Nobel Peace winner: international action on sex abuse needed
Nadia Murad, the Iraqi woman who shared this year's Nobel Peace Prize for her activism against sexual violence in wartime, says she wants world leaders to translate sympathy for the victims into action against the abusers.
Murad said at the award ceremony Monday in Norwegian capital Oslo that "the fact remains that the only prize in the world that can restore our dignity is justice and the prosecution of criminals."
She said through an interpreter that "I do not seek more sympathy; I want to translate those feelings into actions on the ground."
The Peace Price laureates Nadia Murad from Iraq, makes a speech during the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo Town Hall, Oslo, Monday Dec. 10, 2018. Dr. Denis Mukwege of Congo and Nadia Murad of Iraq jointly receive the Nobel Peace Prize recognising their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. (Haakon Mosvold Larsen NTB scanpix via AP)
Murad shares the 9 million-Swedish-kronor ($1 million) prize with Denis Mukwege, a Congolese surgeon who founded a hospital where he has treated countless women who were raped and abused during decades of conflict in the country.
The Peace Prize laureates Dr. Denis Mukwege from Congo 2nd left, and Nadia Murad from Iraq, left, during the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo Town Hall, Oslo, Monday Dec. 10, 2018. Dr. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad receive the Nobel Peace Prize recognising their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. (Haakon Mosvold Larsen NTB scanpix via AP)
Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Denis Mukwege left, shakes hands with Norway's Queen Sonja, with King Harald, second left as Nadia Murad, foreground shakes hands with Crown Prince Haakon with Princess Mette-Marit second right at the Royal Palace, in Oslo, Norway, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Dr. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad of Iraq, shared the 9-million Swedish kronor ($1 million) Nobel Peace Prize. Mukwege was honored for his work helping sexually abused women at the hospital he founded in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Murad, a Yazidi, won for her advocacy for sex abuse victims after being kidnapped by Islamic State militants. (Lise AserudNTB scanpix via AP)
The Peace Price laureates Nadia Murad from Iraq, gives a speech during the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo Town Hall, Oslo, Monday Dec. 10, 2018. Dr. Denis Mukwege of Congo and Nadia Murad of Iraq jointly receive the Nobel Peace Prize recognising their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. (Haakon Mosvold Larsen NTB scanpix via AP)
The Peace Price laureates Dr. Denis Mukwege from Congo and Nadia Murad from Iraq, left, pose with their medals during the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo Town Hall, Oslo, Monday Dec. 10, 2018. Dr. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad receive the Nobel Peace Prize recognising their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. (Haakon Mosvold Larsen NTB scanpix via AP)
The Peace Price laureates, from left, Nadia Murad from Iraq and Dr. Denis Mukwege from Congo, pose with Henrik Syse, Thorbjorn Jagland, Anne Enger and Asle Toje, during the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo Town Hall, Oslo, Monday Dec. 10, 2018. Dr. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad receive the Nobel Peace Prize recognising their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. (Haakon Mosvold Larsen NTB scanpix via AP)
The Peace Price laureates Dr. Denis Mukwege from Congo and Nadia Murad from Iraq, left, pose with their medals during the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo Town Hall, Oslo, Monday Dec. 10, 2018. Dr. Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad receive the Nobel Peace Prize recognising their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. (Haakon Mosvold Larsen NTB scanpix via AP)