Learn more about the appeal and see the list of Nobel Laureate signatories here.

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It is in this alarming context that we take advantage of the 12th anniversary of the Framework Agreement for Peace, Security and Cooperation in the DRC and the Region, signed in Addis Ababa on February 24, 2013, to reaffirm that it is the only peace agreement aimed at addressing the root causes of armed violence and instability.

There is an urgent need to revitalize the “Accord of Hope”, in which the Congolese state, the countries of the region and the international community came together to achieve lasting peace in the DRC and the African Great Lakes region by adopting a series of commitments whose effective implementation was to be facilitated by follow-up mechanisms at national, regional and international level to consolidate a strategy for peace and development.

It is regrettable to note that the lack of political will on the part of the Congolese authorities, coupled with the bad faith of the destabilizing states in the region and the lack of diplomatic mobilization on the part of the co-sponsoring institutions, has led to the deterioration of a situation which today threatens international peace and security.

It is never too late to act and adopt urgent and decisive measures to put pressure on the forces of aggression and occupation and stem the escalation of the crisis. The DRC’s partner countries and institutions, in particular the co-sponsors of the Framework Agreement, can no longer accept or tolerate these flagrant violations of international law without reacting firmly.

The time has come to move from words to deeds. Like all peoples, the Congolese nation has the right to self-determination and to live in peace. The failure of the signatories to the Framework Agreement to respect their commitments, and their repeated calls for an immediate ceasefire and unconditional withdrawal from the zones occupied by the Rwandan army and the M23, must be accompanied by vigorous sanctions and the suspension of military and security cooperation by all states and institutions with leverage over the parties to the conflict.

For those who wish to know more about the Framework Agreement, its potentials and the lack of implementation of the commitments made by the Congolese State, neighboring countries and the international community, please read our publication made at the 10th anniversary in 2013.

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The war of occupation and aggression is gradually taking on the appearance of an annexation by foreign forces, with the establishment of a parallel administration, similar to that of a State. It controls the conquered territories, in particular the Rubaya area, whose mines constitute one of the largest sources of coltan in the world.

The experts mandated by the Security Council have reported, with supporting evidence, that the AFC/M23 coalition exercises a monopoly on the fraudulent extraction, trade and illegal export of minerals from Rubaya to Rwanda. This causes the most significant recorded contamination of the supply chains of “3T” minerals (tin, tantalum and tungsten) in the Great Lakes region for the last ten years.

Experts estimate that the AFC/M23 coalition controls the trade and transport of approximately 120 tons of coltan per month and that the tax on the production and trade of Rubaya coltan generates at least USD 800,000 per month for the occupying forces.

Faced with the critical situation prevailing in eastern DRC, we once again urge the community of States to no longer accept superficial condemnations and empty words. Strong sanctions must be adopted against the actors of destabilization. Immediate and decisive measures must be taken to ensure that Rwanda ceases its support for the M23 and immediately withdraws its forces from Congolese soil.

It is time to put an end to this economic war and the illegal extraction and trade of strategic minerals in the heart of Africa if the economically developed world wants to pursue the energy transition and the fight against climate change in a clean and fair manner.

Bukavu, 01/09/2025
Dr. Denis Mukwege

The post Statement following the publication of the 27 December 2024 letter Addressed to the Presidency of the Security Council By the Group of Experts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo appeared first on Panzi Foundation.

On October 2, Dr. Mukwege announced his candidacy for the 2023 presidential elections in DRC and thus has recused himself from the leadership and governance structure of Panzi Foundation. While our work depends heavily on advocacy at local, regional, national, and international levels, as a non-profit, non-governmental organization, Panzi must remain politically neutral with regards to electoral candidates and their associated campaigns. As such, the organization will defer all questions and inquiries received regarding this decision to Dr. Mukwege’s campaign team (contact details below), while we continue our focus on providing the highest-quality care possible for survivors.

