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. SCHA-
KOWSKY, Ms. CLARKE of New York, and Mr. COHEN) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs 
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 seri-
ous, present-day atrocity affecting millions of people, pri-
marily 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 var-
ious 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 ap-
proximately 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 ci-
vilians 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 individ-
uals and communities affected by sexual violence; 
Whereas the recipients of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize vigor-
ously 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 Pente-
costal pastor, who instilled in him the importance of car-
ing 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 deliv-
eries; 
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-re-
nowned 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 Na-
tions’ first Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Sur-
vivors of Human Trafficking; 
Whereas Nadia Murad is an activist for the Yezidi commu-
nity; 
Whereas Nadia Murad is the first Iraqi to receive the Nobel 
Peace Prize; and 
Whereas despite the outstanding work of these two individ-
uals, millions of women, men, and children are victims of 
sexual violence from conflict each year: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) congratulates Dr. Denis Mukwege and 
Nadia Murad for receiving the 2018 Nobel Peace 
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Prize for their actions to help those affected by and 
to speak out against the perpetrators of sexual vio-
lence during conflict; 
(2) 
recognizes 
Dr. 
Mukwege 
and 
Nadia 
Murad’s hard work, personal experiences, and pas-
sion for advocacy on behalf of the millions who have 
suffered from sexual violence as a result of conflict; 
(3) denounces those actors, including govern-
ments and militaries that sanction, support, or en-
gage in horrific crimes against humanity and urges 
action by the international community, including the 
United States, to hold individuals accountable for 
these horrific crimes of sexual violence; 
(4) reaffirms its commitment to strengthen the 
United States efforts to prevent sexual violence as a 
weapon of war, protect victims and communities, 
and punish offenders; and 
(5) calls for continued attention, funding, and 
leadership from the United States and the inter-
national community to help prevent sexual violence 
as a weapon of war. 
Æ 
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