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine, Kerala police chief Loknath Behera said Friday.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Doctor Denis Mukwege was <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/full-list-of-nobel-peace-prize-winners-from-1901-169631">conducting his second operation </a>of the day in his hospital when someone came inside and told him that he had won the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/denis-mukwege-nadia-murad-win-nobel-peace-prize-for-fighting-against-sexual-violence-as-a-weapon-of-war-169605">Also Read:&nbsp;Denis Mukwege, Nadia Murad win Nobel Peace Prize</a>&nbsp;

"I was in the operating room so when they started to make noise around (it) I wasn't really thinking about what was going on and suddenly some people came in and told me the news," Mukwege told a media agency.

"It was so touching when I was operating and I heard people start to cry and it was so, so, so touching."

Mukwege, 63, belongs to &nbsp;Democratic Republic of Congo's (Dr Congo) and is popularly known as "Dr Miracle" for his surgical skills.

In an interview with the Nobel Foundation, Mukwege said: "I can see in the face of many women how they are happy to be recognised and this is really so touching." 
&nbsp; 
In a statement, the Sweden-based Nobel committee said,"&nbsp;Denis Mukwege is the foremost, most unifying symbol, both nationally and internationally, of the struggle to end sexual violence in war and armed conflicts." "His basic principle is that 'justice is everyone’s business,” it added.

"The importance of Dr Mukwege’s enduring, dedicated and selfless efforts in this field cannot be overstated. He has repeatedly condemned impunity for mass rape and criticised the Congolese government and other countries for not doing enough to stop the use of sexual violence against "women as a strategy and weapon of war".

Meanwhile, the DR Congo government while congratulating Mukwege's work added that "there are often disagreements between us."

"We have had differences with Denis Mukwege every time that he tried to "politicise" his work which however is important from a humanitarian standpoint," government spokesman Lambert Mende told AFP.

"But now, we are satisfied with the Nobel Academy's recognition of the work of a compatriot," the spokesman added.

Mukwege has often criticised the country's outgoing President Joseph Kabila, saying that "We are governed by people who don't love us." The government spokesman while acknowledging Mukwege said the Nobel laurate "wasn't infallible".

"We think that the recognition by the Nobel Academy ... is merited but we will continue to oppose whenever anyone tried to mix humanitarian work with politics," the government spokesman said.

 
&nbsp;

Doctor Denis Mukwege was conducting his second operation of the day in his hospital when someone came inside and told him that he had won the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

Doctor Denis Mukwege was conducting his second operation of the day in his hospital when someone came inside and told him that he had won the Nobel Peace Prize this year. Also Read: Denis Mukwege, Nadia Murad win Nobel Peace Prize "I was in the operating room so when they started to make noise around (it) I wasn't really thinking about what was going on and suddenly some people came in and told me the news," Mukwege told a media agency. "It was so touching when I was operating and I heard people start to cry and it was so, so, so touching." Mukwege, 63, belongs to Democratic Republic of Congo's (Dr Congo) and is popularly known as "Dr Miracle" for his surgical skills. In an interview with the Nobel Foundation, Mukwege said: "I can see in the face of many women how they are happy to be recognised and this is really so touching." In a statement, the Sweden-based Nobel committee said," Denis Mukwege is the foremost, most unifying symbol, both nationally and internationally, of the struggle to end sexual violence in war and armed conflicts." "His basic principle is that 'justice is everyone’s business,” it added. "The importance of Dr Mukwege’s enduring, dedicated and selfless efforts in this field cannot be overstated. He has repeatedly condemned impunity for mass rape and criticised the Congolese government and other countries for not doing enough to stop the use of sexual violence against "women as a strategy and weapon of war". Meanwhile, the DR Congo government while congratulating Mukwege's work added that "there are often disagreements between us." "We have had differences with Denis Mukwege every time that he tried to "politicise" his work which however is important from a humanitarian standpoint," government spokesman Lambert Mende told AFP. "But now, we are satisfied with the Nobel Academy's recognition of the work of a compatriot," the spokesman added. Mukwege has often criticised the country's outgoing President Joseph Kabila, saying that "We are governed by people who don't love us." The government spokesman while acknowledging Mukwege said the Nobel laurate "wasn't infallible". "We think that the recognition by the Nobel Academy ... is merited but we will continue to oppose whenever anyone tried to mix humanitarian work with politics," the government spokesman said.

