Denis Mukwege was born in Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and studied medicine in France, specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology. He holds a PhD in medical sciences from the Université Libre de Bruxelles where he is a Professor.    

For over 20 years, Dr Mukwege has been treating survivors of sexual violence and women with severe gynaecological problems at the Panzi Hospital, which he founded in 1999.     

The Hospital and Panzi Foundation are renowned for their pioneering work in specialised responses to sexual gender-based violence, and their work in advocating for the rights and empowerment of Congolese women.  

Denis Mukwege received the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his “efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict”, together with the Yazidi activist Nadia Murad. 

His efforts to draw attention to the protection of women and advocate for those responsible for sexual violence to be brought justice make Dr Mukwege one of the world’s most respected activists on human rights and gender equality.  

Denis Mukwege was a recipient of the United Nations Human Rights Prize (2008) and the Sakharov Prize (2014). He has been a member of the Scientific Council of the World Health Organization. He was a Presidential candidate in the DRC elections in 2023, standing on a platform to end conflict, hunger and corruption.