We work for a future where survivors worldwide receive the holistic care they need and obtain reparations; where they have the freedom to speak out and to organise globally to end wartime sexual violence.
Armies and rebel groups use systematic rape to terrorize and destroy individuals and societies.
Learn more about the problem.Together with the world-renowned Congolese doctor and activist Denis Mukwege, we make a difference for people affected by wartime sexual violence around the world. We support survivors and use national and international advocacy to achieve lasting, systemic change.
We support women from 14 different countries from all continents to join forces. Together they are building a global network that connects survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
By speaking out, they draw attention to the use of rape as a weapon of war and demand the changes necessary to end the violence and achieve justice.
Survivors of sexual violence in conflict need more than medical care. Dr Denis Mukwege and his team at Panzi Hospital have pioneered a holistic approach which combines medical, psychological, legal and socio-economic support.
Together with Panzi, we work to implement the holistic model in different parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and in other countries affected by war.
Reparations are an effective tool to provide justice and support survivors and communities. We work with governments worldwide to establish an international reparations system for conflict-related sexual violence.
We envision the International Reparations Initiative as a very direct way to make reparative justice a reality and change the lives of individuals, families and communities worldwide.
States have a legal and moral responsibility to protect their citizens and ensure perpetrators are held to account. So far, however, the international community is lacking behind its commitments.
We bring like-minded governments together to inspire joint action, for example through monitoring and the systematic use of sanctions.
Nobel Peace Prize for Dr Denis Mukwege
Dr Denis Mukwege received the
2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts
to end sexual violence as a weapon
of war and armed conflict. Read more
Dr. Denis Mukwege is a world-renowned gynaecologist and human rights activist from east Congo. He received the Nobel Peace Prize for his global efforts to end the use of rape as a weapon of war.
Mukwege founded Panzi Hospital and Foundation and has become the world’s leading specialist on the treatment of wartime sexual violence.
Nancy was raped three times in her life. For many years she tried to hide the wounds. But with the support of other survivors she became stronger. Today Nancy is an activist and helps other women who experienced sexual violence during the conflict in Colombia, to speak out.
SEMA literally means “Speak Out” in Swahili. There are survivors of wartime rape from 21 countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Europe represented in the SEMA network. They represent 2000 survivors and 90 years of conflict. The Dr. Denis Mukwege Founjdation tries to achieve its aim of ending rape as a weapon of war by putting survivors of sexual violence in conflict at the core of its mission.