Dr. Mukwege has dedicated 40 years of his life to the humanitarian sector, to the fight against sexual and gender-based violence, and to advocacy for justice and peace in the Great Lakes region of Africa and around the world. We thank him for his leadership and wish to emphasize the tremendous impact he has had and continues to have on the lives of countless women and girls through his service to Panzi. In his absence, we pledge to faithfully continue the organization’s mission to support survivors, driven by the same humanistic vision and aspirations for justice and peace.

We will continue to support communities, provide holistic care services, and call for justice and peace with the same dedication and expertise we have always had, regardless of the course and outcome of the Presidential elections. It is our fervent hope that our continued efforts, with the support of our cherished partners, will honor the tremendous legacy that Dr. Mukwege has safeguarded with our keeping.

Contact person campaign:
Monsieur Biselo-Ndosimau Eric
Biselo-avocat@outlook.fr
Tel 0991 053 123/ 0822 653 161

The post Announcement regarding the candidacy of Dr. Denis Mukwege for the 2023 presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). appeared first on Panzi Foundation.

Coalition Warns Democratic Elections in Jeopardy, Urges US and International Community to Support Civic Education and Electoral Observation

March 17, 2022 (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo) – Today at a press conference in Kinshasa, a coalition of leading Congolese civil society and human rights groups, joined by The Sentry, Human Rights Watch, Panzi Foundation, and other international NGOs, will present a jointly signed declaration calling for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 2023 national elections to be free, credible, transparent, inclusive, and democratic.

Signatories to the declaration:

1.      ASADHO

2.      La Ligue des Electeurs (LE)

3.      Agir pour des Elections Transparentes et Apaisées (AETA)

4.      Observatoire de la Dépense Publique (ODEP)

5.      LUCHA

6.      FILIMBI

7.      AFREWATCH

8.      UNIS

9.      Dynamique des Politologues (DYPOL)

10.    CDC ITURI

11.    Initiative Bonne Gouvernance et Droits Humains

12.    OEARSE

13.    Justice Pour Tous

14.    AFRIKKI

15.    Solidarité (AJS) TAL-LAFI

16.    PAX

17.    Réseau d’Organisations des Droits Humains et d’Education Civique d’Inspiration Chrétienne (RHODECIC)

18.    Centre de Recherche sur l’Environnement, la Démocratie et les Droits de l’Homme (CREDDHO)

19.    Alarme pour la Prise de Conscience aux Devoirs et Droits Humains (APCDDH)

20.    Association Congolaise pour le Droit de l’Homme (ACDHO)

21.    Association des Défenses des Droits de l‘Homme, des victimes des Violences sexuelles et d’encadrement des enfants en rupture avec la famille (ADDHVER)

