Mukwege, left, with European Parliament President Martin Schulz after receiving the prestigious Sakharov human rights prize. AFP

STRASBOURG (AFP) – Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege called Wednesday for global efforts to end sexual violence as a weapon of war as he received the European Parliament’s Sakharov rights prize for helping thousands of gang rape victims.

The 59-year-old — dubbed “Doctor Miracle” for his work with victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo — received several standing ovations as he was presented with the award at the parliament in Strasbourg.

“Women’s bodies have become a battlefield. We have to draw a red line against the use of rape as a weapon of war,” said Mukwege, adding that it was one of the “biggest humanitarian catastrophes of modern times.”

“In every raped woman I see my wife, in every raped grandmother I see my mother, in every raped child I see my children,” added Mukwege, whose spouse attended the ceremony with him.

Mukwege told AFP his foundation was looking at expanding beyond his clinic in his homeland to other countries where sexual violence is rife.

“We are studying the feasibility of a centre in Burkina Faso,” he told AFP, adding that “we have also had inquiries from Afghanistan, where many women are in the same situation.”.

– Assassination attempt –

Mukwege trained as a gynaecologist, going on to found the General Referral Hospital of Panzi near Bukavu in South Kivu province which has seen some of the worst violence.

He survived an assassination attempt two years ago after speaking out about the continued use of rape in the conflict and accused the world of failing to act.

Last year, however, he defied threats and returned home to a warm welcome from thousands of people.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz told the prize ceremony that Mukwege “fought for the dignity of women, justice and peace in his country”.

“This is my 20th Sakharov prize but I’ve rarely seen men and women crying in parliament,” added the German.

A Congolese delegation sang for joy and waved flags from the parliamentary gallery as Parliament President Martin Schulz handed Mukwege a plaque to mark the annual award, named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov.

Mukwege has previously been tipped as a possible Nobel Peace Prize winner.