Congolese Doctor Denis Mukwege wins Sakharov Prize for helping Rape Victims

A doctor from the Democratic Republic of Congo has won the Sakharov Prize – one of Europe’s top humanitarian rights prizes – for his work with helping thousands of rape victims across the country.

Denis Mukwege a 59-year-old gynaecologist, has treated over 30,000 rape victims at the Panizi Hospital, which he set up in 1999 specifically to treat female victims of sexual violence, BBC reports.

Two years ago, he survived an assassination attempt by individuals who didn’t like his open condemnation of the use of sexual violence in the country by forces fighting to take control of the country’s mineral wealth.

The Sakharov Prize money is 50,000 Euros (£39,400; $63,600), which he will collect next month.