22.    Centre d’Etudes et de Formation Populaire pour les Droits de l’Homme (CEFOP-DH)

23.    Centre de Recherche et de Promotion des Droits de l’Homme (CRPDH)

24.    Cercle National de Réflexion sur la Jeunesse en RDC (CNRJ-RDC)

25.    Collectif des Femmes Avocates pour la Promotion des Droits Humains (COFAP/DH)

26.    Convention pour le Développement du peuple autochtone Pygmées (CPDA)

27.    Coordination des Personnes Handicapées du Kasaï – Oriental (COPHAKOR)

28.    Dynamique pour la défense des Droits des Vulnérables (DDV)

29.    Espoir de Vie pour Tous (ESVIT)

30.    Groupe d’actions pour les Jeunes Nécessiteux (GAJEN)

31.    Institut Congolaise pour le Droit de l’Homme (ICDH)

32.    Juriste en Action (JURAC)

33.    La voix des Opprimés (VDO)

34.    La voix Intègre de Communautés Opprimées (VICOP)

35.    League of Youth for the Renaissance of Congo (LYREC)

36.    Les Amis de Nelson Mandela pour la défense des Droits Humains (ANMDH)

37.    Les Amis de Nelson Mandela pour les Droits Humains (ANMDH)

38.    Maman n’a Nzela ya Développement (MND)

39.    Nouvelle Dynamique de la Jeune Femme (NDJF)

40.    Nouvelles Dynamiques pour le Développement Rural Intégral (NODRI)

41.    Protégions la Vie Humaine (PVH)

42.    Réseau International des Activistes des Droits de l’Homme (RIADH)

43.    Réseaux des Femmes pour la protection de Droit de l’Enfant et de la Femme (REFEDEF)

44.    Solidarité des Albinos du Kasaï-Oriental (SAKOR)

45.    Solidarité des Ongs pour la Démocratie, Education civique et Droit de Homme (SOLIDEC-K/DH)

46.    Trois Rivières (TR)

47.    Vivre avec Handicap au Congo (VIHANDICO)

48.    ABFEC – Action Congo asbl

49.    Mr. Jean Claude Mputu

50.    Mrs. Marie Madeleine Kalala

51.    The Sentry

52.    Panzi Foundation

53.    Human Rights Watch (HRW)

54.    Action Kivu

55.    Never Again Coalition

56.    American Jewish World Service

57.    Jewish World Watch

58.    Crane Center for Mass Atrocity Prevention

59.    Stop Genocide Now

60.    Elizabeth Barad, Member, NYC Bar Association

61.    Anthony W. Gambino, Former USAID Mission Director, DRC

62.    Stephen R. Weissman, Former Staff Director, US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa

The signatories warn that preparations for next year’s national elections “have been marred by irregularities and violations of fundamental procedures, all amid suspicions of corruption.”

The declaration notes that the official results of the two previous elections, in 2011 and 2018, were widely questioned by domestic and international civil society, maintaining that “the international community had not sufficiently supported free and fair elections.” The signatories underlined that the “crisis of legitimacy” stemming from “the absence of credible and inclusive elections” has been “the main source of the various conflicts the DRC is going through.” Armed conflicts in the Eastern Congo took an estimated 2,347 lives in 2021 and have displaced over 5 million people, according to Human Rights Watch.

The statement calls upon the Congolese National Independent Election Commission, with backing from government institutions, to respect its commitments to operate in “a transparent, independent and inclusive manner” and fulfill its mandate to organize “free, credible, transparent, inclusive and democratic elections.” And it urged Parliament to “carry out an inclusive and consensual review of the electoral law, taking care not to jeopardize the deadline.”

The declaration further appeals to the international community to use “targeted sanctions” at each stage of the process against individuals or institutions threatening “the smooth running of the process.” Emphasizing their willingness to play their role as “guardians of this process” by observing and reporting on the elections, they are requesting international peace and democracy institutions to “provide all the necessary support to civic education and electoral observation efforts.” In addition, they welcome DRC President Felix Tshisekedi’s call for “international election observation.”

The US government helped finance a major domestic civic education and election observation effort by the Catholic Church before and during the 2018 elections but then failed to support its findings of election fraud. Thus far, the State Department and USAID have not announced a renewed large-scale program for 2023.

Full text of the declaration (Version française ci-dessous):

Civil Society Declaration Concerning Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

We, the undersigned members of civil society from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and around the world, are united in support for the rights of the Congolese people to freely and democratically elect their leaders in accordance with article 5 of the Congolese Constitution, which states: “La souveraineté nationale appartient au peuple. Tout pouvoir émane du peuple qui l’exerce directement par voie de référendum ou d’élections et indirectement par ses représentants.” (“National sovereignty belongs to the people. All power emanates from the people who exercise it directly through referendum or elections and indirectly through their representatives.”).

In the preamble to the Congolese Constitution, the crisis of legitimacy is identified as the main source of the various conflicts that the DRC is going through. And the fundamental cause of this situation is the absence of credible and inclusive elections. It is, therefore, a fundamental responsibility of the Congolese government to fully support the organization of elections as set out by, and as required under, the Congolese Constitution and the government’s program, which provides in particular “to ensure and perpetuate the process of democratic alternation in summit of the State by respecting constitutional deadlines.”

