Assassination attempt on activist Dr Denis Mukwege;

Ungent apeal: Democratic Republic of Congo must protect Dr. Denis Mukwege after violent attack.

Dr. Mukwege is a founding member of the Advisory Committee of the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict regoins.

Dr. Denis Mukwege

Dr. Mukwege is a world-renowned surgeon and director of Panzi Hospital in Eastern Congo’s South Kivu province. The clinic has treated over 30,000 survivors of sexual violence.

According to the African Press Organization (APO); October 27, 2012, The International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict (http://www.stoprapeinconflict.org) urgently calls on the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect Doctor Denis Mukwege after a violent attack and assassination attempt at his home in Bukavu.

Campaign member Physicians for Human Rights, today reported that four armed men forced themselves into Dr. Mukwege’s home in his absence and held hostage several family members at gunpoint. Upon his arrival, they tried to force him out of his car; mean while shooting his trusted security guard and aide who attempted to intervene; he died on the spot. Dr. Mukwege lowered his head and body quickly when the armed men fired shots towards him, before driving off in his car, which was later found abandoned.

In a statement released by V-Day that evening, V-Day Founder/Playwright Eve Ensler stated the followings;  "The attempted assassination on Dr. Mukwege and the murdering of his security guard once again highlights how deadly serious the situation is in Eastern Congo. One of the great men of the world was almost murdered tonight. We cannot let this continue, we must create an environment where it is safe for Dr. Mukwege and all the people of Congo to live and thrive. Let this tragedy be the call to end the war in Congo once and for all."

Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee said, “Dr. Mukwege embodies the strength of Congolese women who never relent in the face of such senseless violence. I join the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict, and others, in calling for the Democratic Republic of Congo to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.”

The International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict is led by the Nobel Peace Laureates of the Nobel Women’s Initiative and an Advisory Committee comprising of 25 organizations working at the international, regional and community levels to stop rape.

Since its launch in May 2012, more than 600 organizations from around the world have joined. The Campaign demands urgent and bold political leadership to prevent rape in conflict, to protect civilians and rape survivors, and calls for justice for all—including effective prosecution of those responsible.