Dr Mukwege was informed about Nobel Peace Prize while conducting operation

The Nobel Committee today announced the names of this year's Peace Prize giving it to&nbsp;Democratic Republic of Congo's (Dr Congo) Denis Mukwege and Iraq's Nadia Murad for their contribution in fighting sex crimes.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/denis-mukwege-brave-healer-of-dr-congos-most-horrific-wounds-169621">Read: Denis Mukwege: Brave healer of DR Congo's most horrific wounds</a>

<a href="http://13.232.42.114/world/nadia-murad-from-jihadist-slave-to-nobel-laureate-169618">Also Read:&nbsp;Nadia Murad, Jihadist slave to Nobel laureate</a>

The committee said they were given the coveted prize for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.&nbsp;

"Both laureates have made a crucial contribution to focusing attention on, and combating, war crimes," the Nobel Committee said in a statement.

Muradi, 25, an Iraqi woman from the Yazidi community was kidnapped by Islamic State(IS) terrorists in 2014 and endured three months as a sex slave before managing to escape.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mukwege, 63, is known as "Doctor Miracle" for his surgical skill and dedication in helping women overcome the injuries and trauma of sexual abuse.

"Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others," the statement added.&nbsp;

"Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions," the Committee said while announcing the winners.

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BREAKING NEWS: 
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2018 to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NobelPrize?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NobelPrize</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NobelPeacePrize?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NobelPeacePrize</a> <a href="https://t.co/LaICSbQXWM">pic.twitter.com/LaICSbQXWM</a>
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"The physician Denis Mukwege has spent large parts of his adult life helping the victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since the Panzi Hospital was established in Bukavu in 2008, Dr. Mukwege and his staff have treated thousands of patients who have fallen victim to such assaults," it added.&nbsp;

The Nobel Committee today announced the names of this year's Peace Prize giving it to Democratic Republic of Congo's (Dr Congo) Denis Mukwege and Iraq's Nadia Murad for their contribution in fighting sex crimes.

The Nobel Committee today announced the names of this year's Peace Prize giving it to Democratic Republic of Congo's (Dr Congo) Denis Mukwege and Iraq's Nadia Murad for their contribution in fighting sex crimes. Read: Denis Mukwege: Brave healer of DR Congo's most horrific wounds Also Read: Nadia Murad, Jihadist slave to Nobel laureate The committee said they were given the coveted prize for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. "Both laureates have made a crucial contribution to focusing attention on, and combating, war crimes," the Nobel Committee said in a statement. Muradi, 25, an Iraqi woman from the Yazidi community was kidnapped by Islamic State(IS) terrorists in 2014 and endured three months as a sex slave before managing to escape. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mukwege, 63, is known as "Doctor Miracle" for his surgical skill and dedication in helping women overcome the injuries and trauma of sexual abuse. "Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others," the statement added. "Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions," the Committee said while announcing the winners. BREAKING NEWS: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2018 to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. #NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize pic.twitter.com/LaICSbQXWM — The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 5, 2018 × "The physician Denis Mukwege has spent large parts of his adult life helping the victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since the Panzi Hospital was established in Bukavu in 2008, Dr. Mukwege and his staff have treated thousands of patients who have fallen victim to such assaults," it added.