In 2011, civil society, both in the DRC and internationally, questioned the legitimacy of the officially announced results. The most recent elections, which were due to be held in 2016, were postponed until 2018. The official results declared in January 2019 have also been questioned by civil society in the DRC and abroad. These two elections were marred by serious irregularities and violations of the fundamental requirements of the Constitution and Congolese laws. Unfortunately, the international community did not sufficiently support free and fair elections in these previous electoral processes.

We fear that the next elections are also going to be problematic. Already, initial preparations have been marred by irregularities and violations of fundamental procedures, all amid suspicions of corruption. In addition, it is critical to note the urgency to implement the recently published roadmap by the Congolese National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) in order to complete all the necessary steps to guarantee the respect of deadlines, transparency, and credibility of the elections.

We call on the CENI to respect its commitments to operate in a transparent, independent, and inclusive manner, and to fulfil its crucial mandate to organize free, credible, transparent, inclusive, and democratic elections. There can be no question of linking this electoral process to others that could delay it. Thus, we ask the CENI to publish the final electoral calendar as soon as possible. We call on the President of the DRC, the Prime Minister, the Congolese Parliament, and other state actors to fulfil their duty by providing the CENI with all the necessary means for the achievement of these objectives, in order to use this process as an opportunity to restore trust between all parties involved. Along the same lines, we urge parliamentarians to carry out an inclusive and consensual review of the electoral law, taking care not to jeopardize the deadline. We also call on Justice, in particular the Constitutional Court and the Appeal Court, to fully play its role in guaranteeing that the democratic choices of the voters are respected.

We support the use, at each stage of the process, of targeted sanctions and other tools that would target any individual and/or institution that threatens the smooth running of the process.

We are committed to play our role as guardians of this process. We believe that civil society observers, from both Congolese and international organizations, should have all the necessary approvals and freedom to observe and report on the upcoming elections. Therefore, we call on international institutions committed to peace and democracy to provide all the necessary support to civic education and electoral observation efforts. In this regard, we welcome the President of the DRC’s call for international election observation, and we call for the mobilization of the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the United States of America, and all the friends of the DRC to make it a reality.

Déclaration de la société civile concernant les élections en République démocratique du Congo

Nous, soussignés, membres de la société civile de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC) et du monde entier, sommes unis pour soutenir les droits du peuple congolais à élire librement et démocratiquement ses dirigeants conformément à l’article 5 de la Constitution congolaise. C’est pourquoi nous lançons cet appel solennel au gouvernement congolais et à la communauté internationale pour veiller dès maintenant à ce que les prochaines élections soient véritablement libres, inclusives, transparentes et démocratiques et que personne ne puisse travestir les résultats sortis des urnes.

Dans le préambule de la Constitution congolaise, la crise de légitimité est identifiée comme la source principale des différents conflits que traverse la RDC. Et la cause fondamentale de cette situation est l’absence d’élections crédibles et inclusives. C’est donc une responsabilité fondamentale du gouvernement congolais de soutenir pleinement l’organisation d’élections telles que prévues et requises par la Constitution congolaise et le programme du gouvernement, qui prévoit notamment « d’assurer et pérenniser le processus d’alternance démocratique au sommet de l’État par le respect des échéances constitutionnelles ».

En 2011, la société civile, tant au Congo qu’à l’international, a remis en cause la légitimité des résultats annoncés officiellement. Les élections les plus récentes, qui devaient se tenir en 2016, ont été reportées à 2018. Les résultats officiels déclarés en janvier 2019 ont également été remis en question par la société civile au Congo et à l’étranger. Ces deux élections ont été entachées d’importantes irrégularités et violations des exigences fondamentales de la Constitution et des lois congolaises. Et malheureusement, la communauté internationale n’a pas suffisamment soutenu des élections libres et équitables lors de ces précédents processus électoraux.

