Peace Prize for activists against sexual violence

The past one year or so has been an important one in confronting the systemic instances of sexual violence that women face—be it in conflict zones, where rape continues to be used as a weapon of war, or in everyday lives. In this context, the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to two individuals "for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict" is not only timely, but also an important reminder that despite decades of advocacy and activism, we have utterly failed to end sexual violence. The two winners of this year's prize are Nadia Murad, a 25-year-old Yazidi activist, and Denis Mukwege, a doctor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Nadia Murad was captured and sold into sexual slavery in 2014, when the Islamic State invaded her homeland in northern Iraq. She was among the thousands of women and girls taken from the Yazidi community, which was singled out for rape by the ISIS. What she faced at the hands of her captors and her relentless activism and advocacy in front of global bodies since her escape—trying to bring attention to the genocide of her people and the sexual violence women in such conditions face—are reminders of how war affects women disproportionately, everywhere.

As is Dr Denis's lifelong work—he had spent decades providing medical care to victims of sexual assault in Congo, a country once called the rape capital of the world. His work and his outspoken criticism had made him a target, and after a 2012 speech at the UN, his children were taken hostage and he was almost killed.

The Nobel Prize is but a small recognition to the immensity of their work. It is the committee we congratulate for recognising these indomitable voices who have put their own lives at risk to end sexual violence, care for the survivors, and advocate for justice, especially in war conditions. We hope that this recognition is followed up with renewed pledges and action on the part of world leaders to end this gravest of crimes.