The Nobel Peace Prize honors those who work to combat sexual violence.
One of the two recipients of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize was a victim of rape by militants of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).
The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon in war and armed conflict.
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| Two nominees for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. |
Nadia Murad is one of approximately 3,000 Yazidi girls and women who have been raped or sexually abused by militants of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS). These abuses are part of a systematic military strategy of repression, used as a weapon against the Yazidis and other minority groups.
But Nadia showed rare courage by daring to stand up and testify, daring to confront her horrific past to recount the full extent of the crimes and brutal abuses that ISIS inflicted on her and other women and girls.
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| Nadia Murad. |
Dr. Denis Mukwege has dedicated almost his entire life to helping victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He and his colleagues have treated thousands of patients who were victims of sexual assault.
Dr. Mukwege has repeatedly condemned the impunity of perpetrators of gang rape and criticized the Congolese government, as well as several other countries, for not being decisive enough in preventing the use of sexual violence against women or as a weapon of war.
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| Dr. Denis Mukwege |
Dr. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad beat out many other strong contenders, including US President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, all of whom are working to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.
