Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation

🔔Today marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.    In conflict zones, women are at increased risk of sexual violence used as a weapon of war, with devastating impacts on survivors, their families, and communities. Today, survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) are willing to speak out.     During these 16 Days of Activism, beginning on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we’ll share 13 demands from the Survivors’ Call to Action. Each demand calls on governments to stop sexual violence in conflict.    In a nutshell:    •  In 13 demands, survivors call on governments to meet their international obligations and take concrete actions.  •  The Call to Action focuses on 4 crucial pillars: prevention, response, justice, and reparations for CRSV survivors.  •  Created by SEMA, The Global Network of Victims and Survivors to End Wartime Sexual Violence from 26 countries, in collaboration with the Mukwege Foundation’s Red Line Initiative.   ⛔ One symbol: a RED LINE to stop sexual violence in conflict. Survivors are calling for justice. Will you join the call? 🖊️ Sign the call to action and stand with survivors here: https://lnkd.in/ezaGwg4E      #16daysofactivism #endviolenceagainstwomen #standwithsurvivors #noexcuse 

We're proud to share the highlights of our second major workshop in Mae Sot (Thailand) with 16 Myanmar survivors. These young women activists have been advocating for freedom and democracy in Myanmar following the military coup in 2021. As a result, they were victims of sexual violence and torture, a tactic used as a weapon of war to repress and silence victims. Survivors are now staying in Mae Sot after fleeing their country due to safety concerns. Despite the challenges and risks they face, they have chosen to continue their advocacy, supporting other survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in their fight for justice. 👐 Together, they worked on choosing their network name: "Survivors United for Rights and Justice” with the empowering slogan: “Bold and alive, our voices rise.” 💬 “I am interested in making everyone feel safe here, boosting safety and confidence,” shared a participant, reflecting the collective spirit of the network. This workshop has been a key moment in enhancing the survivors' advocacy capacity, focusing on pathways to justice and long-term support mechanisms. Would you like to learn more about our VOICE programme? Visit our site here➡️ https://lnkd.in/gG5Jba5B #mukwegefoundation #crsv #endcrsv #sexualviolence #thailand #myanmar #advocacy  

🗨️ “After this workshop, I want to be in a network and participate in activities, which make me feel happy and light,” shares a Myanmar survivor after the very first network-building workshop facilitated by our VOICE team and our partner Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO) in Mae Hong Son. Survivors of conflict-related sexual violence are living in the border area between the Karenni State (Myanmar) and Thailand. This border state has been one of the most affected areas of the war in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup, leaving people forcibly displaced and at risk of sexual violence. Sexual violence used as a weapon of war devastates not only individuals but entire communities. Survivors often face stigma, physical and mental health challenges, and limited access to justice. The workshops provide a safe space for survivors to heal, advocate, and network. 🗨️ “I am very proud to be a woman. I came to this meeting to express and share my story,” says a survivor. During the workshop, Myanmar survivors began defining the objectives for their network and created an action plan for 2025 to strengthen their community and implement activities that address their identified needs. Participants left this activity with a clear goal: they want to support one another and help other survivors in the border area between Myanmar and Thailand so that the next generation does not have to experience what they have been through.  Join us in amplifying survivors’ voices. Stand with survivors here.    ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gG5Jba5B    #mukwegefoundation #crsv #endcrsv #sexualviolence #thailand #myanmar #advocacy 

💡 Curious to learn more about the Ukrainian version of the Guidebook on State Obligations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), developed by the Mukwege Foundation's Red Line Initiative? The Guidebook serves as a toolkit for legal professionals, NGOs, and survivors, offering guidance on addressing CRSV and strengthening accountability efforts. Read more in the article below ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gDjyt99a #endCRSV #redlineinitiative #ukraine 

We’re excited to introduce the Justice and Peace for Tigrayan Women (JPTW) network. This survivor-led network is creating a safe space for survivors of sexual violence to break the stigma and find support and care within a protective community. Learn how this network aims to transform the future of survivors in northern Ethiopia:🔗 https://lnkd.in/gTvwq24f #mukwegefoundation #standwithsurvivors #ethiopia 

👐 Unity is strength. In 2024, MOSUCA emerged as a key force in preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in the Central African Republic. Read about their journey, impact, and plans for 2025. Full story here:  🔗 https://lnkd.in/guHg3YUP   #mosuc #standwithsurvivors #stopsexualviolence  

🎬 Watch our end-of-year video to enjoy the highlights of 2024. 🙏 A heartfelt thank you to our partners and supporters. We wish you a peaceful New Year ahead. https://lnkd.in/gMMV9Ssn   #newyear #recap #mukwegefoundation

🗞️ Read how 20 survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) from 12 countries took centre stage at the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Conference in Bogotá. They are members of SEMA (the Global Network of Victims and Survivors to End Wartime Sexual Violence), the PSVI Survivor Advisory Group (SAG), and local Colombian networks. Together, they participated in a two-day advocacy workshop facilitated by the Mukwege Foundation, where they refined their advocacy strategies and prepared their intervention for the PSVI Conference, focusing on restorative justice, reparations, and innovative approaches to addressing CRSV. Discover more insights in the article below. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g77FTXfR     #sema #mukwegefoundation #psvi2024 #standwithsurvivors 

The Mukwege Foundation and SEMA honour the strength and resilience of SEMA member and SEMA Advisory Committee representative Riyad Avlar, who endured 21 years in the Sednaya prison in Syria. His journey sheds light on the untold suffering of countless men and women who have experienced torture, including #CRSV in detention. Riyad is also a co-executive of the Association of Detainees and the Missing in Seydnayah Prison (ADMSP). Riyad’s unwavering dedication to sharing his story and supporting fellow survivors underscores the vital role of solidarity and collective healing. The Mukwege Foundation and SEMA stand firmly with him and all survivors in Syria in their pursuit of justice and accountability. 🎥 Watch an extract from Riyad’s powerful speech at the #PSVI2024 Conference in Bogotá below. https://lnkd.in/gp7qKWmU #survivorvoices #endCRSV #justiceforsurvivors

🔔Today marks Human Rights Day and the end of the 16 Days of Activism. On this occasion, we commemorate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), signed in Paris on 10 December 1948. This date serves as a reminder that freedom, equality, and dignity should prevail. We honour this date by sharing the final demand from the Survivors’ Call to Action: “Implement the Kinshasa Declaration on the Right to Reparation and Co-creation through Meaningful Participation in Reparation Processes.” Key information: • The ‘Kinshasa Declaration’ was co-created during a Survivors’ Hearing on Reparations from 22-24 November 2021, held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, organised by the Global Survivors Fund. • It was originally issued by survivors and victims of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence from 12 African countries. • The document contains 14 ‘Kinshasa’ Principles, including the importance of extending reparations to all children born of rape. Join the fight against conflict-related sexual violence. Sign the Survivors’ Call to Action 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ewhsfqbH #16daysofactivism #standwithsurvivors #noexcuse #redline #humanrightsday