The World Council of Churches has urged UN officials to call upon the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect Nobel laureate Denis Mukwege following news of death threats against him.
In an unusual step, Peter Prove, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, has sent a letter to three UN special rapporteurs urging them to “call upon the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to ensure the protection of the life of Dr Mukwege and to investigate the threats that have been made against him”.
Congolese gynecologist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Denis Mukwege, in his office at Panzi Hospital on 6th February, 2013, in eastern Congo. PICTURE: PINAULT/VOA/Creative Commons
Prove said in the letter that Mukwege had received “persistent” death threats in recent weeks, including threats of assassination and acts of intimidation. He also noted that an attempt had been made on the doctor in 2012 which had resulted in him leaving the country for several months.
Mukwege was awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize along with Nadia Murad, a Yazidi, for their “efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict”.
Mukwege, 63, a gynaecological surgeon and evangelical Christian, is known as “the man who repairs women”.
In 1999 he founded Panzi hospital in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and has since helped thousands of women who have been victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
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Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on 28th August that he has “been a determined advocate against the use of rape as a weapon of war, and for increased protection of women”.
She also expressed concern over death threats targeting him.
“His life seems to be at serious risk.”
The WCC letter was addressed to the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (Agnes Callamard), the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (Mary Lawlor), and the special rapporteur on the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (Tlaleng Mofokeng).
