IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1147 

Congratulating Dr. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for receiving the 2018 

Nobel Peace Prize for their advocacy on behalf of the millions who 

have suffered from sexual violence as a result of conflict, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 14, 2018 

Ms. MOORE (for herself, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. 

MCGOVERN, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Ms. NORTON, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. CLARKE of New York, and Mr. COHEN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating Dr. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for 

receiving the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for their advocacy 

on behalf of the millions who have suffered from sexual 

violence as a result of conflict, and for other purposes. 

Whereas sexual violence as a result of conflict remains a serious, present-day atrocity affecting millions of people, primarily women and girls; 

Whereas according to the United Nations, sexual violence has 

been reported against women, during and after conflicts, 

in every international or non-international war-zone; 


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Whereas combatants use sexual violence, including rape and 

sexual enslavement, to terrorize communities, recruit new 

fighters, and generate revenues and income; 

Whereas according to experts, a host of state and non-state 

armed groups or multinational forces have committed 

conflict-related sexual violence; 

Whereas according to experts, conflict-related sexual violence 

has become a key part of extremist groups, such as the 

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Boko 

Haram in Nigeria; 

Whereas ISIL subjected large numbers of women and girls 

from ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including 

the Yezidi community, to conflict-related sexual violence; 

Whereas ISIL subjected women, girls, men, and boys to various forms of conflict-related sexual violence, including 

rape and sexual enslavement, physical and psychological 

violence, and human trafficking; 

Whereas according to the United Nations, ISIL abducted approximately 6,417 people (3,547 women and 2,870 men) 

from Iraq’s Yezidi community between August 2014 and 

July 2017, and the impact of these horrific acts are felt 

by such women and men, as well as children and the 

broader Yezidi community; 

Whereas reported numbers of abduction, when available, 

often underestimate the prevalence of sexual violence due 

to fear, reprisals, and stigma; 

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1888 

(2009) reaffirmed that sexual violence, when used or 

commissioned as a tactic of war to deliberately target civilians or as a part of a widespread or systematic attack 

against civilian populations, can significantly exacerbate 


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conflicts and may impede the restoration of international 

peace and security; 

Whereas Security Council Resolution 1888 further affirmed 

that effective steps to both prevent and respond to sexual 

violence can significantly contribute to the maintenance 

of international peace and security; 

Whereas this year’s Nobel Peace Prize honors the efforts of 

two outstanding individuals, Dr. Denis Mukwege and 

Nadia Murad, who both have worked to help heal individuals and communities affected by sexual violence; 

Whereas the recipients of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize vigorously fought to obtain justice for those most affected by 

sexual violence during conflict; 

Whereas the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa) 

has been called one of the worst places in the world to 

be a woman due to a surge of sexual violence linked to 

longstanding conflict; 

Whereas in 2010, the United Nations estimated 1,100 rapes 

were reported each month in the Democratic Republic of 

the Congo, with an average of 36 women and girls raped 

every day; 

Whereas Dr. Mukwege was inspired by his father, a Pentecostal pastor, who instilled in him the importance of caring for the sick; 

Whereas Dr. Mukwege studied gynecology and obstetrics at 

the University of Angers in France to improve conditions 

for women sexually assaulted during conflict, including by 

addressing limited access to care and complicated deliveries; 

Whereas Dr. Mukwege founded the Panzi Foundation in 

1999 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to treat 


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women who have been sexually assaulted with world-renowned care and to positively impact the community; 

Whereas Dr. Mukwege and his staff have tended to tens of 

thousands of sexual violence survivors; 

Whereas Dr. Mukwege reportedly said upon finding out he 

won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, ‘‘Dear survivors around 

the world, I want to tell you that through this prize the 

world is listening to you and refuses indifference. . . . 

We hope that the world will no longer delay taking action 

in your favor, with force and determination, because the 

survival of humanity depends on you. It’s you women 

who carry humanity.’’; 

Whereas Nadia Murad was held captive in Iraq by ISIL in 

2014 for not practicing Islam and was abused during her 

detention, but used her experience to become an advocate 

and spokeswoman against sexual violence; 

Whereas Nadia Murad is a 2016 recipient of the United Nations’ first Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking; 

Whereas Nadia Murad is an activist for the Yezidi community; 

Whereas Nadia Murad is the first Iraqi to receive the Nobel 

Peace Prize; and 

Whereas despite the outstanding work of these two individuals, millions of women, men, and children are victims of 

sexual violence from conflict each year: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) congratulates Dr. Denis Mukwege and 

3 Nadia Murad for receiving the 2018 Nobel Peace 


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1 Prize for their actions to help those affected by and 

2 to speak out against the perpetrators of sexual vio3 lence during conflict; 

4 (2) recognizes Dr. Mukwege and Nadia 

5 Murad’s hard work, personal experiences, and pas6 sion for advocacy on behalf of the millions who have 

7 suffered from sexual violence as a result of conflict; 

8 (3) denounces those actors, including govern9 ments and militaries that sanction, support, or en10 gage in horrific crimes against humanity and urges 

11 action by the international community, including the 

12 United States, to hold individuals accountable for 

13 these horrific crimes of sexual violence; 

14 (4) reaffirms its commitment to strengthen the 

15 United States efforts to prevent sexual violence as a 

16 weapon of war, protect victims and communities, 

17 and punish offenders; and 

18 (5) calls for continued attention, funding, and 

19 leadership from the United States and the inter20 national community to help prevent sexual violence 

21 as a weapon of war. 

Æ 


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