STRASBOURG: Doctor Denis Mukwege won the European Parliament’s prestigious Sakharov human rights prize on Tuesday for his work in helping thousands of gang rape victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Parliament president Martin Schulz announced the award for Mukwege, who has previously been tipped several times for the Nobel Peace Prize, for his work in treating the appalling injuries inflicted on the victims.

Parties in Parliament “decided unanimously to award Dr Denis Mukwege the Sakharov Prize for his fight... for women,” Schulz said.

Schulz named the pro-Western Ukraine democracy and rights group EuroMaidan, which led the popular revolt against deposed president Viktor Yanukovych, as runner-up and invited its leading lights to the awards ceremony in November.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2014