Nous craignons que les prochaines élections nationales ne posent également des problèmes si on ne fait pas attention. Déjà, les préparatifs initiaux ont été entachés d’irrégularités et de violations de procédure, le tout sur fond de soupçons de corruption. En outre, il est important de relever l’urgence à exécuter la feuille de route récemment publiée la Commission électorale nationale indépendante congolaise (CENI) afin d’achever toutes les étapes nécessaires pour garantir le respect des délais, la transparence et la crédibilité des élections.

Nous appelons la CENI à respecter son engagement à fonctionner de manière transparente, indépendante et inclusive, et à remplir son mandat crucial d’organiser des élections libres, crédibles, transparentes, inclusives, et démocratiques. Il ne peut être question de lier ce processus électoral à d’autres qui pourraient le retarder. Ainsi, nous demandons à la CENI de publier au plus vite le calendrier électoral définitif. Nous appelons le Président de la République, le Premier Ministre, le Parlement congolais et les autres acteurs étatiques à s’acquitter de leur devoir en mettant à la disposition de la CENI tous les moyens nécessaires pour la réalisation de ces objectifs, considérant ce processus comme une opportunité de rétablir la confiance entre toutes les parties prenantes. Dans le même ordre d’idées, nous exhortons les parlementaires à procéder à une révision inclusive et consensuelle de la loi électorale en veillant à ne pas mettre en danger le délai. Nous interpellons également la Justice, en particulier la cour constitutionnelle et la cour d’appel, afin qu’elle joue pleinement son rôle, notamment en garantissant que le choix démocratiques du peuple soit respecté.

Nous soutenons l’utilisation, à chaque étape du processus, de sanctions ciblées et d’autres outils qui cibleraient tout individu ou institution qui menacerait le bon déroulement du processus.

Nous nous engageons à jouer notre rôle de gardiens de ce processus. Nous pensons que les observateurs de la société civile, tant des organisations congolaises qu’internationales, doivent bénéficier de toutes les autorisations et libertés nécessaires pour observer les prochaines élections et en rendre compte. C’est pourquoi nous en appelons aux institutions internationales éprises de paix et de démocratie d’apporter tout le soutien nécessaire aux efforts d’éducation civique et d’observation électorale. A cet égard, nous saluons l’appel du Président de la République à l’observation électorale internationale et demandons la mobilisation des Nations-Unies, de l’Union Africaine, de l’Union Européenne, des États-Unis d’Amérique et de tous les amis du Congo pour en faire une réalité.

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Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day – an opportunity for us to salute the power and strength of women and girls around the world, and honor the role they play in our economies, our communities, and in our homes.

However, on this day of commemoration, the recognition of the power of women is not enough – today must also serve as a reminder of the various barriers that women around the world continue to face. Concrete action must be taken to safeguard their rights and lives: discriminatory laws must be eliminated; injustice must be met with tangible consequences; and harmful practices that perpetuate gender inequality must be ended.

We should recognize and celebrate the immense and incalculable role of women in our lives every single day, rather than only once per year, and constantly affirm our commitments to ensure that they have equitable access to all of the rights and opportunities afforded to us by our common humanity.

Over the past several decades, the international community has made strides in advancing the rights of women and girls, yet time and time again we witness that progress is fragile. This is most evident in the most recent humanitarian crises in Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, where once again women and girls are suffering or at risk of suffering disproportionately. These conflicts have seen rapid and widespread human rights setbacks that have reversed the progress made in protecting women’s rights. As Simone de Beauvoir rightly pointed out in her book, The Second Sex, “Never forget that a political, economic or religious crisis will be enough to call women’s rights into question. These rights are never acquired. You will have to remain vigilant throughout your lives.

My home country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, has witnessed such atrocities for more than two and a half decades, and new waves of conflict are adding to the insecurity, further degrading the status of women. We stand in solidarity with all women and communities affected by these conflicts and urge the international community to respond with resolve. We hope that these calls for justice will not fall on deaf ears, and that they will be met with increased investment in programs that support women’s participation in politics, in the defense of human rights, and in other ways that combat inequality and discrimination.

