Video: Congolese gynecologist talks about war on women in DRC

By ACAS | 9 February 2009

Tens of thousands of women have been brutally raped in the DRC as part of an ongoing internal conflict. We speak with playwright and V-Day founder Eve Ensler and Congolese gynecologist Dr. Denis Mukwege, founder of one of the only hospitals that treats victims of rape and mutilation. Dr. Mukwege has helped over 21,000 women in the past decade and was named “African of the Year” by a Nigerian newspaper last month.

Guests:

Eve Ensler, award-winning playwright and creator of The Vagina Monologues, which has been translated into over forty-five languages and is running in theaters all over the world. She is the creator of V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. She is on a five-city tour this month to raise awareness about rape in the Congo. It’s called “Turning Pain to Power.”

Dr. Denis Mukwege, Congolese gynecologist and founder of the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu. He specializes in the treatment of women who have been gang-raped. He has treated some 21,000 women over the past 12 years, performing up to ten surgeries a day. He was honored by the UN in December 2008 for his humanitarian work and won the “African of the Year Award” last month. He is on a five-city tour of the US this month to raise awareness about rape in the Congo.

From today’s Democracy Now!
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/2/9/playwright_v_day_founder_eve_ensler