Nobel Peace Prize: Iraqi activist & Congolese surgeon who helped rape victims share award

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02:24

This year's Nobel Peace Prize is focused on sexual violence. An Iraqi woman who became a global advocate for victims and a Congolese surgeon who treats rape victims- have jointly won the prestigious award. This comes at a time of greater focus on sexual crimes and the "Me Too" movement. CGTN's Liling Tan has more.

A resounding yes from many voices within the international community over the recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, including the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

ANTONIO GUTERRES UN SECRETARY-GENERAL "I congratulate Nadia Murad and Doctor Denis Mukwege on being awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. In defending the victims of sexual violence in conflict, they have defended our shared values."

The UN chief said that by honoring these defenders of human dignity, the prize also recognizes the victims.

Ms. Murad came under our radar when she made her first appearance at the UN Security Council in 2015, to brief the UN's most powerful body about her capture by the Islamic State group when she was just 19 years old.

Nadia Murad's briefing to the Security Council was the first time we heard from a witness AND victim who described how her siblings were killed, how she was taken as a sex slave, beaten and raped, before she escaped three months later.

She is now the Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking, for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and has since become the face and the voice against sexual violence in conflict.

Dr. Mukwege is a well-known Congolese gynecologist who has treated tens of thousands of women victims of sexual violence. He has devoted his life's work to this, at great risk to himself and his loved ones.

LILING TAN UNITED NATIONS "The UN Chief described this as part of a growing movement to recognize the violence and injustice disproportionately faced by half the world's population."

Berit Reiss-Andersen, who chairs the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said that the #metoo campaign and war crimes may not be quite the same thing, BUT what they have in common is that they highlight the suffering of women. Liling Tan, CGTN, New York.