STRASBOURG
Gynecologist Denis Mukwege, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was awarded the 2014 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament on Tuesday.
The European Parliament's President, Martin Schulz, explained that the Conference of Presidents decided unanimously to award Dr Denis Mukwege the Sakharov Prize in recognition of his fight to protect women.
The European Parliament said in a statement that the 59-year-old gynecologist founded the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu in 1998, when a war was taking place in his country.
To this day, he still uses the hospital to treat victims of sexual violence and those who have sustained serious injuries.
The statement also said that Mukwege continues to see patients and perform surgery two days a week despite travelling regularly abroad to advocate women’s rights as well as managing Panzi Hospital.
Mukwege was nominated for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded the UN Human Rights Prize in 2008 and the Clinton Global Citizen Award in 2011 as well as many other awards.
The gynecologist will receive the Sakharov Prize on 26 November during a plenary session in Strasbourg.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, set up in 1988, is awarded each year by the European Parliament to individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2013.
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