Women and Children: The First Victims in Times of Crisis

Denis Mukwege

doi:10.69841/igee.2025.013

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Perspective Women and Children: The First Victims in Times of Crisis: Denis Mukwege; IGEE Proc 2025;2(2):55-57.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69841/igee.2025.013
Published online: June 30, 2025

Professor of Université Libre de Bruxelles

• Received: March 12, 2025 • Revised: April 9, 2025 • Accepted: May 8, 2025

Submitted for possible open-access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Acknowledgments

In a world at a crossroads, where geopolitical rivalries threaten our future, the theme chosen for this Forum “ Time for Action: Bridging Divides for a Sustainable Future ” has captured our attention. It highlights the pressing challenges of our time and invites us together to change the course of events.

The system of collective security and global protection of human rights established after the horrors of the Second World War has never been so tested. As we approach the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the international order is being challenged and respect for human rights is being regressed throughout the world. As in all times of crisis, it is women and children who are the first victims.

While the UN Charter was based on sovereign equality between states and the principle of prohibiting the use of force, establishing a world order based on the rule of law, international law is being flouted every day. The global consensus on democracy, the rule of law and human rights seem to be crumbling under the growing weight of authoritarian and oligarchic regimes.

Indeed, in a growing number of situations, the powerful seek to impose their will over the force of the law. The result is a dangerous weakening of the rule of law both nationally and internationally. Heads of State and government disregard the basic principles of international law. They flout conventions relating to human rights and international humanitarian law on a daily basis and ignore the decisions of the International Court of Justice.

Furthermore, the frequent application of the principle of double standards illustrates the cynicism and hypocrisy of international diplomacy. This contributes to further undermining the credibility of the political world and institutions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This brief overview of the state of the world is worrying and full of uncertainties. The sources of division are numerous: between economically advanced countries and developing countries; between the Global North and the Global South; between liberal democracies that inspire trust and authoritarian dictatorships that spread fear; between those who advocate for law and truth and those who opt for force and disinformation.

Moreover, while the fragmentation of the world has long been modelled on geography, it is clear that new divisions are emerging and changing international relations - particularly within the Western world. These divisions open the way to a likely reconfiguration of alliances and other forms of partnerships between countries and regional blocs.

Humanity and the planet are facing various existential threats, including the climate crisis, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, pandemics, and numerous conflicts. In the face of these global challenges that concern us all, it is worth remembering that the interdependence between countries and peoples has never been greater. We cannot stand by and accept the slow death of multilateralism based on the rule of law and respect for human rights. Moreover, a new global governance capable of responding to the major challenges of the contemporary world is slow to be established.

There is therefore an urgent need to act with determination to bridge existing gaps and build bridges to lay the foundations for a sustainable and united future. Such a process should be done through policies of equity, inclusion, and diversity. Because above all, it is necessary to ensure that no one is sidelined or excluded. Indeed, respect for human rights for all must be part of the solution.

It is in this context that the imperative of reforming or even renovating the international system was at the heart of the debates of the 79th United Nations General Assembly. On the occasion of the "Summit for the Future", the Secretary-General rightly stated that: "we cannot shape the future of our grandchildren with a system designed for our grandparents ". The adoption of the "Pact for the Future" is a step in the right direction to reform and strengthen the multilateral system in order to face the existential threats and challenges of the 21st century.

This imperative of reforms aimed at restoring citizens' confidence in global institutions will have to go through a reform of the Security Council and international financial institutions. In addition, better representation of developing and emerging countries within international decision-making bodies will have to put an end to the marginalization of Africa.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the heart of this divided and changing world, marked by cynical geopolitics and an era of impunity, lies the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC is currently facing a serious existential crisis following the latest war of aggression and occupation waged by the Kigali regime in collusion with the M23, a rebel armed group.

Since late 2021, the Rwandan army, comprising an estimated 4,000 to 7,000 troops according to the UN, and its M23 ally, have seized various territories in North Kivu Province, openly defying fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. This region is highly coveted for its natural resources - including strategic minerals essential for the digital and clean energy transition. They are plundered in the DRC, then laundered and exported to the global market through Rwanda via opaque channels and transnational crime networks.