In closing, and in celebration of today’s commemoration, I would like to share an excerpt from my book, “The Power of Women,” which is a tribute to the extraordinary women who have inspired and shaped me, and an homage to the strength of all women, individually and collectively:

“I dream of a society in which our mothers are recognized as the heroines they are, in which the girls born in our maternity wing are celebrated just as much as the boys, and in which women grow up without fearing violence. I hope for a world where women have the same opportunities for professional advancement and personal joy and fulfillment as men and where political power is shared equally… I also imagine a future when sexual assault is seen as a throwback to an earlier, more brutal era. I believe all of this is both desirable and possible. I believe that we can all make contributions as individuals and as collectives to make it happen. I believe in the power of women.”

On this International Women’s Day, I hope that my dreams will become the dreams of the entire international community, and that the recognition of the power of women will become universal.

Sincerely,

Dr. Denis Mukwege

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I am delighted with the signing of this agreement between France and Panzi Hospital and Foundation, in the presence of Vice-Minister Véronique Kilumba Nkulu, the French Ambassador to the DRC, Mr. Bruno Aubert, the Director of L’Agence Française De Développement, Ms. Safia Ibrahim, Director DR Congo, Mr. Issoumaila Konate, the Head of Delegation of the French Red Cross, and Mr. Issoumaila Konate.

This ceremony is the culmination of a partnership and trust between L’Agence Française De Développement, the French Red Cross, and our teams at Panzi. It is also the fruit of a solid, long-standing relationship that binds us to the population and French institutions. This support will make it possible to strengthen our capacities and our security, rehabilitate our infrastructures, improve our management, and further develop our activities in favor of the Congolese population, particularly survivors of sexual violence.

This valuable support has come well timed at this decisive moment when France, driven by a proactive foreign policy, is deploying a strategic commitment in the DRC, one of the most important French-speaking countries in the world. It solidifies the attention of President Macron, whom we thank for the fate of the Congolese population in general and particularly of the women and children of Eastern regions that have been bereaved for decades by despicable wars and crimes that have remained unpunished, even to this day.

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Panzi Foundation strongly condemns the murder of Ms. Anne Marie Buhoro. 

We are in mourning. The life of Anne Marie Buhoro, staff of the Interim Reparations Project, was taken in an act of mindless violence. Once again, barbarism has taken the most precious thing of all: human life. 

Panzi Foundation strongly condemns the murder of a Panzi employee and human rights defender, Ms. Anne Marie Buhoro Mwabireke. Ms. Buhoro was killed on the night of January 29, 2022, in Minova, South-Kivu, by  Captain Jérémie Saleh Bin Saleh of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with whom she lived.

We have lost a colleague, a pro-democracy activist, an activist for justice, a whistleblower, an agent of change, a mother, and a sister. In 2012, when perpetrators were using women’s bodies as their battlefield, Ms. Buhoro condemned rape as a weapon of war and distinguished herself in the fight against gender-based violence. Because of this, she was well known in Minova and North-Kivu.

Her murder represents the risks that women take when fighting for change and raising their children in an environment where security is not guaranteed.

Panzi Foundation denounces this assassination, which undermines the efforts of women committed to rebuilding the social fabric destroyed by violence.

Panzi Foundation calls on the judicial authorities to investigate this heinous crime, issue a punishment according to the law, and make an exemplary sentence to deter other perpetrators. 

Dr. Denis Mukwege

Co-Founder and President

Panzi Hospitals and Foundation

2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

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Violence against women is one of the most serious violations of human rights and is widespread throughout the world, in all societies and in all social classes. It takes place within families, at school, at work, in the street and increasingly online. This violence, which takes many forms in both the public and private spheres, is preventable and must stop now. If we are to meet the major challenges facing humanity, including the Sustainable Development Goals and the establishment of peace in countries aspiring to emerge from conflict, we must eliminate violence against women and girls and put an end to this truly global pandemic.

