Special adviser: Dr Denis Mukwege
Chair of the Supervisory Board: Marieke van Schaik
Treasurer of the Supervisory Board: Ellen Bien
Additional members: Julie Verhaar, Adriana van Dooijeweert, Unni Karunakara
According to the Foundation’s policies, members of the Supervisory Board are not remunerated, but may claim compensation for reasonable expenses.
The Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation is an international human rights organisation working together with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence from around the world. Drawing attention to the most shameful crimes committed during conflicts, the Foundation envisions a world in which sexual violence as a weapon of war is no longer tolerated.
Together with its special adviser, the Congolese gynaecologist and women’s rights activist Dr Denis Mukwege, the Foundation works for a future where survivors worldwide receive the holistic care they need and obtain reparations; where they have the freedom to speak out and organise globally to end wartime sexual violence.
Dr Denis Mukwege founded Panzi Hospital in 1999 as a maternity hospital for the surrounding community. However, as the conflict progressed and more victims of sexual violence sought care at Panzi Hospital the focus of the hospital shifted to providing medical care to survivors of sexual violence.
In 2008, Panzi Foundation DRC was created to support the hospital and ensure the provision of other services, such as legal assistance, psycho-social support and socio-economic programmes. Together, Panzi Hospital and Foundation offer a holistic model of care for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
The Mukwege Foundation closely collaborates with Panzi Hospital and Foundation. Together with the team in DRC, we promote the holistic model of care worldwide. Our goal is to use the outstanding expertise of Panzi DRC in working with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence to extend best-practices to other conflict-affected countries.
While Panzi Foundation DRC works to support victims of sexual violence specifically in DRC, the Mukwege Foundation has a global focus. The Mukwege Foundation connects survivors worldwide, supports national survivor networks in several countries, promotes holistic care in conflict settings around the world, and advocates for survivor-centred reparations and accountability.
The Mukwege Foundation implements projects to improve access to quality holistic care in Guinea, Iraq and the Central African Republic. Whereas the Panzi Foundation is a lead actor in ending sexual violence in DRC, the Mukwege Foundation engages with international stakeholders to press for an end to wartime sexual violence globally.
Panzi Foundation
USA raises funds in the United States and makes strategic investments at
Panzi Hospital and Panzi Foundation DRC.
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