Over the past 30 years, repeated wars have claimed over 6 million Congolese lives. This latest Rwandan aggression in eastern Congo, violating the Congolese territory, integrity and sovereignty, poses a serious risk of regional escalation and has dramatically worsened an already dire humanitarian situation. The conflict has displaced nearly 4 million people over the past 14 months and left thousands dead. Last January, more than 3,000 people were killed during the siege of Goma, the capital of North Kivu. Conflict-related sexual violence is also on the rise in the DRC: in 2023, the United Nations reported more than 123,000 cases of sexual and gender-based violence. That is 1 case every 4 minutes!

It is in this context that we welcomed the recent visit of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to Kinshasa, Mr. Karim Khan. He stressed that no party to the conflict has a blank check for committing crimes under the Rome Statute. In the DRC, crimes have ranged from widespread attacks against civilian populations and humanitarian actors, including UN peacekeepers and other regional forces, to bombings of displaced persons’ camps. There are forced and mass population transfers, the recruitment and use of children as child soldiers, and the abduction of wounded individuals from hospitals. The list is long, and impunity should not be tolerated by the community of Nations that has turned a blind eye to the Congolese tragedy for too long now!

Since the resurgence of the M23/RDF coalition in the fall of 2021, reactions have either been timid or entirely absent. This bitter reality underscores once again the double standards at play, placing the DRC on a list of hypocrisy and international negligence.

Despite overwhelming evidence collected by experts reporting to the UN Security Council, confirming the presence of Rwanda on the Congolese territory for a long time, it was only with the adoption of the Security Council Resolution 2773 on February 21, 2025, less than a month ago, that Rwanda was explicitly named as the aggressor and occupier.

The resolution urges the parties to “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire” and “calls on the Rwandan Defense Force to cease supporting the M23 and to immediately withdraw from the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo, without preconditions.” While this development is essential, we regret that these calls are not backed by a robust UN sanctions regime. To date, Rwanda has disregarded and dismissed the resolution.

These initiatives must be better coordinated and strengthened. Urgent and decisive measures must be adopted to put an end to Rwanda's systemic violations of international law and human rights, and to force it to withdraw its troops from the Congolese territory.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we have seen, the contemporary world is faced with numerous existential challenges. However, we believe that there is no inevitability in these crises. It is often in times of challenges or crises that solutions emerge. We are confident that this Forum will provide a platform for high-level dialogue to contribute to a better, fairer, more equitable, and more peaceful world, particularly in the heart of Africa, which is bleeds every day.

I wish you productive discussions during these meetings and thank you for the actions you will take to bridge divides and build a sustainable future.

Acknowledgments

At the Seventh Global Engagement and Empowerment Forum (GEEF), held at Yonsei University in South Korea from March 13 to 14, 2025, Denis Mukwege delivered an impactful speech emphasizing the urgent need to transform our approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Themed “Time for Action: Bridging Divides for a Sustainable Future,” the forum served as a vital platform for developing innovative solutions to global challenges and addressing delays in the implementation of the SDGs. This is a summarized transcript of Denis Mukwege's speech.

Denis Mukwege

2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Denis Mukwege is a Congolese (D.R.C.) gynecologist, born on March 1, 1955 in Bukavu. He studied medicine and specialized in obstetrics and gynecology in France. He holds a doctorate degree (PhD) in medical sciences from the Université Libre de Bruxelles where he is a Professor. For over 20 years, Dr. Mukwege has been treating survivors of sexual violence and women with severe gynecological problems at the Panzi Hospital, which he founded in 1999. Denis Mukwege 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate The Hospital and Panzi Foundation are renowned for their pioneering work in specialized responses to sexual gender based violence, and their work in advocating for the rights and empowerment of Congolese women. Doctor Mukwege is an outspoken advocate for the rights of survivors of sexual violence. He co-presides over the Global Survivors’ Fund, which he co-founded in 2019. His action and dedication have been recognized worldwide with various awards among which the United Nations Human Rights Prize (2008), the Sakharov Prize (2014) and the Nobel Peace Prize (2018) as well as honorary degrees from different Universities.

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