The main origin of gender-based violence is the inequality between women and men in our patriarchal societies. The best tool to prevent and eliminate it is education. This must begin at an early age and continue throughout life in order to change the paradigm of domination and submission and move towards harmonious complementarity and mutual respect, in the interest of all. To this end, we aspire for boys and men to break free of toxic masculinity and embrace a positive masculinity. This much-needed change will not only come from the education provided by parents and teachers, at home or in school, but will also come from the modification of social norms conveyed and transmitted by certain traditional and religious leaders, as traditional and religious values have often been and remain a source of violence for women and girls.

While it is crucial to change social norms, it is also urgent to eliminate or reform all legislation that discriminates on the basis of gender. The law must be a tool for the advancement of society as a whole and for the protection of everyone on an equal basis, and it is therefore imperative to remove laws that discriminate against women and to mobilize real political will to adopt and implement progressive laws on women’s human rights.

To combat gender-based violence, prevention efforts must be accompanied by the care of victims and the prosecution of perpetrators. Indeed, public authorities that have not been able to protect victims in time have a duty to provide accessible and quality care, including psychological support, medical treatment, socio-economic services and legal assistance. This holistic care must be considered as a human right to rehabilitation, and we call on all frontline actors involved, including the police, to adopt a respectful and non-stigmatizing attitude towards the victims, as the shame and blame must be transferred to the shoulders of the perpetrators where it belongs.

The time has come to put an end to the culture of impunity for violence against women. We are encouraged by the liberation of survivors’ voices and by the global women’s movements that play an important role not only in drawing attention to the extent and gravity of the phenomenon of sexual assault and harassment in our societies, but also in encouraging victims to make their voices heard and to claim their rights to justice, truth, and reparation. This dynamic is fundamental because in order to fight against the scourge of violence against women, it is necessary to break the silence, which is the ultimate weapon of aggressors. Thus, we salute the courage of women who break the silence and decide to file a complaint, but we also urge witnesses of violence to act and to denounce it when it occurs before their eyes.

On this day, we are launching a global call to make the elimination of violence against women a priority at the international level. This imperative is all the more urgent in the context of the crisis of the COVID-19, which has exacerbated inequalities and led to an increase in violence against women and girls.

Thus, we salute the leadership of the United Kingdom, which took advantage of its presidency of the G7 to endorse ambitious commitments such as the establishment of a red line against the use of rape and sexual violence as a method of warfare, an increase in the number of young girls with access to schooling, and greater representation of women in public life. We also support the initiative of France and Mexico, which, together with UN Women, organized the “Generation Equality Forum” this year. On this occasion, a Global Acceleration Plan for Gender Equality was launched, more than 40 billion dollars was mobilized, and a series of international commitments were made on subjects as varied as women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and the defense of women human rights defenders.

Together, men and women, we can and must build a future free of violence against women and girls to realize their full potential for the benefit of society as a whole and to build a more just, equal, and dignified world, where women and girls will live free from fear and violence —in times of conflict as well as peace.

Dr. Denis Mukwege

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It is with deep and profound sadness that Panzi Foundation announces the unexpected passing of the Chair of its United States Board of Directors, Mrs. Nita Evele. Mrs. Evele was a passionate and dedicated human rights defender and activist who cared deeply about the future of her home country, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“I am devastated to learn of Nita’s tragic passing,” said Dr. Denis Mukwege, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Panzi Foundation’s President. “She was my dear friend and was beloved by everyone for her tireless commitment to justice and democracy. We will always hold memories of her courage and kindness in our hearts.”

Mrs. Evele was the President and Co-Founder of the Coalition of Pluralists and Patriots of Congo (COPPAC), an advocacy group that brings together Congolese from different backgrounds whose members are dedicated to a free and equal opportunity for all Congolese, as well as the advancement of DRC sovereignty. She also served as the Director of Congo Global Action, a global alliance of humanitarian, human rights, environment, and faith-based organizations that advocate with one voice on behalf of the Congolese people around the world.

Mrs. Evele served on Panzi Foundation’s US Board of Directors for more than six years and was profoundly committed to the organization’s mission. We send our deepest condolences to her husband, Serge, het two sons, and her entire extended family.

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