Open Letter to Dr Denis Mukwege, winner of the Sakharov Prize 2014
Dear Dr Mukwege,
We are writing on behalf of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) to offer you our warmest congratulations on receiving the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in recognition of your lifesaving work with victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Your extraordinary and outstanding work with survivors of rape and sexual violence serves as an inspiration to all women and women’s groups around the world, including the EWL and its 2000 member organisations.
By bringing to light a highly taboo topic and empowering survivors of rape and sexual violence, you greatly motivate us to continue with our work. Indeed, working on rape and sexual violence has been a central pillar of our work since our beginnings in 1990, as of course this manifestation of violence against women knows no national boundaries. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of our 5050 Campaign for Democracy which sought to achieve gender parity in the European institutions, based on the principle that a modern and genuine democracy demands gender equality and the equal representation of women and men in the making of decisions that affect their lives.
As a high-profile supporter of this campaign, you allowed us to make a greater impact at the EU level and to make gender parity in decision-making a more achievable goal. We shall continue our work to achieve a more gender-equal society and hope that we will be able to count on your continued support.
Once again, congratulations on receiving the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, and we very much look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.
Please do not hesitate to let us know if there is any way in which we can support your own highly commendable work – now or in the future.
Viviane Teitelbaum, EWL President & Joanna Maycock, EWL Secretary General
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