Denis Mukwege, Nadia Murad win Nobel Peace Prize for fighting against 'sexual violence as a weapon of war'

Nobel Peace prize goes to Mukwege, Murad for work against sexual violence

In Democratic Republic of Congo, they call him "Doctor Miracle" for his surgical skill and dedication in helping women overcome the injuries and trauma of sexual abuse and rape.

Denis Mukwege is a crusading gynaecologist who has spent more than two decades treating appalling injuries inflicted on women in DRC, whose work was the subject of an acclaimed 2015 film titled: "The Man Who Mends Women."

A father to five children, the tireless 63-year-old is an outspoken critic of the abuse of women in war who has repeatedly accused the world of failing to act.

The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize co-winner had been repeatedly nominated for his work with gang rape victims from the conflicts that have ravaged his homeland.

Mukwege has called on the world to take a tougher line on rape as a weapon of war.

"We have been able to draw a red line against chemical weapons, biological weapons and nuclear arms," he told AFP in 2016.

"Today we must also draw a red line against rape as a weapon of war," he said, describing it as a "cheap and efficient" form of terror which condemns its victims to "a life sentence".

In his French autobiography, "Plaidoyer pour la vie" ("Plea for Life"), Mukwege recounts the "depths of horror" he encountered in his native South Kivu province that led him to set up the Panzi hospital in Bukavu.

Fired inside her

He began working at Lemera hospital, south of Bukavu, which was where he first learnt to deal with severe post-natal lesions that left women incontinent for life.

Later he encountered victims of horrific rapes for the first time.

Recalling the moment he saw such a patient for the first time in 1999 -- the year he set up Panzi hospital -- Mukwege recounted how the rapists had inserted a gun into a woman's genitals and fired.

"Her whole pelvis was destroyed. I thought it was the work of a madman, but the same year I treated 45 similar cases," he said.

"For 15 years I have witnessed mass atrocities committed against women's bodies and I cannot remain with my arms folded because our common humanity calls on us to care for each other."

His work has also put his own life on the line, with Mukwege narrowly escaping an attack on his life in October 2012, in which his guard was killed.

At the Bukavu hospital, which serves as a clinic for gynaecological and obstetric care, he lives under the permanent protection of UN peacekeepers.

'Unbearable atrocities'

Aid agencies have accused all sides in the conflicts that have ravaged the eastern regions of North Kivu and South Kivu of using "systematic rape" against women as a weapon of war.

In 2016, Mukwege said there were "unbearable atrocities" being committed in the country's east, including the mutilation of babies and the disembowelling of pregnant women.

He said the "crimes and cruelties that have plagued eastern DRC for 20 years had been reborn with a new intensity", as he criticised growing authoritarianism in the country.

Earlier this year, he said there had been a rise in such attacks since 2016, with the majority of sexual violence in South Kivu now committed by civilians and not by armed groups or the security forces.

Many civilians are former rebels.

The 450-bed Panzi hospital that Mukwege founded treats more than 3,500 women a year, though not all for sexual abuse, providing free consultations and performing reconstructive surgery on women who have suffered serious internal injuries.

Levi Luhiriri, who works as a doctor at the hospital, said Mukwege was fair but tough and strived for internationally-recognised standards at Panzi.

"He is straight and just but doesn't tolerate mediocrity," he told AFP.

As well as his tireless medical work, Mukwege has fronted a worldwide campaign against the purchase of conflict diamonds.

Specialised in France

Born on March 1, 1955, in Bukavu, the third of nine children, Mukwege was inspired to become a doctor by his father, a pastor who used to visit the sick.

After studying medicine in neighbouring Burundi, he returned to work in Lemera hospital before pursuing specialist training in gynaecology in Angers, France.

He has been honoured previously by the United Nations and has received many other international awards, including the Olof Palme Prize in January 2009 and the Sakharov Prize in 2014. In September 2016, he also won the Seoul Peace Prize.

