Sexual violation rips apart the fabric of a community in a way that few other weapons can, with direct attacks on an individual and indirect attacks on families, communities and cultures. In many societies, the damages inflicted on the individual are considered irreparable, making sexual violence an effective tool to fragment a community.
The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize is shared by two co-winners, Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege, for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
Less than a week after receiving her award, Murad is already using her platform as a Nobel recipient to call upon citizens from around the world to join the global fight against genocide and sexual violence.
“We must work together to put an end to genocide, hold accountable those who commit these crimes and achieve justice for the victims,” Murad said in her first news conference at the National Press Club.
Murad is the first Iraqi ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize. She plans to use her prize money to defend the rights of her people, the Yazidis, and the rights of persecuted people around the world.
The Yazidis are an ancient Kurdish religious minority indigenous to a small remote region of northern Iraq. Their religion is monotheistic, combining aspects of Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
In 2014, Murad and thousands of women from the Yazidi minority were kidnapped and sold into sex slavery by ISIS. The terrorist group began a genocidal campaign to wipe out the Yazidis and their “illegitimate” religious beliefs, massacring hundreds of members in the process. While the ISIS threat in Iraq was weakened dramatically last year, Iraqis are still trying to recuperate from the inflicted damages.
A U.N. investigation into the crimes committed against Yazidis began collecting evidence in August. Most Yazidi land remains in ruins, leaving thousands of people stuck living in displacement camps. Activists want to see ISIS fighters stand trial for the crimes they have committed.
“So far we have not seen justice happen for the Yazidis, especially the victims of sexual slavery,” Murad said.
Her new platform will give her many opportunities to urge the international community to recognize the necessity of rebuilding the Yazidi communities and reinstating peace in the region.
The co-awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Congolese gynecologist Mukwege further directs international attention to victims of sexual violence.
For decades, rebel conflict and deadly attacks have surged throughout eastern Congo. The consistent violence has meant a steady flow of patients, particularly women and children, to the hospital where Mukwege works. Under the protection of U.N. peacekeepers, Mukwege operates on survivors of brutal acts of sexual violence.
Several years ago, the U.N. officially acknowledged Congo as the rape capital of the world. In a region where females’ genitals are burned or shot by terrorists and abusers, Mukwege’s work to repair and heal female bodies is lifesaving.
Like Murad, Mukwege is the first Congolese recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. His recognition has already shone a spotlight on the ongoing conflicts in Congo and the need to provide protection for health workers who are caring for victims of war-related violence.
Mukwege is known for being outspoken about the brutality inflicted on women in his community.
He publicly criticized the inhumanity of the rebel groups and the passivity of the Congolese government.
Mukwege’s critiques have made him a target. In 2012, he was nearly shot to death by an armed home intruder.
Murad and Mukwege’s bravery and commitment to justice highlight the importance of each individual’s actions in bringing an end to gender-based violence worldwide.
