In a press release dated August 17, 2020 that Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) alarmed the urgency of Dr Mukwege's worrying situation.
"Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) urgently calls for immediate action to protect the doctor, his family members, his patients and the vital work of the staff at Panzi Hospital," said PHR.
The call follows an "alarming bullying" campaign, both online and offline, against Dr Mukwege.
"General James Kabarebe, former Rwandan defense minister and longtime security adviser to Rwandan President Paul Kagame," Dr Mukwege denounced on Rwandan state television. Dr Mukwege and his family have become the target of attacks on social media and have received death threats on his mobile phone via text message, ”it read.
And to indicate:
“The intimidation efforts appear to respond to Dr Mukwege's condemnation of a wave of recent killings by local armed groups in the provinces of South Kivu and Ituri in the DRC, and in reaction to constant appeals by Dr Mukwege for implementing the long-standing recommendations of a United Nations mapping report on the most serious human rights violations in the DRC between 1993 and 2003 ”.
These include, according to the statement, investigations and prosecutions for atrocities that have claimed the lives of millions of people in the region and have included mass sexual violence that has caused thousands of women and girls. seek and receive treatment from Dr Mukwege and his colleagues at Panzi Hospital.
"Physicians for Human Rights considers the threats against Dr Mukwege and his family to be serious and disturbing given his leadership role in supporting human rights and justice, including reparations, across the region," says PHR .
This includes, he continues, his first-hand knowledge of the atrocities as a doctor who treated thousands of survivors who suffered serious injuries caused by decades of political violence in eastern DRC.
“His constant calls for an end to impunity for international crimes in the Great Lakes region undoubtedly preoccupy many powerful actors who prefer to deny or escape responsibility for the long and painful history of crimes against the humanity that has still not been taken into account in these lands rich in minerals where looting, rape and murder have left millions of people impoverished and insecure, ”testifies this New York-based defense organization.
And to continue:
"PHR calls on the United Nations, through its peacekeeping forces, MONUSCO, to ensure the continued protection of Dr Mukwege and to strengthen the security of staff at Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, DRC."
This is why the PHR urges the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to publicly defend its role in the investigation and mapping of the atrocities committed in the DRC which have still not resulted in meaningful accountability, and to support effective transitional justice processes in the DRC.
"And we call on all governments to refrain from and speak out against provocative messages that deny human rights violations and threaten the dignity and safety of respected global human rights defenders like Dr Mukwege," it read.
And mean:
"PHR continues to support an end to impunity in the DRC for the international crimes of sexual violence, looting and murder, and is concerned about the escalation of violence in many parts of the country."
You can read more here
It should be remembered that this is not the first time that Dr. Denis Mukwege has been the subject of a target. In October 2012, he was severely assaulted and his family was held at home at gunpoint during an assassination attempt, because of his work and advocacy.
He denounced the 16-year conflict in the country and called for those responsible to be brought to justice during a speech at the United Nations.
