On April 30, 2024, a delegation from the Iraqi government visited the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, capital of the South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During a press conference this Thursday, May 2, members of the delegation expressed their deep gratitude for the warm welcome from the staff and for the invaluable work of Dr. Denis Mukwege. Dr. Mukwege, founder of Panzi Hospital, is a world-renowned obstetrician-gynecologist who has dedicated his life to treating victims of sexual violence in eastern DRC. His work and that of his team have been praised by the international community, and Dr Mukwege was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 for his efforts. La Fondation Panzi, créée par le Dr Mukwege en 2015, s’inspire de l’approche holistique développée à l’Hôpital Panzi pour offrir des soins complets aux victimes de violences sexuelles. Ce modèle repose sur quatre piliers fondamentaux notamment le volet médical pour la prise en charge des blessures physiques et des traumatismes, Le soutien psychosocial pour une aide psychologique et counseling pour aider les victimes à surmonter le traumatisme, la réinsertion socio-économique pour appuyer à la réinsertion des victimes dans la société et à leur autonomisation, et l’accompagnement juridique et judiciaire pour offrir une aide juridique pour que les auteurs des violences soient traduits en justice. The Panzi Foundation, created by Dr. Mukwege in 2015, is inspired by the holistic approach developed at Panzi Hospital to provide comprehensive care to victims of sexual violence. This model is based on four fundamental pillars, notably the medical component for the management of physical injuries and trauma, psychosocial support for psychological help and counseling to help victims overcome the trauma, socio-economic reintegration to support the reintegration of victims into society and their empowerment, and legal and judicial support to offer legal aid so that the perpetrators of the violence are brought to justice. The Panzi Foundation implements this model of care in several conflict-affected countries, including Iraq, Colombia and Ukraine. It works with local governments to establish holistic care and support programs for victims of sexual violence. The importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing During her speech, Sandra Horlovic, program manager specializing in transitional justice at the Denis Mukwege Foundation, underlined the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing between the different actors involved in the care of victims of violence. sexual. She also highlighted the experience of the Denis Mukwege Foundation as a valuable asset for the development of effective care models. The visit of the Iraqi delegation to the Panzi Hospital is part of this desire to share experiences and good practices. Members of the delegation were able to discover the Panzi Foundation model of care and discuss with Dr. Mukwege and his team ways to adapt it to the Iraqi context. A message of hope for the victims Panzi Hospital and the Denis Mukwege Foundation are symbols of hope for victims of sexual violence in the DRC and around the world. The work of Dr. Mukwege and his team enables women and girls to rebuild their lives and regain their dignity after suffering atrocities. The Denis Mukwege Foundation continues to expand its scope and bring its message of hope to other countries affected by conflict. Her commitment to victims of sexual violence is a source of inspiration for the entire world By Elie Munike David