He was appointed a professor at the Universite libre de Bruxelles in Belgium in 2015.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, they call him "Doctor Miracle" for his surgical skill and dedication in helping women overcome the injuries and trauma of sexual abuse and rape.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, they call him "Doctor Miracle" for his surgical skill and dedication in helping women overcome the injuries and trauma of sexual abuse and rape. Denis Mukwege is a crusading gynaecologist who has spent more than two decades treating appalling injuries inflicted on women in DRC, whose work was the subject of an acclaimed 2015 film titled: "The Man Who Mends Women." A father to five children, the tireless 63-year-old is an outspoken critic of the abuse of women in war who has repeatedly accused the world of failing to act. The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize co-winner had been repeatedly nominated for his work with gang rape victims from the conflicts that have ravaged his homeland. Mukwege has called on the world to take a tougher line on rape as a weapon of war. "We have been able to draw a red line against chemical weapons, biological weapons and nuclear arms," he told AFP in 2016. "Today we must also draw a red line against rape as a weapon of war," he said, describing it as a "cheap and efficient" form of terror which condemns its victims to "a life sentence". In his French autobiography, "Plaidoyer pour la vie" ("Plea for Life"), Mukwege recounts the "depths of horror" he encountered in his native South Kivu province that led him to set up the Panzi hospital in Bukavu. Fired inside her He began working at Lemera hospital, south of Bukavu, which was where he first learnt to deal with severe post-natal lesions that left women incontinent for life. Later he encountered victims of horrific rapes for the first time. Recalling the moment he saw such a patient for the first time in 1999 -- the year he set up Panzi hospital -- Mukwege recounted how the rapists had inserted a gun into a woman's genitals and fired. "Her whole pelvis was destroyed. I thought it was the work of a madman, but the same year I treated 45 similar cases," he said. "For 15 years I have witnessed mass atrocities committed against women's bodies and I cannot remain with my arms folded because our common humanity calls on us to care for each other." His work has also put his own life on the line, with Mukwege narrowly escaping an attack on his life in October 2012, in which his guard was killed. At the Bukavu hospital, which serves as a clinic for gynaecological and obstetric care, he lives under the permanent protection of UN peacekeepers. 'Unbearable atrocities' Aid agencies have accused all sides in the conflicts that have ravaged the eastern regions of North Kivu and South Kivu of using "systematic rape" against women as a weapon of war. In 2016, Mukwege said there were "unbearable atrocities" being committed in the country's east, including the mutilation of babies and the disembowelling of pregnant women. He said the "crimes and cruelties that have plagued eastern DRC for 20 years had been reborn with a new intensity", as he criticised growing authoritarianism in the country. Earlier this year, he said there had been a rise in such attacks since 2016, with the majority of sexual violence in South Kivu now committed by civilians and not by armed groups or the security forces. Many civilians are former rebels. The 450-bed Panzi hospital that Mukwege founded treats more than 3,500 women a year, though not all for sexual abuse, providing free consultations and performing reconstructive surgery on women who have suffered serious internal injuries. Levi Luhiriri, who works as a doctor at the hospital, said Mukwege was fair but tough and strived for internationally-recognised standards at Panzi. "He is straight and just but doesn't tolerate mediocrity," he told AFP. As well as his tireless medical work, Mukwege has fronted a worldwide campaign against the purchase of conflict diamonds. Specialised in France Born on March 1, 1955, in Bukavu, the third of nine children, Mukwege was inspired to become a doctor by his father, a pastor who used to visit the sick. After studying medicine in neighbouring Burundi, he returned to work in Lemera hospital before pursuing specialist training in gynaecology in Angers, France. He has been honoured previously by the United Nations and has received many other international awards, including the Olof Palme Prize in January 2009 and the Sakharov Prize in 2014. In September 2016, he also won the Seoul Peace Prize. He was appointed a professor at the Universite libre de Bruxelles in Belgium in 2015.

Denis Mukwege: Brave healer of DR Congo's most horrific wounds 

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