Doctor, Former ISIS Captive Win Nobel Peace Prize

They fought the use of sexual violence in war
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Oct 5, 2018 4:47 AM CDT
Updated Oct 5, 2018 6:55 AM CDT
Doctor, Former ISIS Captive Win Nobel Peace Prize
The chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, left, and the committee secretary Olav Njolstad, announce the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize in the Nobel Institute in Oslo, Friday, Oct. 5, 2018.   (Terje Pedersen/NTB Scanpix via AP)

The Nobel Peace Prize on Friday was awarded to a Congolese doctor and a Yazidi former captive of ISIS for their work to highlight and eliminate the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, the AP reports. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad "have made a crucial contribution to focusing attention on, and combating, such war crimes," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its announcement. "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."

Mukwege has treated thousands of women in Congo, many of whom were victims of gang rape. Armed men tried to kill him in 2012, forcing him to temporarily leave the country. Murad is one of an estimated 3,000 Yazidi girls and women who were victims of rape and other abuses by ISIS. She managed to escape after three months and chose to speak about her experiences. She was named the UN's first Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking. Last year's Nobel Peace Prize winner was the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. (President Trump was among hundreds of other individuals and organizations nominated.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X