September 19, 2024
Ukrainian delegation visits Panzi to draw inspiration from the Panzi model of holistic care
Ukrainian delegation visits Panzi in the Democratic Republic of Congo to draw inspiration from the Panzi model of holistic care for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence
Mukwege Foundation organises a visit to Panzi Hospital and Foundation in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for key Ukrainian stakeholders, to enhance holistic care services for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).
Bukavu, DRC—September 19, 2024: In the week of September 16th to 19th, a delegation from Ukraine visited Panzi Hospital and Foundation in DRC, as part of the Mukwege Foundation’s multi-year programme aiming to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to provide comprehensive support to survivors.
This exchange allowed the participants to visit the institutions that make up the Panzi One-Stop Centre, share mutual experiences together with experts from Panzi and learn more about the practice of the Panzi holistic care model, a globally recognised standard for care for survivors of sexual violence.
“Despite the differences between the contexts and conflicts in the DRC and Ukraine, some of the challenges of ensuring holistic care for survivors are the same. This visit is part of our approach, which ensures that participants in these exchanges have opportunities to connect, exchange, share lessons learned and best practices and develop relationships to support improved holistic care to survivors of conflict related sexual violence,” says Katrien Coppens, Executive Director at the Mukwege Foundation.
The Ukrainian delegation included representatives from the Ukraine national survivor network: SEMA Ukraine, National Social Services, the Ukraine Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy, Ministries of Health and Defence, the Office of the Prosecutor General and civil society organizations. This initiative is part of the Mukwege Foundation’s cooperation with Ukraine to reinforce quality holistic care for survivors, and the Foundation’s mission to work for a future where survivors from countries affected by conflict receive the holistic care and reparations they need to rebuild their lives.
We remain impressed and encouraged by the commitment of the survivors, authorities and civil-society organisations in Ukraine and are convinced this exchange will contribute to ensure improved access to holistic care for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. The Mukwege Foundation remains committed to accompanying survivors, the Ukrainian state and civil-society in these efforts.
To date, the Mukwege Foundation has facilitated learning exchanges with professionals from Guinea-Conakry, Central African Republic and Iraq at Panzi. Furthermore, the Panzi one-stop-centre model has been recognised by the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, the World Bank and different actors as a standard for excellence in the care of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
For more information, please contact media@mukwegefoundation.org.
About the Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation:
The Mukwege Foundation is an international rights-based, survivor-centred organisation working to change the global response to conflict-related sexual violence. We support survivors’ demands for a world where sexual violence as a weapon of war is no longer tolerated and bears consequences for individual perpetrators and states. We work for a future where survivors receive the holistic care and compensation they need to rebuild their lives. We create opportunities for survivors to speak out and be heard, and where they can organise to create change, influence policies, and demand justice and accountability. For further inquiries, please contact us via Twitter : @MukwegeFound; LinkedIn : Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation; Facebook : facebook.com/Mukwegefoundation; Instagram : @mukwegefoundation or visit our website: www.mukwegefoundation.org
About Panzi Hospital and Foundation:
Panzi General Referral Hospital was founded in 1999 by Dr. Denis Mukwege. In response to the devastating war in eastern DRC, and high levels of sexual violence perpetrated in this context, the hospital soon became an epicentre of care for victims of sexual violence. Since then, Panzi Hospital has treated more than 50,000 patients, including survivors of sexual violence. In 2008, Panzi Foundation DRC was established, to complete other elements of a holistic-care package including socio-economic support and legal assistance. In later years, Panzi initiated different health and community-based facilities in other communities, all connected to the Panzi tertiary general hospital, for ease of referrals in case of need. All of these institutions form part of an eco-system known today as the Panzi one-stop-centre model of care.
Photo gallery
The Ukrainian and Panzi teams. ©Mukwege Foundation, 2024.
Katrien Coppens and Dr Denis Mukwege receive a recognition award from the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU). In the centre, Liudmyla Huseinova, Director of Communications of SEMA Ukraine, and a survivor-activist centre in Ukraine. ©Mukwege Foundation, 2024.
Mariia Yefimchuk, MF Ukraine programme manager accompanied by the Ukrainian delegation and Panzi staff. ©Mukwege Foundation, 2024.
